Toughest challenge yet for Wekas

BLAZING THROUGH: Poverty Bay wing Te Peehi Fairlie will bring up his 30th game tomorrow against Whanganui at Rugby Park. He will be presented with a Poverty Bay blazer for his commitment and dedication to the scarlet jersey. Picture by Paul Rickard

Staying fresh has been the focus of Poverty Bay's preparation for their Heartland Championship clash with a formidable Whanganui side in Gisborne tomorrow.

The Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay Wekas, sitting 10th on the 12-province table, have been training at other venues to preserve Rugby Park after their 12-10 loss to to Ngāti Porou East Coast.

“With how wet and cut up Rugby Park got, we sort of mixed it up this week. We trained at HSOB's ground (the Oval) on Tuesday night and went out to Ngatapa last night,” Poverty Bay head coach Miah Nikora said.

“It was a good way to freshen up and the boys enjoyed heading out to the clubs.”

Reviewing their loss to the Coast — which saw them relinquish the Bill Osborne Taonga — Nikora had nothing but praise.

“I said to the boys on Tuesday night at training that I couldn't fault the attitude and commitment.

“We had the highest attacking percentage rate for the year to date. There were just a couple of key moments that they (NPEC) were better than us in and that was the difference on the day.”

It was disappointing to lose but they took plenty away from the game and it gave them “team ammunition” going into possibly their toughest challenge yet against the second-place Butcher Boys.

“We are at the halfway point of the season now. We are not exactly where we wanted to be at this point,” Nikora said. “But we can put ourselves in a better position, starting this weekend against Whanganui.”

Tomorrow marks a special occaision for winger Te Peehi Fairlie, who will be presented with his Poverty Bay blazer for his 30th game.

An injury during the club rugby season sidelined first five-eight Kelvin Smith but he made his return from the bench last weekend, and has been promoted to the starting 15 for tomorrow.

He replaced Ruan du Plooy who will start at halfback, with last weekend's starting No.9 Mario Counsell on the bench.

In other changes, Moses Christie is shifting from fullback to the right wing and Hawke's Bay-based Paoraian Manuel-Harman, who played for the Bay last year and against them for Hawke's Bay Saracens last month, will wear the No.15 jersey.

Mitchell Purvis has replaced Teddy Walters at centre.

The forward pack has suffered a blow with prop James Higgins — one of the stand-outs this season — out with an injury suffered against the Coast

He has been replaced by Taranaki player of origin player and former Gisborne Boys' High first 15 captain Jordan McFarlane.

Utility back Ethine Reeves makes his return to the Bay side on the bench after playing for development side Tūranga Tāne.

Whanganui started their season with three wins — 43-19 win over West Coast , 41-3 against King Country and 34-18 over Ngāti Porou East Coast — but lost 30-24 last weekend to competition leaders South Canterbury.

They will be without lock Peter-Travis Hay-Horton, who was handed a five-week suspenion after being red-carded for a head butt against South Canterbury.