Ngati ready to ‘empty the tanks’ in battle of coasts

BRING IT ON: Ngati Porou East Coast hooker Wyntah Riki takes on the Wanganui defence with support from Buchanan Maxwell during their Heartland Championship clash at Tolaga Bay last week. Picture by Paul Rickard

Ngati Porou East Coast coaches Troy Para and Wayne Ensor have been forced to make two changes for tomorrow’s Heartland Championship rugby match against West Coast in Greymouth.

Second five-eighth Teina Potae and No.8 Buchanan Maxwell, who both played well in last week’s loss to competition leaders and defending champions Wanganui, are unavailable.

Jayden Milner, who started at fullback, replaces Potae, while Hoani Te Moana comes in for Maxwell.

It is the last chance for the Coast to end their five-year wait for a Championship win and Para said they were determined to “empty the tanks”.

“It’s all or nothing,” he said.

“It’s the last game of the season. Wouldn’t it be great — and no more than the boys deserve — if we were to get the win.”

Despite losing 56-10 to Wanganui, the Sky Blues showed enough to suggest they will give West Coast a game.

Unfortunately for Para and Ensor, West Coast need the win to cement their place in the Lochore Cup playoffs (fifth-to eighth) after a 23-5 loss to Wairarapa Bush in Greymouth last week

“Wairarapa didn’t do us any favours,” Para said.

“It was always going to be a tough game and that result makes it even harder, but the boys are determined to get that elusive win and break the drought.

“We (Para and Ensor) believe we’re not far off getting a win. Last week’s effort was really encouraging. Now we have to back that up with another performance.”

Although East Coast will finish bottom of the table, there have been some tremendous individual displays all season from players wearing the Sky Blue, none more so than halfback Sam Parkes.

Parkes has been magnificent. Had he been in any other team, he would have been a contender for the Heartland Championship team, named at the end of the season.

One of the unsung heroes of the side is Parkes’s Uawa teammate, hooker Wyntah Riki.

He was rewarded for an outstanding season, helping Uawa win the Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield as Coast club champions, with selection for the Coast Heartland squad and he has justified his inclusion with strong performances every week.

NGATI POROU EAST COAST (1-15): Pera Bishop, Wyntah Riki, Perrin Manuel, Hone Haerewa (captain), Adaam Ross, Rikki Kernohan, Jack Richardson, Hoani Te Moana, Sam Parkes, Ngarangi Haerewa, Fabyan Kahaki, Verdon Bartlett, Jayden Milner, Epeli Lotawa, Morrison Siliko. Reserves: Daniel Knubley, Tim Barbarich, Scott Lasenby, Trent Proffit, CJ Fox, David Manuel, Jesse Rye.