Central prop Cam Pratt on the job as an apprentice builder for W J Build. Photo / Paul Taylor
Central prop Cam Pratt is hoping to crack the Hawke's Bay under-19 rugby team for the second consecutive season.
"I want to go to the national tournament in Taupo again. It was cool seeing how professional rugby was at that level last year."
Pratt, 19, only has to keep doing what he has been doing all season for Northfuels Central and it will be hard for Hawke's Bay under-19 team head coach Blair Cross to ignore him despite the high calibre of frontrowers available for the September tournament.
Most weeks Central manager Ian Large has singled out Pratt for outstanding displays and on Saturday he was the best forward on the paddock as Central recorded their first win of the season with a 35-32 upset over K9 Petfoods Clive in a Tui Maddison Trophy second round encounter at Farndon Park.
This saw Pratt become the week 10 winner in the battle for the McDonald's-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.
"We targeted that game and we needed that win. Perseverance was the key ... we just kept going," Pratt, who favours the loosehead role, said.
Central host Taradale in the feature match of the Central club's 25th anniversary celebrations at Waipukurau's Central Park this Saturday.
Pratt pointed out the hosts have a lot to prove after a 95-0 drubbing from Taradale in their Nash Cup fixture in March.
"It will be good to test Taradale. We've got the team to beat them now," Pratt said.
An old boy of the Hastings Christian School, Pratt played for the Central club from fifth grade to 11th grade. When his family moved to Hastings he had two years of 12th grade play with Havelock North.
Last year Pratt played for the Hastings Rugby and Sports colts side which lost 34-11 to Onga Tiko in the Pat Ryan Memorial Cup competition final - a curtainraiser to the Maddison Trophy final on McLean Park.
"I'm really happy with how I'm going. I'm lucky to be around good coaches and good players who teach me a lot."
Pratt pointed out he has had a few training sessions with former Maori All Black, Highlanders and Magpies prop Brendon Edmonds. And Magpies lock Tom Parsons and former Manawatu Turbos hooker Travis Taylor, who both play for Central, have given him plenty of tips.
"Making the Magpies team is the long-term goal. I have to try to get noticed and I will do that if I keep doing what I've been doing."
Pratt ranked former All Black and Magpies prop Ben Franks and his brother, All Black and Crusaders prop Owen Franks, as his rugby heroes.
"They are such good technicians when it comes to frontrow play."
Check out photos of Owen Franks in his younger days and there is definitely a resemblance to Pratt. Perhaps that could prove to be a lucky omen for him.
With the likes of Hastings Rugby and Sports Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe, who Pratt ranked as the toughest prop he has marked, Aleki Vuki, and Jacob Devery, Tamatea's Kianu Kereru-Symes, 2017 world champion Baby Blacks Tim Farrell of the Tech club and Pirate Pouri Rakete-Stones and Pratt Hawke's Bay should be well served in the frontrow department for the next decade at least.
Best & fairest
Central v Clive: 3, Cam Pratt (Central); 2, Rana Huata (Clive); 1, Jason Cutbush (Central).
NOBM v MAC: 3, Ricky Hayes (NOBM); 2, Chris Johnston (NOBM); 1, Tyler Symone-Bourke (NOBM).
Taradale v Tamatea: 3, Kaleb Whakataka (Taradale); 2, Lincoln McClutchie (Tamatea); 1, Mason Kean (Tamatea).
Havelock North v Napier Technical: 3, Phil McRoberts (Havelock), 2, Slade Lange (Tech); 1, Adam Bradey (Havelock).
Hastings v Pirate: 3, Folau Fakatava (Hastings); 2, Jacob Devery (Hastings); 1, Ted Symes (Pirate).
Leaderboard: 14 points: Chris Johnston (NOBM). 9: Johnny Ika (MAC). 8: Aleki Vuki (Hastings). 7: Hannon Brighouse (NOBM), Fa'alemiga Selesele (MAC), Lincoln McClutchie (Tamatea). 6: Mark Braidwood (Tech), Mason Kean (Tamatea).