Rugby: Lock reveals Central's secrets

Central lock Ben Carpenter on the job as a teacher at Terrace School in Waipukurau. Photo/Warren Buckland

Put your hand up if you've been impressed with the improvement displayed by the Central team in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition this season.

You're not alone and lock-loosie Ben Carpenter has revealed some of the key factors in that transformation. The first was the decision of the Northfuels Central squad's players to take sevens more seriously last summer.

"We played in five tournaments before our Hawke's Bay Sevens in Waipukurau so we were a lot fitter by the time the Nash Cup comp started," Carpenter explained.

"Some of the boys have returned home from overseas and we also recruited pretty well with some exciting newcomers. This means we've got more depth than last year."

Those improved fitness levels and superior depth came into play as Central upset Napier Pirate Pirate Rugby and Sports 25-24 in a third round fixture at Tamatea Park last weekend. It was a commendable effort from the visitors who played the final 30 minutes with 14 men after hooker Hamish Carroll was red-carded.

Carpenter, 24, produced a player-of-the-match performance in Central's first win against Pirates in at least a decade to become the third weekly winner in the battle to become the 2017 winner of the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.

Carpenter had a couple of player-of-the-match displays as a loosie last season but is focusing more on lock this year.

That's an intelligent decision as he will have a better chance of achieving his goal of Hawke's Bay Saracens selection in this position than at loosie. Carpenter agreed with the general consensus after three rounds in the Tui Nash Cup.

"Obviously Napier Old Boys Marist are out on their own at the top. But anyone of the others from two to 10 can beat anyone else on any given day which is why it is a good comp."

"We're aiming to build each week in the Nash with the aim of a mid-table finish. A semifinal finish in the Maddison Trophy is a lofty goal for us but it is good to aim high," Carpenter said.

A Terrace School year six to eight teacher in Waipukurau, Carpenter, intends to continue teaching until 2019 when he hopes to embark on some OE.

"I want to head overseas to Europe or Asia and as long as there is some footy involved I will be happy."

Central should be too strong for bottom-of-the-table MAC at Waipukurau's Central Park on Friday. Defending champions Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist are capable of an 11-point win against Carters Frame and Truss Taradale at Tareha Reserve, Progressive Meats Havelock North should beat Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports by 12 at Anderson Park, K9 Petfoods Clive should pip Tamatea by seven at Bill Mathewson Park and Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports should sneak on by three against Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical at Whitmore Park.

Best & fairest:
Central v Pirate: 3, Ben Carpenter (Central); 2, Kelsey Miller (Pirate); 1, Tomo Fogarty (Central).
NOBM v Havelock: 3, Johnny Lauano (NOBM); 2, Chris Johnston (NOBM); 1, Jesse Paewai (Havelock).
Hastings v Taradale: 3, Fale Matamata (Hastings); 2, Ben Parsons (Hastings); 1, Yoshihito Sato (Taradale).
Tech v Tamatea: 3, Isaiah Martin (Tech); 2, Kaleb Sweet (Tech); 1, Ted Walters (Tech).
Clive v MAC: 3, Api Sione (Clive); 2, Beau Tresidder (Clive); 1, Jonah Lowe (Clive).
Leaderboard: 6 points: Isaiah Martin (Tech). 5: Hayden Hann (Pirate). 4: Kaleb Sweet (Tech), Fale Matamata (Hastings).