Rugby: Tango dances to his own combative beat

James Tango regularly raises eyebrows with his no-fear approach when playing for the Clive premier rugby side.

Newcomers in particular to the Hawke's Bay club scene struggle to comprehend how the openside flanker who weighs less than 85kg can smash and crash his body around and seldom get hurt. Tango, 25, has been doing it at this level for seven seasons.

"My job as a self-employed fencer definitely helps. I do a lot of climbing over farm hills, often for 40 to 50 hours each week, and this complements my rugby trainings," Tango explained.

A former Hawke's Bay under-20s and Hawke's Bay Saracens under-17 representative, Tango was on fire yet again with a player-of-the-match performance as Clive pipped Central 22-21 in a thrilling Maddison Trophy third round encounter at Waipukurau's Central Park on Saturday.

This saw Tango become the 12th winner in the Tui-Hawke's Bay Today Club Player of the Year award and move into the top five on the leaderboard.

"It was a primo game but I thought we had lost it. I thought that late penalty of Central's was going over but the boys hung in there until the end," Tango said.

He was referring to the fact his side trailed 21-17 with 30 seconds remaining. Central lock Lance Baker had an opportunity to extend that lead with a late penalty or end the game should the kick go dead.

The kick missed its target, it didn't go dead, and Clive ran the ball the length of the field to produce a match-winning try for winger Corey Tautau. Clive have repeated their two wins from the Nash Cup round and Tango pointed out they have been unlucky not to have a couple more.

"If we can keep producing 80-minute efforts I'm sure there will be a couple more wins before the season ends," Tango said.

Clive hosts IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports at Farndon Park on Saturday.

"They beat us by quite a bit [49-17] in the first round. Hopefully, we can get them back this time," Tango said.

Tango combined well with his No8, Mark Atkins, who returned from an injury spell last weekend. If this pair can dominate the breakdown area for long periods like they are capable of, Clive should improve on their previous score against Hastings.

A Karamu High School product, Tango ranked Napier Technical and Magpies loosie, Trent Boswell-Wakefield a 2009 under-20 world champion, as the toughest player he has marked in the comp.

"To tell you the truth, I don't focus too much on my opponents as I'm too busy concentrating on my own game," he added.

It's an approach which has worked well for him and, as the leaderboard indicates, it's an approach, like his no-fear one, he doesn't have to change.

Best & fairestClive v Central:

3, James Tango (Clive); 2, Robbie Barr (Central); 1, Daniel Montaperto (Clive).

Havelock North v Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports:

3, Levi Armstrong (Havelock); 2, Liam Murphy (Havelock); 1, Mikey Vuicakau (Havelock).

MAC v Tamatea:

3, Jackson Waerea (MAC); 2, Shane Mataira (Tamatea); 1, Jaamin Pere (MAC).

NOBM v Hastings:

3, Mike Coman (NOBM); 2, Reece O'Leary (NOBM); 1, Migao Lauano (NOBM).

Taradale v Tech:

3, Leafi Tupuola (Taradale); 2, Scott Mogford (Tech); 1, Kaleb Sweet (Taradale).

LEADERBOARD

11 points: Hugh Reed (Tech).

10 points: Mark Braidwood (Tech).

9 points: Mark Atkins (Clive).

8 points: Ausage Fomai (Hastings), James Tango (Clive).