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RUGBY
There’s a great deal at stake.
Both the hosts (Hikurangi) and the visitors (Uawa) at Kahuitara tomorrow have a lot to play for — namely, the Chas Keelan Memorial Shield.
The late Chas Keelan, a great rugby man for Hikurangi, would no doubt relish a closer contest than the 32-7 shellacking Uawa dealt out on April 13.
“We need to bring our A game to have any chance of bringing the trophy home with us,” Uawa captain and lock Scott Lasenby said.
“It’s going to take a total team performance.”
That first-round meeting was played in great spirit — and with great emotion — Ngati Porou East Coast titan Horace Lewis having passed away in the lead-up to the game.
The stipulation for the winning and losing of the Chas Keelan Memorial Trophy is that it can only be won at the holders’ home ground, which means that The Maunga have additional motivation.
Uawa are the reigning champions and won the first round, but even so a 32-7 defeat was hard for Hikurangi to swallow, although they bore it with dignity and humility.
Te Kaiwi Parata led Hikurangi to victory 87-5 in superb style against Tokomaru Bay United in Week 9 but this Saturday the skipper will be hooker Ngarimu Parata.
Whereas the reopening of Kahuitara, the Hikurangi club’s picturesque ground, in their 100 centenary match — and Parata’s 100th game to boot — made last weekend a festival event on and off the field, Uawa tend to make or break their opposition.
Uawa won the last game against The Maunga, 17-15 at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria — an absorbing watch.
The game is odds-on to be either one full of running from both teams, in the mould of that 17-15 heartstopper last year; or even hard, heavy going in the rain, as it was for “Blood, Sweat and Tears”, the 2004 final in which Lewis scored the only try in an 8-6 win against Uawa at Whakarua Park.
Hikurangi coach Doone Harrison simply said: “It’s a big test — we’re ready for the challenge.”
Game important to Hicks BayThis game is important to Hicks Bay.
On the face of it, Ruatoria City lost 71-0 to Uawa at Tolaga Bay seven days ago and Hicks Bay won five games in a row to start the competition.
Although Tihirau Victory Club broke Hicks Bay’s streak and Tokararangi beat them 54-36 in an open game last weekend, Hicks Bay will in all likelihood look to do two things early against Ruatoria City. No.1: start well in terms of ball-handling and retention. No.2: be disciplined in playing at the far end of the ground without conceding penalties.
As the hosts at Wharekahika, Hicks Bay have flair — they scored six tries in their last outing — but obviously, a fair few opposition players were allowed to run as well.
City, much like Tokomaru Bay United, deserve high praise for fighting the good fight every Saturday in terms of fielding a team. Their efforts to do so are outstanding and speak to their integrity and respect for the competition.
Tighthead prop Pera Bishop loses nothing to any other front-row forward on the Coast.
If, anything, heavy losses add to the stature of those players who front up. Many are carrying injuries yet are still running and tackling hard.
United are made of much the same stuff — their big man Gary Rangi’s first-half try against Hikurangi was rich reward for a team who play good tough rugby.
TVC — champions in 2017 — are rightly big favourites. On ability and depth, they should win the game, but one of the delights of East Coast rugby is that the underdogs can win.
City proved that last season. On April 28 last year, a team who had to default in Game 1 drew 27-all with TVC at Whangaparaoa. That they trailed the then-defending champions by only 12 points at the break (halftime score 17-5 to the hosts) was in itself remarkable. The Lisa Muller-coached City played fantastic rugby that day. Both City and United will give it a crack tomorrow.