HSOB's character to be put to prem test

ON THE BURST: OBM lock Jacob Cook leads the charge, with support prop Jamie Barnett as YMP No­­­.8 Jimmy Wilson (left) and hooker Shayde Skudder prepare to close the gap. OBM play Pirates at Rugby Park tomorrow, while YMP take on HSOB at the Oval. Picture by Paul Rickard

WOODBANK HSOB coach Wayne Ensor says it is backs-to-the-wall time for his players as they prepare to take on Farmvets YMP at the Oval in premier club rugby tomorrow.

“Injuries are starting to pile up, with some players out for a long time and a some more added to the growing list after last week,” Ensor said.

“I’d be very surprised if Kavakava Tupe (lock) makes it for tomorrow and there is a doubt surrounding Hayden Stuart (first five-eighth).

“But we won’t use injuries as an excuse. If we lose, we lose and if we win, it will show the character of the side.

That’s the attitude we’re taking . . . the character one.

“It’s not a matter of us wanting the boys to show character — they have to.”

HSOB won their first-round encounter with YMP 12-8 and Ensor is expecting another tough one tomorrow.

“They’re third on the table, only seven points behind us.”

YMP skipper Willis Tamatea said despite last week’s loss to OBM he was happy with the way his side were improving.

“‘Rei (coach Reihana Wyllie) has been concentrating on week-to-week improvements and it’s good that we have been doing that.

“A good example of that is Taine Aupouri. He’s come on in leaps and bounds. It’s his first year in the premier division but you wouldn’t think it the way he plays.

“But there’s going to come a time when we have to put it all together — forwards and backs — for 80 minutes and when we do, we’ll be hard to beat.”

¦ Enterprise Cars OBM will look to consolidate second spot and put pressure on HSOB when they meet Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates at Rugby Park.

OBM coach Stu Blair’s men confirmed their potential as possible champions last week, bouncing back from the previous weekend’s loss to HSOB with a 26-22 victory over YMP at Manutuke.

Although the score suggested a close game, OBM were dominant for long parts at Manutuke.

Blair’s new-look side have been impressing spectators, especially openside flanker James Grogan, who produces man-of-the-match performances week in, week out.

Poverty Bay coach Mutu Ngarimu rewarded Grogan for an outstanding start to the season by naming him co-captain of the side who played New Zealand Universities.

Grogan was joined in the Bay team that night by teammates Jamie Barnett and Lance Dickson (both props), lock Jacob Cook, first five Jake Holmes and winger Scott McKinley.

While they all gave good accounts of themselves Ngarimu was particularly impressed with Cook.

“He put his hand up for a place in the Bay squad with his play and attitude against the NZ University team,” Ngarimu said.

“Now he neds to keep working hard.”

Pirates coach Steve Smith welcomes back Irirangi Maxwell to the squad but says there are doubts about captain Ken Houkamau.

“Ken pulled up in training with a niggle,” Smith said. “We need him for this game. We’ve got a dynamic backline but our forwards need to front up and be disciplined.”