Api Sione takes a break from a spraying stint while on the job for Bayley Produce at Twyford. Photo/Paul Taylor
Quiz Clive loosie Api Sione about the ingredients behind the Riversiders' dramatic turnaround in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition this season and he is quick to reply.
"We enjoy playing for each other ... our teammates and our family members who turn up each week to support us. It's a family club just like MAC who I played for before coming back to Clive," Sione explained.
K9 Petfoods Clive recorded four wins and five losses in the Nash Cup round and four of their losses were consecutive. To date in the Tui Maddison Trophy round Clive have recorded six wins and one loss and their last five matches have been victories including Saturday's 22-15 win against Havelock North at Anderson Park.
"We were lucky to come out on top. Havelock had both Lamborn brothers," Sione, 32, said referring to former Hurricane and Magpie Tony Lamborn and his brother, Sam, who was playing his 100th match for the villagers.
With a huge defensive workrate and powerful carries, Sione produced a player-of-the match performance to become the 16th weekly winner as the battle to become this season's holder of the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award continues.
"Making the Hawke's Bay Magpies team is still a goal of mine. A broken arm last year ruined my hopes of making the Hawke's Bay Samoans team but I'm hoping to make the Samoans or the Hawke's Bay Development team this year as a stepping stone towards a Magpies berth."
Should Sione and his Clive team compete well against unbeaten defending champions Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist at Farndon Park on Saturday it will give rep team selectors a reminder of what he is capable of. Having represented Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools, Under-20s and B teams in the past before heading to Wellington for a three-year stint with Petone, Sione knows what's required at the next level.
However, he isn't looking any further ahead than Saturday's assignment .
"It will give us a good gauge as to where we are at. We definitely want to finish second or third after the round which means we will have a good chance of meeting them again in the final."
A father of three boys who all play for MAC, Sione missed Clive's Nash Cup round clash against NOBM at Park Island which the hosts won. With the opportunity to mark in-form loosies and Magpies hopefuls Matt Gardner and Jospeh Penitito, Sione is counting the sleeps like a youngster waiting for Christmas.
He believed he had another three seasons of premier play at least in him.
"We've got a fourth child on the way and hopefully it's a girl. I will just keep playing until my wife tells me to stop."
A Flaxmere College product, Sione works as a labourer on apple orchards run by Bayley Produce.
"I do spraying, drive tractors and other physical stuff which helps my rugby. We're a recognised seasonal employer so we work with some awesome people."
His job reminds him of when he was 17 and he arrived in Hawke's Bay with his parents, five brothers and two sisters from Samoa in search of better opportunities. He has found those on and off the rugby field.
Best & fairest
Clive v Havelock North: 3, Api Sione (Clive); 2, Kalin Paewai (Havelock); 1, Duff Penitito (Clive).
NOBM v Hastings: 3, Chris Johnston (NOBM); 2, Mike King (NOBM); 1, Jayden Rihia (Hastings).
Pirate v Tamatea: 3, Sean Morrison (Pirate); 2, Colin Hokianga (Tamatea); 1, Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate).
Taradale v Central: 3, Chris Eaton (Taradale); 2, Tomo Fogarty (Central); 1, Karl Lepelaars (Central).
Tech v MAC: 3, Tere Joel (Tech); 2, Tom Iosefo (MAC); 1, Samu Iosua (MAC).
Leaderboard: 13 points: Chris Johnston (NOBM); 12: Matt Gardner (NOBM), Fale Matamata (Hastings); 10: Ricky Hayes (NOBM). 9: Tama Cahill (Pirate), Tere Joel, Isaiah Martin, Kaleb Sweet (all Tech), Jonty Strong (Havelock); 8: Aaron McPhee (Pirate), Tomo Fogarty (Central), Ted Walters (Tech), Jesse Paewai (Havelock), Andrew Gardner (Taradale); 7: Cole Eru (Central).