Hikurangi beat City 34-19 in a derby match at Whakarua Park first up and were 68-12 victors over Tokomaru Bay United at Hatea-a-rangi last Saturday.
“The boys are excited but we have to take it one game at a time. Now we’re facing the champs on their home turf,” said Hikurangi hooker Ngarimu Parata, captain of “The Maunga (mountain)”.
Parata is delighted his side’s young fullback Fabyan Kahaki is in superb form as a goal kicker (nine conversions in Week 3).
Hikurangi coach Doone Harrison knows that an away win against Uawa in the first round would be significant.
“We have to do everything well. Uawa have good forwards, good backs, experience and youth. It’s a big test for us.”
Tihirau Victory Club have only trained twice and have played just one game.
“We’re cruising at the moment in what’s going to be a long season because we don’t want to put too much pressure on the boys. Things will ramp up in the second round,” said Mo Mato of the 2017 champions ahead of their trip to Hatea-a-rangi for the clash with Tokomaru Bay United.
Mato, who with Whetu Haerewa handed TVC’s player-coaching reins to Verdon Bartlett, remains as skilful a second-five as ever, with a keen an eye for talent and effort.
Veteran lock and new teammate Bevan Hiha, recently returned to the game, has made an impression on him.
“He’s of the old school — a strong all-round forward who knows his job and does it well.”
TVC beat United 48-0 at Whangaparaoa in the first round last year and the second round match could not be held.
United did, however, beat Hicks Bay twice in 2018 and to see them return to competition speaks volumes about their club spirit and passion for the game.
“It poured here last night but they enjoy that. One guy was running around with no shirt on,” said United coach Daryl Goldsmith.
“These boys don’t complain, they just want to play rugby. When you see things come off for them in games, that you know they’ve practiced, it gives them a buzz, self-confidence, confidence as a group.”
Hard-nosed competitors have always been valued in club rugby, as former East Coast Union president and Hicks Bay manager Graeme Summersby attests to ahead of his team’s home game against Ruatoria City.
“It’s a tight competition — take anybody lightly, they’ll punish you — so we need to lower our penalty count,” he said.
“If we can field a disciplined run-on 15 and bench, we can achieve our season goal of making the semifinals.”
Hicks Bay going in two from two — 64-7 victors against United, 32-15 to the good v Tokararangi.
While both of those clubs are blooding new players and building their strength, Hicks Bay can be justifiably proud of the start they’ve made to their campaign.
Hicks Bay have excellent on-field leadership. No.8 Frank Taiapa, player-coach/halfback Tyrone Delamere and Taiapa’s co-captain and fullback Sean Murtagh have played exceedingly well to date.
The visitors, Ruatoria City, have had a good week. Loose forward Curtis Leawere-Walker and utility back Quentin Takarangi, along with Tokararangi’s William Martin and Uawa’s Cairo Rule-Reihana, have been selected for the New Zealand Maori camp in Palmerston North from April 17 to 19.
“We’ve got great team spirit and trained well at practice last night. Tighthead prop Pera Bishop and utility flanker Sean Ahuriri are just two of the senior players who give our captain Tim Barbarich awesome support,” said City coach Lisa Muller.
“These guys train hard and they play 80 minutes of hard rugby every week.”
The referees for tomorrow’s games are Richard Tuhaka (home team Uawa v Hikurangi), Harawira Matahiki (Tokomaru Bay United v Tihirau Victory Club) and Peter Matahiki (Hicks Bay v Ruatoria City).
All games kick off at 2.30pm.
Uawa host Hikurangi at Uawa Domain, Hicks Bay host Ruatoria City at Wharekahika and Tokomaru Bay United host Tihirau Victory Club at Hatea-a-rangi.
Tokararangi have the bye.
