THIS has been the greatest threat.
The Wairoa sub-union — made up of Wairoa Athletic, Mahia, Nuhaka, Tapuae, YMP of Raupunga and TKT — will challenge Uawa in Tolaga Bay for the iconic Barry Cup at 2.30pm tomorrow.
Wairoa have an experienced coaching staff led by Mac Kapene — whose TKT crew hold the Ringa Kapene Shield as winners of the home-round in 2016 — and Guy Taylor, whose YMP side defended the Ron Parker Memorial Cup against Flaxmere in Hawke’s Bay’s third division.
Forwards the key to unleashing attackTapuae player-coach Wayne Hema, who with 14 men won the Lew Patterson Cup as Poverty Bay’s Senior 1 champions, will start at hooker tomorrow.
“This is going to be a hard game — it’s a good thing that our forwards are fit and well-drilled enough to get on top,” said Uawa head coach Tip Nukunuku, whose men drew 5-5 with Waikohu a fortnight ago and who last Sunday beat Ruatoria 32-0.
“We’re expecting a physical battle up front but if we perform there, I think our backs will have the edge out wide.”
Wairoa have a hard-nosed captain in lock Brendon Bishop, who was at the helm when Athletic won the 2016 Poverty Bay Senior 1 title. He will lead a fierce and spirited challenge.
“They have a quality forward pack and they’ve got a speedy backline too,” Bishop said.
“We’re going to have to pull out a big one. Everyone’s expecting a fight.”
“It was a tough game last year. We matched them in the forwards but they were expansive out wide.
“The people there are very passionate — a great club to play, great ground to play at.
“We may take two buses to Tolaga — one just for supporters and one full of players,” said Wairoa sub-union chairman Toby Taylor, who is determined that his crew will not be swamped from the reserves bench.
The visitors would be comforted to know that in both the Waikohu and Ruatoria challenges, the sideline control of assistant referee Colin Shanks on the grandstand touch greatly contributed to the management of the game.
This will be referee Les Thomas’s second Barry Cup match of the season.
Wairoa lost 38-15 to Poverty Bay in Mahia, but Isaac Hikawai and Sean Taylor scored excellent tries with a conversion and penalty by Kurt Taylor. Wairoa competed hard against the likes of flyer George Halley and the Bay’s most capped player, Sione Ngatu.
Reg Namana has played great rugby for Uawa in the past fortnight but his place in the second row has been taken by Matt Jefferd. Kelvin Smith moves from second five-eighth to first-five in light of the return of Tane McGuire. Two try-hero against Ruatoria, Tawhao Stewart, moves from the midfield to take the left-wing berth of Vllayne Whakataka — who also scored last Sunday — and Halley replaces Storm Moran on the right wing.
Uawa’s front row and back row remain the same, and they are the granite pillar on which Uawa’s Barry Cup reign rests.
Dan Knubley, Moana Nuku and Laman Davies were tested up front by Waikohu in Game 1 and maintain a high work-rate in general play. They no doubt appreciate one of the Barry Cup’s most intriguing features: the ability of players to rest and return.
Hayden Pardoe, Rikki Kernohan and Harley Phillips have been superb from six to eight this Barry Cup season, and while Uawa will field arguably their best backline of the season tomorrow, their forwards must double their effort against Wairoa.
Wairoa coach Kapene is confident that his team have trained well. He is pleased that all the clubs are represented in his side, and they have received great local support.
They go to Uawa Domain expecting a tough game.
“The main thing is mental toughness,” Kapene said.
“Fitness plays a part but once the boys get out there, they’ve just got to play for each other and reach down deep. They’ve got to get up off the ground and get it from somewhere.
“Uawa have great mana — they’re the holders. When it comes to these games, we’ve all got to lift. You have to, to win the Barry Cup.”
There are big expectations of Kapene’s side in Wairoa. Hopes are high in the clubs and township, with some fans from the sub-union set to make the trip to watch their team challenge for the Barry Cup for the first time in 30 years.
Teams:
UAWA (1-22): Dan Knubley, Moana Nuku, Laman Davies, Matt Jefferd, Juston Allen, Hayden Pardoe, Rikki Kernohan, Harley Phillips, Chris Richardson, Kelvin Smith, Tawhao Stewart, Tane McGuire, Te Peehi Fairlie, George Halley, BJ Sidney (captain). Reserves: Mike Chambers-Raroa, Matekairoa McGuire, Paranihi Houia, Brad Sidney, Te Atapo Kirikiri, Rocky Monika, Vllayne Whakataka, Drew Hunt, Jesse Rye.
WAIROA (1-22): Jeke Whatuira, Wayne Hema (vice-captain), Jordan Biddle, Brendon Bishop (captain), Jeremy Bright, Trevor Tahuri, Kurt Taylor, Quentin King, Tahu Taylor, Tione Hubbard, Manua Smith, Canning Taumata, Hickson Raroa, Sitiveni Masove, Sean Taylor. Reserves: Tana Culshaw, Wiremu Ropotini, Damian Te Tauha, Nathaniel Solomon, Dave Gallagher, Haylen McKenzie, Sone Momoesia.