Rugby: Slingsby's poised to carve up 200 games

Warwick Slingsby

Thirteen years after his first, Warwick Slingsby will play his 200th match for the Central premier rugby team today.

Slingsby, 33, could have reached the milestone sooner had he not spent a couple of seasons in the United Kingdom playing for the Kirkby Lonsdale club in 2004 and '05 and had the self-employed bulk spreader not restricted his availability to the second round in 2013 because of work commitments. His Northfuels Central team will host Tamatea in a second round Tui Maddison Trophy fixture at Central Park.

Although Tamatea are winless this season Slingsby, who played his age group rugby in Porangahau before going to Central Hawke's Bay College where he played at 1st XV level and then the Central club's colts, isn't anticipating "an easy win" on his big day. "Tamatea surprised us when we played them in Hastings [Central won 17-0] ... they are a bit like us and don't have a lot of depth. But they have pushed a few teams during the first half. At the same time we will aim for a win first and then the bonus point," Slingsby said.

A club committee member for the past five years and husband of former secretary-treasurer, Rebekah, Slingsby, prefers the blindside flanker role but has been happy to play hooker in recent seasons to allow promising loosies Tomo Fogarty and Jason Cutbush to strut their stuff.

"I don't mind moving up to the front row but it's better doing it on a game-by-game basis rather than switching roles during a game," Slingsby explained.

A regular Central Bebbington Shield sub union team rep over the years, Slingsby will be available for the holders again this season. One of his career highlights was helping the sub union team beat the Wairarapa Bush Heartland Championship team in a Bebbington shield fixture in 2009 which doubled as the Wairarapa Bush outfit's final rehearsal for a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Wellington.

"As for highlights with the Central club team ... every time you beat Havelock North is a highlight," Slingsby said referring to the three victories he has played in against the Maddison Trophy holders - two at home and one at Anderson Park.

Former Magpies captains Michael Johnson and Mutu Ngarimu and current Magpies loosie Trent Boswell-Wakefield are the toughest players he has marked during his 11 seasons of toil on the Bay club rugby scene.

"MJ [Johnson] was the fittest. When you played Mutu you had to get your technique right otherwise he would run all over you."

Slingsby is unsure whether much fuss will be made about his 200th today and believed it may be acknowledged at Central's club day on June 27 when they host Nash Cup holders Taradale. He said he is just rapt Central is able to field a competitive premier team this season after fears at the start of the year a lack of numbers may force the team to withdraw from the comp.

"Down here in the country players shift jobs regularly. The solid core of players is no longer the same season-to-season but I'm quite surprised at how well we're doing.

"Players are there because they want to be there," he added.

Slingsby's milestone should inspire Central to a 19-point win. In other matches Carters Frame and Truss Taradale should retain the Challenge Trophy with a 13-point victory against Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Taradale, MAC should beat K9 Petfoods Clive by nine at Farndon Park, Progressive Meats Havelock North should pip Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical by three at Whitmore Park and Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist should pip Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports by five at Elwood Park.