Rugby: Napier Pirate lock Tama Cahill backs up handy CV with six best and fairest points

Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports lock Tama Cahill on the job as a livestock farmer for Apatu Farms with Rogue his dog. Photo/Duncan Brown

Considering his late start to the Hawke's Bay premier club rugby season Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports lock Tama Cahill is certainly making an impact.

Six best and fairest points from as many appearances is a top effort when one takes into account the fact Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports have won only two of those six games. But a glance at Cahill's sporting CV will suggest it isn't a surprise.

A former Hawke's Bay under-16 rugby rep, Cahill, 27, is having his first taste of premier rugby after playing in the top league age-group competitions in Australia during a five-year stint across the Tasman.

He played for the Sydney Roosters at under-18 level and then the Melbourne Storm at under-20 level before fellow Hawke's Bay age-group product and a then future Kiwi, Tohu Harris, replaced him.

"Tohu was too good. I then played a bit of rugby in Melbourne before deciding to come back to New Zealand to take up shearing. While shearing was good I decided if I went back to farming I would have more time for rugby and hunting so that's what I did," said Cahill, who is now working as a livestock farmer for Apatu Farms.

The Central Hawke's Bay College product delivered a player-of-the-match performance in the Pirate team's 22-19 Tui Maddison Trophy third-round win in Waipukurau on Saturday to become the 12th weekly winner as the battle to become the 2017 holder of the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award continued.

He was one of two Pirate players of CHB origin - second five-eighth Kane Nepe-Apatu was the other - to shine for the visitors.

"I'm from Otane and Central beat the Pirate boys in the Nash Cup round by one point so it was good to help them get a bit of redemption," Cahill said.

It's no secret the Pirate forward pack can compete with the best in the comp when at full strength. Cahill pointed out their backs are starting to click too.

"Kane and our centre Hayden Hann are starting to develop a good combination. They are not big blokes and I know opposing teams target them but they've got big hearts," Cahill explained.

When the father of two was quizzed about his representative ambitions he replied: "Representative rugby is in the back of every player's mind. But I need to get fit if I want to chase those honours and I'm still learning the locking role. I prefer the 6 or 8 roles but everyone wants to play there. I'll just play anywhere as long as I get a game."

There's no doubt Cahill is not afraid of setting major goals. Nor are his team.

"I know Napier Old Boys Marist are way up there but we'll beat them this round," he said before his dog Rogue barked him back to work.

If Progressive Meats Havelock North's defensive systems remain as flimsy as they were last week and their forward pack is as loose the Pirate team could upset them with a three-point victory at Tamatea Park on Saturday. Expect the defending champions, Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist, to retain the Challenge Shield with a 17-point win against Carters Frame and Truss Taradale at Park Island.

The tussle for second place between Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports and Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical has the potential to be a thriller - a six-point victory either way.

Northfuels Central should pip MAC by three points at Waipukurau's Central Park and K9 Petfoods Clive have the potential to beat Tamatea by nine at Farndon Park.

Best & fairest
■ Pirate v Central: 3, Tama Cahill (Pirate); 2, Mitch McFadden (Central); 1, Kane Nepe-Apatu (Pirate).
■ NOBM v Havelock North: 3, Matt Gardner (NOBM); 2, Sam Weber (NOBM); 1, Kalin Paewai (Havelock North).
■ Hastings v Taradale: 3, Ausage Fomai (Hastings); 2, Nick Biss (Taradale); 1, Jardine Chung Ching (Hastings).
■ Clive v MAC: 3, Tianua Poto (Clive); 2, Kendall Gemmell (MAC); 1, Tali Faiumu (Clive).
■ Tech v Tamatea: 3, Tere Joel (Tech); 2, Tane McGuire (Tech); 1, Johnny Bristol (Tech).
Leaderboard: 12 points: Fale Matamata (Hastings). 9: Jonty Strong (Havelock), Isaiah Martin, Kaleb Sweet (both Tech). 8: Ricky Hayes (NOBM), Jesse Paewai (Havelock). 7: Cole Eru (Central), Aaron McPhee (Pirate).