Sharing passion at Tihirau Victory Club

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

They share a fierce passion for rugby at Tihirau Victory Club.

Yet they are as unassuming an outfit as can be imagined off the field of play . . . or away from the sideline.

That detachment, allied to skill and alertness, enabled them to beat Pango Productions Waiapu 31-26 at George Nepia Memorial Park last Saturday, and if Hicks Bay can replicate that at Kawakawa mai Tawhiti tomorrow, then the Aaron King-coached Bay will be in good nick.

In terms of on-field leadership, loosehead prop Manahi Brooking, centre Pamona Samupo and fullback Shaun Murtagh all provide Hicks Bay with that.

Waiapu, who under Jesse Haenga began with a win against Ruatoria City, have played exceptionally well this season and need to regard their Round 4 loss as a learning curve or a speed-up. . . but not a pothole. Historically, teams that have underestimated Hicks Bay suffered for that. They play good, hard, no-frills rugby: the sort that pays dividends on sunny days as well as unpleasant ones.

On the one hand, Pango Productions Uawa came from behind — 13-17 at halftime — to beat their hosts Ruatoria City l28-27 last week.

But there again they had gotten out to 28-17 and looked set to dish out more punishment before City fought back — again. One grizzled onlooker was heard to remark: “Gee, City can scrap for a win. They never give it away.”

And nor can Tokomaru Bay United — on their home turf of Hatea-a-Rangi — afford to allow Uawa to operate freely. There is no reason that they should. Uawa have win only one game, a postponement v TVC, a bye, Queen’s Birthday Weekend. . . all of these things have cost Uawa game-time. And Lisa Muller’s United team, superbly led by scrum titan Mike Chambers-Raroa, have to go at the Big Blue Crew from the start. They have to carry the battle to them up front, play the game at Uawa’s end.

They need to set their stall out down there as early and for as long and as often as possible.

Such will need to be the case for Ruatoria City if they’re to prevail in the Derby match with Hikurangi at Kahuitara. Matt Richards has done a fine coaching job with Hikurangi, and though The Maunga (mountain) has started slowly, they are still in third place. With this being City’s 100th year and a one-round competition to boot, the home team expects fire from the Ian Logan-coached City.

They would be disappointed were that not to come.

Refereeing the Ruatoria derby between Hikurangi and City at Kahuitara will be Jackson Reuben-Swinton, whose assistant referees will be Whetu Haerewa Melvyn Ashford (AR1) and Whetu Haerewa (AR2).

In charge of Tokomaru Bay United v Pango Productions Uawa at Hatea-a-Rangi will be Jimmy Green with the evergreen Darryl Goldsmith as AR1 with an Uawa representative as AR2.

At Kawakawa mai Tawhiti, home ground of Hicks Bay, the locals will play host to former competition leaders Pango Productions Waiapu.

Officiating at KMT will be Eruera Kawhia, with assistant referees Ava Pokoati (AR1) and Robbie Biddle (AR2).