Sky blues keep battling on

TRUE BLUE: Verdon Bartlett brings up his 60th game for Ngati Porou East Coast on Saturday when the Coast play North Otago in Oamaru. Bartlett, along with halfback Charlie Harriosn, is the most experienced player in the squad. Pictures by Paul Rickard

SHORTLY after being in the end of a 54-17 thumping by Buller in a Heartland Championship game, their 32nd successive loss in the competition, Ngati Porou East Coast skipper Perrin Manuel looked at me as though I was from Mars when I asked him why him and his players keep turning?

“Without hesitation, Manuel, the son of Coast coaching legend Joe McClutchie, tugged on his sweat covered jersey and said “the pride of wearing this jersey”.

“No one likes losing, especially as long we have been but you look at any of these players and they’ll tell you the same.

“It’s an honour to wear the jersey and we’d love nothing better than to give the supporters a win.

“When you’ve senior players like Verdon (Bartlett) and Chas (Charlie Harrison), players who have been there in the good time, still giving it their all, putting their bodies on the line week it makes you want to play for the Coast.

“We’ve also got players travelling back from outside the area to play — Hone Haerewa, Keelan Poi and Parekura Lalaga — and players who travel from all over the Coast who want to pull on the jersey.

“It’s hard getting beaten every week but we’re a young team, with some players who wouldn’t look out of place in better teams.”

Harrison (halfback) with over 110 appearances and utility back Bartlett (59) are the senior pros in the side and both were members of the Coast team who won the Meads Cup in 2012.

Bartlett, playing fullback on October 27, etched his name into Coast history with the winning try in the finals seconds of the game, after the Sky Blues fought back from 27-3 down with 15 minutes remaining, to win 29-27.

Bartlett received a pass from Irish import John Semple close to the touchline before wrongfooting a couple of defenders to plant the ball over the line.

Current fullback Kris Palmer is next on the list of most appearances with 36.

The 25-year-old is one of those players who would not look out of place in a higher ranked side, while younger brother Kareti (hooker) is on 30.

Kris scored the try of the game against Buller at the weekend.

He linked up with Bartlett and Epeli Lotawa, then left several defenders in his wake before dotting down.

With two games to play, against North Otago in Oamaru on Saturday and competition leaders South Canterbury in Timaru, the chances of the Coast ending their losing streak are slim.

But the work of coaches Troy Para and Wayne Ensor and fitness trainer Regan Horsfall should not be underestimated.

They have assembled the basis of a squad, who, with a few additions next year could end that losing run.