Last hit-out for reps

IN FULL FLIGHT: Poverty Bay’s Andrew Tauatevalu (left) and Ngati Porou East Coast’s Sam Parkes are both likely to be in action tomorrow. Picture by Paul Rickard

RUGBY

Same time, same place.

Tomorrow’s 2.30pm clash between Poverty Bay and the Hawke’s Bay Saracens at Tremain Field, Napier, is an important game: the last before the Bay play Wairarapa-Bush in the Heartland Championship season-opener in Gisborne on August 25.

Horowhenua-Kapiti beat Poverty Bay 37-14 last weekend but talented first five-eighth Andrew Tauatevalu and tough reserve No.8 Callum MacDonald proved that the Mana Otai-coached Bay can score tries. MacDonald scored in the 35th minute to give the side a boost.

“We’ll continue to execute our core roles and stay in our game-plan,” Otai said.

“Guys are putting their hands up at training and in these pre-season games, which makes us have to think. That’s a nice problem to have.”

The forward effort against a strong Horowhenua pack suggests that the Bay eight will be more than competitive this weekend. If they are to be successful, they will need to be sharp, accurate and industrious for 80-plus minutes.

“The boys trained well at set-piece last night; they’re fizzing,” Bay skipper and hooker Tamanui Hill said.

Taradale’s Mutu Ngarimu, a former Poverty Bay coach, is again in charge of the Saracens. He has two former Bay Heartland representatives in his starting 15: locks Paddy Allen and Everard Reid. Second-five Ted Walters is a former Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 player.

POVERTY BAY, 1-22:Campbell Chrisp, Tamanui Hill (captain), Andrew Petelo, Jacob Cook, Sam McDell, Kurt Taylor, Fawn White, Ken Houkamau, Mario Counsell, Kelvin Smith, Korey Love, Anthony Karauria, Mapa Tu’ipulotu, Matt Raleigh, Cameron Rowden. Reserves: Shayde Skudder, Toru Noanoa, Mekepio Brown, Jesse Kapene, Willy Grogan, Andrew Tauatevalu, Te Peehi Fairlie.

HAWKE’S BAY SARACENS, 1-22:Paulo Nuu, Terry Marsh, Marcus Jackson, Paddy Allen, Everard Reid, Francis Ah Him, Damien Scott, Tomo Fogarty, Zac Donaldson, Tianua Poto, Sebastian Visinia, Ted Walters, Star Timu, Ash Robinson, Johnny Ika. Reserves: Teremoana Joel, Te Ririnui Kakau, Kelsey Miller, Etuate Tuanaki, Jayden Rihia, Trent Hape, Kalin Paewai, Neria Fomai, Fale Matamata, Elijah Martin, Lui Laumanu, Michael Vuicakau, Timo Vaiuso.

Referee: Hugh Reed (Hawke’s Bay).