Mountain meets the river,Hikurangi and Uawa to contest Coast final,Uawa,Hikurangi

LOCKED ON TARGET: Hikurangi flanker Jesse Tuala launches himself to tackle Uawa prop Dan Knubley in a game at Whakarua Park in May. Hikurangi won 28-20. Picture by Doone Harrison

UAWA and Hikurangi have followed very different paths to the final of the Ngati Porou East Coast senior club rugby competition this year.

But supporters and spectators can be assured that tomorrow’s final at Tolaga Bay Domain will be among the best games on the Coast this year.

Coaches Peter Crawford and Tip Nukunuku began building this young Uawa team at the beginning of last year, aiming to reach the semifinals. They achieved this, losing to eventual champions Tokararangi in the semis.

The coaches started training soon after seeing the 2016 New Year in, working on fitness, skills and combinations so that by the start of the season their large squad were set to go.

Uawa have a low-key but determined attitude, concentrating on getting out there, following the plan, and bringing home the win.

Neither of the coaches has an explosive Michael Cheika-type approach, but they ensured their playing 15 crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s as they won nine of their 10 matches during the competition.

Uawa are consistent, fast and fit, but in Laman Davies and Puri Hauiti they also have the big front-rowers demanded by East Coast rugby.

Captain Ben Parkes and Chris Wanoa are hard-tackling flankers.

No.8 Harley Phillips has had an outstanding season, either working with halfback Sam Parkes or taking the ball up.

The sandy playing surface at Tolaga Bay will suit the backs of both teams.

The latest forecast for tomorrow is mainly fine with a few showers and south-westerlies.

Hikurangi coach Koro Ngarimu did not bring together the team playing tomorrow until halfway through the season.

The mountain men had a terrible start to the 2016 season, dropping games all over the place, and by the end of April they were seventh out of nine on the ladder.

The main problem was that Hiku’s backs weren’t getting it together, and Ngarimu made radical changes for the eighth competition round, when Hiku forced Uawa’s only loss of the season.

From there, Hiku have won every game and set themselves up for the semis. They were second equal with TVC on competition points, and last week won through to the final.

Hiku’s forwards have been boosted this year by the return of second-rower Horace Lewis, a veteran of the East Coast’s Joe McClutchie era and a Hawke’s Bay and North Harbour provincial rep.

Lewis and several in Hiku’s pack won’t see their 30s again, but these older players are regular try-scorers, and they prove very effective game after game in both tight and loose play.

Both Palmer brothers are making a great job of new positions this year, Kareti at flanker and Kris at first five-eighth, and Charlie Harrison has recently been showing his class again at halfback.

Outside them are East Coast reps Tovio Fidow and Loni Fisiihoi, and wings Caleb Lewis and Rob Ngarimu are regular tryscorers. Fullback Ian Wilson is good on defence and counter-attack.

So tomorrow’s game will be a tussle between two very good backlines, and beween age and youth in the forwards.

Joe Coleman will referee the match.