HERE'S a first for Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition's MVP award.
Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports fullback Sakopo Ofa is the first beekeeper to feature among the weekly winners in the nine-year history of the McDonald's-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.
"It's my first full season doing it and I'm really enjoying it. We get to travel around a lot of orchards in Hawke's Bay," Ofa said.
Ofa, 23, has also done something else few players do in the competition. This season the father of three who has been in the Bay all of his life left Maddison Trophy holders Clive to play for Hastings Rugby and Sports.
The move is paying off too. Ofa produced a player-of-the-match performance, including two tries as Hastings pipped his former club 31-27 in a Tui Nash Cup second round fixture at Elwood Park on Saturday. This saw Ofa become the second weekly winner in the battle to become the 2019 recipient of the award.
"I played for Hastings Rugby and Sports during my JAB days so I've gone back to my home club. I've had five years at Clive and I got my blazer for 50 games after going to help them out when they were short on numbers. They've got plenty of numbers now so it's time to go back home," Ofa said.
Last season he played most of his games in the midfield but is enjoying the switch to the fullback role this season.
"Now that I'm a lot fitter it's good too. Last year I got up to 115kgs. Now I'm down to 88kgs ... I'm watching my eating, cutting down on takeaways."
When Ofa was at St John's College he had three years in the 1st XV including an unbeaten tour of Australia in 2013. Hastings halfback Jayden Rihia was a teammate of his on that tour, as was Clive midfield back Duff Penitito.
A former Hawke's Bay under-19 rep, Ofa has been impressed with his Hastings team's two performances to date.
"We've got the right leaders and coaches."
He is predicting a close encounter when Hastings take on in-form unbeaten defending champions WIT Napier Old Boys Marist at Tremain Field on Saturday in the feature round three clash.
"It should be a good game and could go either way."
Ofa has set a long-term goal of securing a berth in the Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad before his career ends.
"Most of us have eyes on a Magpies jersey. It's important I take little steps and work towards it," he added.
In other matches this weekend Ofa's former team, Tremains Andrew Clark Clive, should record their first win of the season when they meet Tamatea at Bill Mathewson Park, unbeaten Taradale Rugby and Sports will start as favourites against MAC at Tareha Reserve, Progressive Meats Havelock North should maintain their unbeaten run after taking on Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical at Whitmore Park and Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports should pip Northfuels Central at Tamatea Park.
Best & Fairest
Hastings v Clive: 3, Sakopo Ofa (Hastings); 2, Donovan Mataira (Clive); 1, Jessie Lgsa-Sipaia (Hastings).
Havelock North v MAC: 3, Jacob Stephenson (Havelock); 2, Adam Blake (Havelock North); 1, Damarus Hokianga (MAC).
NOBM v Central: 3, Liam Edwards (NOBM); 2, Saia Paese (NOBM); 1, Pouvi Fatialofa (NOBM).
Pirate v Tamatea: 3, Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate); 2, Braxton Robinson (Tamatea); 1, Kane Nepe-Apatu (Pirate).
Taradale v Napier Technical: 3, Junior Malielegaoi (Taradale); 2, Jordan Kupa (Taradale); 1, Elijah Martin (Tech).
Leaderboard: 5 points: Liam Edwards (NOBM). 3: Matt Morrison, Jacob Stephenson (both Havelock North), Sakopo Ofa, Jayden Rihia (both Hastings), Tyler Symon-Burke (NOBM), Iakopo Mapu, Junior Malielegaoi (both Taradale), Tom Iosefo (MAC), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate).