Rugby: Time for talk over in HB club final

OPENSIDES RULE: Taradale's Kaleb Whakataka (left) and NOBM's Chris Johnston are likely to influence the outcome of today's final. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

TARADALE flanker Kaleb Whakataka is the first to admit he fell into the trap and let emotions get the better of him in his last outing against his former club, Napier Old Boys Marist.

He played the man more than he should have and drifted away from his core duties.

"I've got that out of my system now. This week I can focus on the rugby," Whakataka said in the lead-up to today's Maddison Trophy final at Napier's McLean Park.

"It's going to be a humbling experience to play a Maddison final in my second year of premier rugby against the old club."

Whakataka, 20, agreed his clash with NOBM openside Chris Johnston could have a big influence on the outcome of the game, particularly if the weather conditions are as bad as expected. Taradale proved in their semifinal win last weekend they can play the tight game with aplomb.

"If there is no other option, we will play that way and hope it works. Win or lose, I'm going to be so proud of how far we've come this season considering the struggles we've had and the inexperience we've got ... three of our players are younger than me," Whakataka said.

A builder's labourer for Build 100, Whakataka is hoping to be named in the Hawke's Bay Saracens squad tomorrow.

"It would make a choice weekend if I could be selected for the Saracens and collect my first Maddison Trophy winner's medal."

Johnston, 24, is also chasing his first medal. The Farmlands stockbuyer is in his second season with NOBM after one with Napier Technical.

Before coming to the Bay, he won three Waikato club titles with the Fraser Tech club, which was coached by former Magpies and All Black winger Roger Randle. Johnston said the big difference between this year's NOBM team, which already has the Nash Cup and Hawke's Bay Challenge Shield locked away, and last year's team was the intense competition for spots this season.

"You have one bad game and you know you will lose your spot. There is so much depth in our team and through the club ... we've used 44 players in our premier team and back at Fraser Tech we used to use between 40 and 44 in a season."

Last year Johnston regularly switched between the forwards and backs. This season he has only had to play in the backs once and apart from another run at No8, all his games have been in the No7 jersey.

Regardless of the conditions Johnston promised NOBM would stick to the expansive entertaining style they have used all season.

"Nothing changes. Yes, it's a final but it's still another game," he added.

HBI Insurances NOBM head coach Craig Gowler refused to accept the favourite's tag despite his troops recording 32-3 and 34-21 wins against Taradale earlier this season.

"I'm happy with the season we've had and we've played some pretty exciting rugby. However we know Taradale are the big improvers and they will be dangerous," Gowler said.

"It will be close and the team which wins will be the one which makes the least errors and doesn't let the emotion associated with the occasion over-run them."

Gowler has made two changes to the starting XV used in last weekend's semifinal. The experienced Terry Marsh replaces Logan Ede at hooker and Zac Donaldson returns from injury to replace Boris Bouhraoua at halfback.

During his playing days with Manawatu, Gowler had three games on McLean Park and was never in the winning team. Naturally he hopes that sequence ends today.

Carters Frame and Truss Taradale head coach Jason Shoemark has kept last weekend's tryscoring hero Ellery Tareha on the subs bench. He has replaced right winger Wade Woolly with the more experienced Leafi Tupuola.

Captain Andrew Gardner shifts from blindside flanker to lock as a replacement for century achiever Reon Watts. This move allows the exciting Sisa Vosaki to start in the 6 jersey.

"It's going to be a massive challenge. They are the form team and we need to to put them under pressure," Shoemark said.

While the former Magpies captain has been in teams which have won the Maddison, he never got to play in the final because the Magpies were always taken out by that stage.

If winner's medals were handed to the most improved team, Shoemark would collect one.

"Being a coach makes me more nervous than when I was playing. I know I'm in for a big day tomorrow," he added yesterday.

-NAPIER OLD BOYS' MARIST: David Benson, Mark Collier, Migao Lauano, Sam Giddens, Liam Edwards, Johnny Lauano, Zac Donaldson, Joseph Penitito, Chris Johnston, Willy Benson, Tom Bywater, Sean Skeet (captain), Jarvy Aoake, Terry Marsh, Mike King.

Substitutes, forwards: Logan Ede, Eugene Gerrard, Hannon Brighouse, Jack Nelson-Murray. Backs: Boris Bouhraoua, Jack Lee, Eddie Stevens.

-TARADALE: Dan McIntyre, Leafi Tupuola, Josh Mahoni, Uta Tupuola, Nick Martin, Gregor McNeish, Karl Hewitt, Jacob Baker, Kaleb Whakataka, Sisa Vosaki, Angelo Mufana, Andrew Gardner (captain), Joe Simeon, Jack Byrne, Reese Aranui.

Substitutes, forwards: Ellery Tareha, Mike McLachlan, Reon Watts, Kaleb Sweet.

Backs: Thomas Eden, Wade Woolly, Jobey Pomare.