Don't be surprised if Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's outside back Jonah Lowe gets another game against the Lions later this month.
That was the message from his Clive club side's head coach Blair Cross last night as he reflected on Lowe's contribution to the Provincial Barbarians gutsy performance during a 13-7 loss to the Lions at Whangarei's Toll Stadium on Saturday night. Lowe took the field as an 18th-minute replacement for Inga Finau when the Canterbury centre collected a shoulder injury.
He impressed with his defensive workrate and all-round enthusiasm. Lowe made the most of his limited attacking opportunities and was unlucky not to score when Counties-Manukau winger Sam Vaka failed to realise Lowe was unmarked and available for an inside pass after Vaka did well to gather a kick ahead and keep the ball in play.
"I thought Jonah was really keen. He probably expected between 20 and 30 minutes so to play 60-odd was an impressive effort," Cross said.
"Jonah has been hanging for some game time at the next level after training so well with the Hurricanes but as yet has not had a crack at Super level. I was down at the Hurricanes headquarters the other week and the Canes coaching staff have been impressed with how hard he has been working.