WAIKOHU ON THE CUSP

BIG MAN COMING THROUGH: Waikohu prop Jarryd Brougton making a run through the YMP defence during their entertaining and close match last week seeing Waikohu taking the win over a very strong YMP team. Waikohu remain undefeated and look to continue their unbeaten run against Ngatapa tomorrow at Te Karaka. Picture by Paul Rickard

The defending premier-grade club rugby champions have swept all before them . . . so far.

A win at home against Larsawn Ngatapa tomorrow will guarantee GT Shearing Waikohu the Premier Cup for first-round honours in Civil Project Solutions Premier Rugby.

But should Ngatapa win by more than seven points — and East Coast Farm Vets YMP beat Enterprise Cars OBM and take a bonus point in the process — then YMP could win the first round.

YMP have four bonus points to Waikohu's three and although the champs beat them 21-17 at Barry Park in a top-of-the-table clash in Week 4, YMP did not concede four tries.

So if YMP were to get up and Waikohu to falter at this point, it could be said that YMP's defence the previous Saturday — even in a loss — had swung it for them.

Waikohu's clash with Ngatapa at Te Karaka Domain will be as tough as old boots regardless of the permutations, and the visitors know it.

Ngatapa coach Heith Hawea, his sturdy captain, blindside flanker Dan Law, and the rest of the 22-man match day squad know what's coming.

It is an epic presence that shunts representative forwards off their own goal-line and brushes by inside backs and referees alike: Waikohu tighthead prop Jarryd Broughton.

Hawea said: “We've scrummaged well so far this season, but they're a different beast in that department; it's going to be a good test for us.”

Waikohu skipper and halfback Mario Counsell is the master of a monster pack, and a thinking man's player to boot: “Our aim is to be a bit more disciplined around the ruck: to improve in the small, 1 percent areas.”

Ngatapa have the know-how up front and a spark out wide to go with it. Field position could be all for Ngatapa. Both Ngatapa and Waikohu are proud country clubs; what should be a full house in near-perfect conditions will appreciate that from 2.45pm tomorrow.

Money can't buy love in rugby.

And neither can a price be put on those special trophies contested between clubs.

Last weekend, OBM beat Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates 37-0 at Barry Park to take the Keith Webber Memorial Shield.

Tomorrow they and YMP will duke it out with Johnny Matenga in mind. Johnny passed away in 2018 and the taonga (treasure) contested by the two clubs he played for is a wonderful work by Steve Smith.

All the energy that can be expended in the battle for it will be, but no one is better suited to harnessing the passion of YMP players than head coach Kahu Tamatea.

“I want the boys to use the ball, build phases and take the opportunities we get,” he said.

Tamatea comes from one of the club's great rugby families, and OBM captain and blindside flanker Rikki Terekia hails from a club that respects all opposition.

He expects physicality to the nth degree on Oval 1 tomorrow.

“They have good players around the ruck so we'll have to be sharp around the rucks,” he said.

“YMP also have some game-breakers that we need to shut down. One-on-one tackles will need to be made.”

For intensity and desperation, look no further than High School Old Boys and Pirates on Oval 2 tomorrow.

Desperation breeds panic in weak players and teams, but it can also make some throw off the shackles, become bold, play to win.

Neither HSOB nor Pirates have won a competition game this season, although HSOB did out-run Eastern Bay of Plenty posse Te Teko — known as “Texas” — here a fortnight ago.

In the aftermath of a great match-effort against Ngatapa last Saturday, HSOB head coach Danny Boyle could content himself with the knowledge that his blue-and-whites (although Ngatapa had seized the day 34-20) had been gutsy.

“It was an awesome effort by our boys,” he said.

“Accuracy at the breakdown is something we'll work on this week. But all up we were very proud of the performance and it was good to have time with ball in hand.”

What a game it will be tomorrow if neither team can get away from the other and both are still in the contest late in the piece.

Pirates captain and hooker Bernard Nepe said simply: “There are no excuses. We'll be there ready to play on Saturday.”