Rugby OBM v YMP - Willis Tamatea
FARMVETS YMP captain Willis Tamatea is leading the race for Poverty Bay premier club rugby’s Most Valuable Player award and with it a cash prize of $1000.
But the 30-year-old is not getting carried away.
“It’s a cliche but it’s one game at a time for me,” said the 30-year-old, who is enjoying an injury-free season after a serious injuries in 2011 (broken collarbone), 2014 (broken ankle) and 2015 (broken leg, broken hand).
“We’re just over halfway through the second round and, touch wood, everything’s going well. But I know from past experiences (injuries) it only takes one serious injury to ruin your season.”
Tamatea, an iwi liaison officer and father of three girls, leads the MVP series with 12 points, two ahead of Pirates halfback CJ Fox and Ngatapa flanker Paddy Allen.
Tamatea and Fox will meet at Barry Park tomorrow and while YMP are in third spot and Pirates bottom, Tamatea said his team would not be taking anything for granted.
“I heard Pirates played really well last week against HSOB, even though they had a couple of bad injuries.
“We’ve had a bad run with injuries. The guys who have come in have a done a good job.”
Although $1000 was a “big incentive” Tamatea said it was down his list of priorities.
Lee Bros Shield“I want to win the Lee Bros Shield for YMP, cement a place in the Poverty Bay side for the Heartland Championship, steer clear of injuries and win the MVP award.
“Even if I do win the MVP, I’ll have to shout the boys. You can’t win awards like these without the help of your teammates.”
Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates coach Steve Smith will be without six players from the team who made Woodbank High School Old Boys work hard for their 28-18 win last week for tomorrow’s clash.
Four of them — Carl Riini (dislocated kneecap), Dylan Tuhura (concession), Tipuna Jones (dislocated thumb) and Irirangi Maxwell (knee) — are out and another two are carrying niggly injuries, Smith said.
“The good news is we have enough players to cover but the boys will need to dig deep.
“YMP are always a tough side to play. From the reports I’ve had their forwards are playing well and we know their backs will run the ball.”
¦ HSOB No.8 Siosiua Moala and Pirates centre Devonte Martin are fourth-equal on the MVP table, both on nine points, They are followed by OBM flanker James Grogan (8pts), and Waikohu fullback Ethine Reeves, Ngatapa utility back Karl Macpherson and Ngatapa prop/No.8 Campbell Chrisp (all on 7pts).