Rugby: Talking the talk, walking the walk

Matt Hill on the job as an account manager for 2degrees Mobile. Photo/Warren Buckland

There's one team Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports centre Matt Hill hates losing to ... Napier Old Boys Marist.

"It's always a big game against them and for the last couple of years we've come off second best. It was nice to get one back," Hill, a former NOBM junior grade player, said as he reflected on the weekend's 31-30 third round Maddison Trophy win at Tamatea Park.

The fact his side trailed 24-5 at halftime added to the significance of the victory. Hill's line breaks and diligent defensive work, alongside fellow midfielder Jackson Neilson, in his best outing of the season for Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports saw him become the 12th weekly winner as the tussle for the Tui-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award continued.

It was an appropriate reward for Hill, one member of a three generation family playing for the Pirate club, in his 55th outing for the side. The oldest of his two children, seven-year-old Talaya, plays for the club's eighth grade team and his 54-year-old father Greg, who clocked up 100 games for the premiers in 2011, still turns out for the club's third division team.

Hill played for the club's last Maddison Trophy-winning team in 2011, his first season back in the Bay after eight years in Wellington where he made the Lions extended squad before injuries forced rugby to take a back seat to his off field career pursuits. He believes this season's Pirate team can emulate the feats of the 2011 edition and capture the Maddison Trophy.

"To us the Nash Cup round was an experimental one. During the Maddison rounds we're putting out our best team in each game and apart from a 20 minute period against Taradale we've proved we can compete with the best," Hill said.

His blossoming combination with Neilson is proving to be a big plus for the side.

"Jackson is having a big year and it's nice to be outside him feeding off his positive energy," Hill said.

A 2004 New Zealand Secondary Schools representative after his second year in the Napier Boys' High School 1st XV, Hill has worked as an account manager with 2degrees Mobile for the past eight months. He pointed out because it isn't a physical job he is usually fresh and eager for training sessions and game days.

"There's also a bit of flexibility which allows me to get to the gym," he added.

With this sort of lifestyle there's a chance Hill will achieve his goal of playing for the club as long as his father. There's likely to be a few more club MVP three pointers to come his way too.