Taradale premier rugby captain Andrew Gardner. PHOTO/Warren Buckland
It has the makings of a perfect script for Taradale premier rugby captain Andrew Gardner.
"Yes, there's no better game to bring up the hundy. The boys have trained well and everyone is fizzing," Gardner said yesterday as he pondered his 100th outing for Carters Frame and Truss Taradale today.
His unbeaten troops will take on Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist at Park Island in a top-of-the-table clash. A Taradale win will see the visitors secure the Tui Nash Cup with one round remaining.
"Marist have been our bogey team, particularly last year when we didn't beat them. But we just have to keep doing what we've been doing and we should be right," Gardner, 24, said.
A product of Dilworth School in Auckland, Gardner, made his debut for the Mighty Maroons in 2009, the year Taradale completed the Nash Cup-Maddison Trophy double. The fourth year captain agreed there's a similar feeling within the squad this season to what he experienced that year, particularly with the Taradale Colts and third division teams winning their first round titles and the reserve grade side on track for a first round final berth.
"Once you start winning the good culture returns. It was pleasing to see the Colts get some silverware as they have had a few hidings during the last few years," Gardner explained.
He pointed out some of the colts have filled in for the premiers and not looked out of place. Gardner is predicting a promising future for the Colts' openside flanker Jacob Baker.
A member of the Magpies wider training group in recent seasons without making the ITM Cup squad, Gardner, didn't make the cut this season but he hasn't discounted the possibility of featuring in the group again.
"You never say never. That's everyone's goal and if the opportunity came I would jump at it but there are a lot of talented loosies around."
With three members of the Magpies wider training group, Mark Atkins, Tom Stanley and Kaleb Sweet, filling Tardale's starting loosie positions today, Gardner will start at lock for the second consecutive week.
"It doesn't bother me as long as I've got a number from 1-15 on my back."
A Hurricanes title winner with Hawke's Bay's under-20 team in 2009 and 2010, Gardner, is excited about some of the matchups in today's game, including at halfback where Taradale's former Hurricane Chris Eaton will mark Ellery Wilson. The return of Magpies prop Jody Allen from injury will be a major boost to the visitors.
A builder for his brother and fellow Taradale forward Harvey Gardner at Build 100, Gardner, is a flatmate of injured Magpies and Hastings Rugby and Sports lock Tom Parsons. He regards former Magpies and Napier Old Boys Marist captain Michael Johnson as the toughest player he has marked.
"During my time in the Magpies training squad MJ was always there and gave me a few pointers even though he was a Marist man," Gardner, who boasts the nickname Red, said again indicating the intense rivalry which exists between the two Napier clubs.
Other eighth round Nash Cup encounters today will see defending champions Progressive Meats Havelock North host MAC at Anderson Park, Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical host IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports at Whitmore Park, Tamatea host Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Bill Mathew-son Park and Clive host Northfuels Central at Farndon Park.