Ken Houkamau Most Valuable Player

Ken Houkamau. Pictures by Paul Rickard

THE Mr Consistent of Poverty Bay club rugby is the 2017 winner of the premier grade Most Valuable Player.

Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates skipper and No.8 Ken Houkamau was a clear winner of the title and $1000 cash first prize.

Houkamau has been playing some of the best rugby of his career and week in, week out has been performing at a consistently high level, reflected in his MVP points tally.

He finished top of the leaderboard with 21 points, with mercurial Aon Waikohu fullback Ethine Reeves second ($300) on 14 and YMP multi-talented back Brian Whaitiri-White third ($200) on 12.

“After consistent performances, Ken was the clear winner with a game in hand and it was well-deserved reward for a team man who leads through his actions on and off the field,” said Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union development manager and Heartland representative squad assistant coach Dwayne Russell.

“Ethine held out late challenges from Brian Whaitiri-White, who overtook Jake Holmes (Enterprise Cars OBM), as did Rob Broughton (Pirates), who ended fourth overall.”

Holmes (10pts) headed the OBM players, loose forward Stefan Destounis (9pts) Earthworks Solution HSOB side, Chris Richardson (8pts) Larsawn Ngatapa and Isaac Hikuawai (8pts) Tyre General Wairoa Athletic.

Houkamau and Reeves are set to play key roles when sides meet in the Lee Bros Shield sudden-death playoffs this Saturday.

HSOB and Ngatapa will contest the other semi.