Rugby: Amped fullback fires for Texans

Eyeing Gaps: Napier Technical fullback Jordan Faia on the job at Altherm Windows Systems in Napier. Photo/Warren Buckland

Fans hoping to catch up with Napier Technical fullback Jordan Faia at after-match functions will be out of luck.

Once opponents' hands are shook and Faia is showered he leaves for church where he looks after the sound system for the band. His Tech coaches are happy to approve those early departures and no doubt will continue to do so if Faia continues to play like he did during Saturday's 38-7 Tui Maddison Trophy fourth round win against Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports at Elwood Park.

Like his sound system, Faia, 25, was humming and tuned to perfection. He ran the right lines and set up his outside runners well on attack and was a rock on defence as the Texans secured second place on the points table and ended their hosts' unbeaten run at home this season.

Faia was a popular choice for player-of-the-match honours and the obvious 13th weekly winner as the tussle to become the 2017 holder of the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award continues. Faia is in his fourth season with the Tech premiers after progressing through the ranks of the club's colts and development grade teams.

He agreed Saturday's performance was the best by a Tech backline during his time with the club and it was his best individual display.

"It was good to get heaps of ball from the forwards who do all the hard work. It was early ball so we were able to get some metres from it.

"I didn't expect that team performance because we had low numbers at trainings because of work commitments and injuries. Fortunately we were all able to turn up to the game early and do some team drills like we would have done at training," Faia recalled.

Spectators at the match will probably be surprised to know Faia was only a 4th XV player during his days at Napier Boys' High School.

"I didn't push myself at school. I just wanted to play with my mates in the fourths and at the same time I also played for the Taradale colts. When I left school I got a job at Altherm Window Systems who sponsor the Tech club so I switched to Tech."

Faia got married last year and didn't have the time to chase representative honours. This season he is hoping to crack the final cut for the Hawke's Bay Samoans and it will be a surprise if he doesn't.

He was called in as injury cover for the Texans squad which won the 2013 Maddison Trophy final and although he never got to take the field he received a winner's medal.

"I've played in winning Nash Cup teams and Challenge Shield teams in the past. I'm really keen to play in a Maddison Trophy final now," Faia said.

He knows his team will get an ideal indication as to how close they are to a final berth when they host unbeaten defending champions Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist on Saturday at Whitmore Park.

"The boys will be amped for this game. We've got to be positive and if we play like last weekend it should be a good game. They are pretty good and they don't kick the ball much. It should be a good game up front and it will come down to who can cross the line first," Faia predicted.

When Faia isn't playing or training for rugby, at work or at church he will more than likely be found at the gym or on the public golf course at Awatoto.

"Golf is a good way to loosen up. I'm trying to break 50 as often as I can," he added.

Best & fairest
■ Technical v Hastings: 3, Jordan Faia (Tech); 2, Dylan Ramsay (Tech); 1, Ted Walters (Tech).
■ NOBM v Taradale: 3, Matt Gardner (NOBM); 2, Hannon Brighouse (NOBM); 1, Andrew Gardner (Taradale).
■ Central v MAC: 3, Karl Lepelaars (Central); 2, Kody Lancaster (Central); 1, Sam Poroutu (MAC).
■ Clive v Tamatea: 3, Jorian Tangaere (Clive); 2, Bronson Hokianga (Clive); 1, Jimi Harris (Tamatea).
■ Pirate v Havelock North: 3, Kelsey Miller (Pirate); 2, Teihana Brown (Havelock); 1, Jesse Kapene (Pirate).
Leaderboard: 12 points: Fale Matamata (Hastings); 9: Matt Gardner (NOBM), Jonty Strong (Havelock), Isaiah Martin, Kaleb Sweet (both Tech); 8: Ricky Hayes (NOBM), Jesse Paewai (Havelock). 7: Cole Eru (Central), Aaron McPhee (Pirate).