Touch: Bay star misses local 'test match' for international duty against Aussies

International Duty: Ashton Robinson-Bartlett will be taking on the world champion Aussies in touch this weekend. Photo/Supplied

It's been labelled the "test match" for more than three decades ... that's the Hawke's Bay premier club rugby match between Tamatea and MAC.

The clash between two proud Hawke's Bay Maori clubs often features neighbour against neighbour, workmate against workmate, cousin against cousin and on the odd occasion brother against brother. For players from both teams this is the one game in the season they never want to miss and the 2017 Tui Nash Cup encounter between the two clubs will be played at Bill Mathewson Park, Hastings tomorrow.

One player who will be missing but with a good excuse is Tamatea utility back Ashton Robinson-Bartlett.

"I wish I was there but international commitments come first," Robinson-Bartlett said shortly after arriving on Australia's Sunshine Coast this week.

Robinson-Bartlett is the sole Hawke's Bay rep in the New Zealand Open Men's touch team which will take on Australia in a three-test Transtasman Series which will see tests played tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. The Kiwis warmed up for the series with a match against Japan last night.

"Making this team is the highlight of my career. Now that I'm in the side I want to try and stay in it for the 2019 World Cup in Malaysia," middle player Robinson-Bartlett, 21, said.

A father of one and carpentry course student at EIT, Robinson-Bartlett, was a member of the New Zealand Open Mixed team which lost all three tests in last year's Trans Tasman Test Series by one touch down. He is confident he will be on the winning team this weekend.

"The Aussies are the world champions and it's going to be tough. But all the systems we have worked on during some two-day camps are good and we've ticked every box in our preparation," Robinson-Bartlett said.

He ranked his uncle and former New Zealand Open Men's rep Nui Bartlett as his favourite touch player and another uncle, long-time touch coach and Tamatea rugby team head coach Matt Marsh as his biggest role model. One would have understood if Marsh was a man of mixed emotions in the wake of Robinson-Bartlett's national selection but there was nothing but admiration for one of his best projects.

"Ash is playing for his country and he has done well. His selection is not only a tribute to the work he has done but all the fundraising his partner [Maddie Pakoti] has done for him," Marsh said.

"The New Zealand team is rebuilding with the next generation. Looking at the other players in the squad I'm picking Ash will become of their strike players and stay there for a while ... providing he can continue to pay the money required to play at that level."

Marsh said Robinson-Bartlett was one of eight regulars who will be missing from the host team tomorrow. Other key players Ivan Bellamy, Te Maangi Hamlin, Pohaitere Ross and Hunta Marsh will also be missing.

"It's going to be a test of our depth and courage," Marsh said.

MAC coach Anthony Morley said his troops would not allow Marsh to claim the underdogs tag.

"Tamatea have had two wins, we've had none and we're going to their turf. I've also heard Hika Elliot could be turning our for them in the Chiefs bye week and we all know how much of a boost he gives Tamatea when he takes the field for them."

"But we're close to full strength and have trained well. It's a good time to get a win and I know Tom and Vai are ready," Morely added referring to his key backs and former Tamatea players Tom Iosefo and Vai Kereti.

In other round eight games Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical should celebrate their club day with a 17-point win against Northfuels Central at Whitmore Park, Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports should celebrate their club day with a 19-point victory against Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Elwood Park and defending champions Hawke's Bay Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist should beat K9 Petfood Clive by seven at Park Island.