Rugby: Captain steers side towards main final

Ben Hamelink manages more than 40 hours a week as a property valuer for Turley & Co, as well as his rugby commitments. Photo / Duncan Brown

Hastings Rugby and Sports captain Ben Hamelink is the first to admit his team under achieved during the Nash Cup segment of the Bay's premier club comp.

Their sixth placing did not do justice to the ammunition available to flanker Hamelink and co-coaches Aaron Bartlett and Karl Jones.

"There were a couple of games we should have won which we didn't and in the end it was a disappointing finish," Hamelink recalled.

Two weeks into the Maddison Trophy segment and Hamelink could not be happier with their top-of-the-table berth.

"Early in the season we set the Maddison Trophy final as a goal and we've been working towards that. We've definitely made a good start," Hamelink said.

His outstanding form has been a key factor in the positive start. Hamelink, 23, produced a player-of-the-match performance as Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports upset Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Bys Marist 32-12 at Elwood Park on Saturday. This saw him become the 11th weekly winner as the tussle for the Tui-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award continued.

"I was stoked to get one back on NOBM and get a bonus point after they beat us 23-20 with a last-minute try four weeks ago," Hamelink said.

The 2014 New Zealand Marist Colts MVP has been a member of the Magpies wider training group for the past six weeks.

"I'm enjoying it and want to make the most of it. Hopefully, I get a chance to play in next week's Saracens game against the Manawatu Evergreens in Waipukurau and one of the early Ranfurly Shield defences," he said.

Hamelink was in the Hawke's Bay Sevens squad last summer and while the side failed to qualify for the nationals, he said the experience gained has made him keen to have a crack again next summer.

"The fitness and skill levels one gets out of Sevens will help with my long-term goal of a berth in the Magpies ITM Cup squad.

" Hopefully, I can become a regular in the Saracens this season and learn as much as possible, which will help me get up to the next level within the next two to three years."

Should he reach that level, Hamelink will have the opportunity to play with or against some of his teammates from the 2009 Hurricanes title-winning Hawke's Bay under-18 team. This side boasted five future Super Rugby players in Ben Tameifuna, Gareth Evans, Ihaia West, Brad Weber and All Black Dominic Bird and a future Kiwis rugby league rep in Tohu Harris.

A property valuer with Turley & Co since May last year, Hamelink, has been studying for 5 years and will sit his final exam on Monday. He pointed out fitting his 40 hours-plus a week job around trainings for his club and Magpies wider training group has required some juggling but he has managed it.

Should he get game time next Wednesday expect Hamelink to be dangerous. That freedom feeling after a final exam has the potential to be the perfect fuel.