GAME ON: Club rugby players will have the chance to show off their wares to the new rep coaches. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD
WHAT promises to be an intriguing 2015 season for Wairarapa-Bush rugby kicks off tomorrow with first round matches being played in the premier division and senior reserve competitions.
The new artificial turf on the No 1 ground at Memorial Park won't be ready for another couple of weeks but, when that happens, it will be interesting to see how teams react to performing on a surface foreign to them. One hopes the guarantee of firm footing despite weather conditions will see the games played at a pace quicker than on grass and any edge in fitness will become of greater consequence.
It will be interesting too to see what effect the appointment of a new head coach, Josh Syms, and assistant coach, Wayne Roache, will have on the make-up of the Wairarapa-Bush Heartland championship squad. Failing to qualify for either the Meads Cup or Lochore Cup play-offs last season was a huge disappointment and Syms and Roache will have to decide whether the time is ripe to "blood" several rookies on the representative scene, or whether the old brigade are worth persevering with.
Roache coached Eketahuna to success in the Tui Cup premier competition last season. His elevation to assistant rep coach has Chris Osborne taking over the Eketahuna role to guide a team which will have the mercurial Sam Monaghan as its playmaker and other proven performers such as Hamish Walker, Zac Wilkie, Jarred Brock and Nathan Ebbett in the forwards and Paula Tikomainavalu, Tom Meuli and Jordan Bennett-Davies in the backs.
Up against Eketahuna tomorrow is East Coast, coached by Duane Poulsen and assisted by Ritchie Robertson. With regular halfback Zeb Aporo now coach of Carterton and two of their more experienced backs, Byron Karaitiana and Nick Olson, playing for Greytown it is inevitable that questions will arise over East Coast's ability to make the same impact as in the past in an attacking sense. First-five Utah Walker and wing Regan Frew will be the mainstays in the rearguard while Joe Feast, Sully Alsop, Hayden Kerr, Wiremu Grace and a newcomer, flanker Leroy Pitt, are forwards to watch.
Last year's beaten finalists, Gladstone, again have Steve Thompson calling the shots from the coaching bench and with John Stevenson, Richard Puddy and Andrew McLean they have three experienced campaigners to lead their pack. Inia Katia and Cameron Hayton provide similar experience in the backs.
Gladstone take on Carterton tomorrow and going in the space of one season from premier division player to premier division coach is a big ask for Aporo but with the McFadzean boys, Johnie, Lochie and Cory, all pulling on the Carterton jersey this season that's a major plus for him, as is the promise displayed last season by young prop Jacko Hull.
Doing battle on the Memorial Park No 2 ground tomorrow will be the two Masterton-based teams in the Tui Cup competition, Marist and Pioneer. Matches between these two lack nothing in intensity and this should be no exception.
Marist, coached by Nathan "Chopper" Couch, made handy progress last season and have had big numbers trying out for their flagship side.
Expect big things from James Goodger, Shannon Rimene and Kieran O'Brien up front while picking up lively halfback Joseph Sio from Greytown means the attacking skills of Malatai Malatai and Michael Te Whare should be given full rein.
Pioneer, who have Victor Thompson as coach, will be relying on Rima Marurai, Matt Kawana, Jayden Mason and Jahrome Graham to show the way in the pack and talented backs Joseph Thompson and Nikora Ewe are sure to make their presence felt.
The fourth premier division game tomorrow has Greytown hosting Martinborough. Having backs of the calibre of Olson and Karaitiana join them will certainly do no harm to Greytown's cause. They will also have old hands Kurt Simmonds, Gareth van Dalen, Kingi Kaiwai, Tavita Isaac and Regan Pope to call on. Sam Mitchell is head coach this season.
Martinborough, again coached by James Bruce, will have the prolific-scoring Tipene Haira guiding their fortunes at No 10 and also expected to shine for them will be Jacob Warren, Kody Thompson and Chris Raymond.