No Counsell, Reeves in doubt for big clash

TAKING ON THE LINE: Waikohu first five-eighth Kelvin Smith takes on YMP’s halfback Quinnton Pari-Collins and No.10 Brian Whaitiri-White, with support from second five Jesse Fleming, in their Poverty Bay premier club rugby round 1 game at Te Karaka. All three are in action at Rugby Park tomorrow as the sides meet again in a top-of-the-table clash. Picture by Paul Rickard

Waikohu coach Jason Tuapawa will be without one of his leading players and possibly another for tomorrow’s top-of-the-table premier clash with YMP at Rugby Park (2.45pm kick-off).

Halfback and vice-captain Mario Counsell will be in Wellington to watch the All Blacks test while fullback Ethine Reeves may have work commitments, said Tuapawa, who poured cold water on the suggestion this was the final before the final.

“It’s a big game, and one the boys are up for, but we’re not looking at that way and I’m sure YMP aren’t either.

“There’s only one final (the Lee Bros Shield on July 21) and that’s the one that counts.

“YMP took it to us at home in the first round, even though we won. We’re expecting another tough game.”

Having Mario away and possibly Ethine missing is a blow, but this is the one of the strongest squads Waikohu have ever had.

“We’ve got great depth off the bench and there’s strong competition for places.

“Hamuera Barker gets his first start at halfback and he’s already shown he a good player. As for who will take Ethine’s place, I haven’t made up my mind on that yet, but I’ve got plenty of options.

“The pack that started last week will start again tomorrow but as you saw last week, the reserves all came on and showed me they want to start.”

Tuapawa said he had was impressed with YMP out wide.

“I’ve been watching them online and they look deadly out wide.

“Te Peehi Fairlie (midfield back) is having a good season and now they’ve got Kahu (Tamatea) back, they’ll be even more dangerous in the backs.”

East Coast Farm Vets YMP coach Steve Smith said Waikohu would miss Counsell and Reeves.

“Mario has built up a good relationship with his forwards over the past few years and gets the best out of them.

“But they have a good replacement in Baker. He’s already played for Poverty Bay.

“Everyone knows Ethine is a class player. He’s got the X factor but everything starts up front, and Waikohu have a good set of forwards.

“It’s great for us to have Kahu back. He has introduced some new drills, which has been good.

“The boys and myself have targeted this game. With only a few weeks to the playoffs we want to test ourselves against the team who have been the benchmark from day one, and Jason will have prepared his side well.”

Larsawn Ngatapa can secure a place in the top fop-four playoffs when they play Charteris Choppers Athletic at Wairoa tomorrow.

Player-coach Sione Ngatu’s men have 29 points, 14 ahead of fifth-placed HSOB.

Barring the biggest upset of the season, Ngatapa should collect a bonus-point victory against a side who had to forfeit last week’s game to OBM.

With Ngatapa’s last game against Tapuae, who defaulted to YMP last week, the green and whites can start thinking about the playoffs.

Wairoa Athletic are confident they will play all their remaining games and Tapuae had a very good, honest meeting this week, PBRU chief executive Josh Willoughby says.“They were disappointed about defaulting last weekend and have committed to the rest of the season. Having the bye this weekend will give them time to prepare for the upcoming local derby against Wairoa Athletic, which will also feature on Haati Grassroots (TV programme).”