Magpies: Tom Parsons ready for captain’s knock in 100th game for Hawke’s Bay

Tom Parsons leading the Magpies out against Wellington in 2022, his 100th match in first class rugby. Another 53 games later he leads the team out against Wellington again, for his 100th match for the Magpies. Photo / NZME

The appearance of Hawke’s Bay captain Tom Parsons for his 100th match in the Magpies jersey has been confirmed for Saturday’s NPC clash with Wellington Lions at McLean Park, Napier.

Parsons, who made his debut as a last-quarter substitute in a 42-41 win over Bay of Plenty at McLean Park in 2012, took a break for last Saturday’s match against Northland in Whangarei, and returns to the side to become the 14th player to make 100 appearances for the Bay in first-class rugby.

The list is headed by prop Neil Thimbleby, one of just three All Blacks on that list and an anchor of the 1966-1969 Ranfurly Shield sides among 158 matches he played from 1959-1971. He later served as coach, and was patron of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union when he died at the age of 84 in March.

The next most recent to achieve the century was hooker Ash Dixon, with 113 matches from 2008-2021, while next in line are prop Pouri Rakete-Stones, who makes his 91st appearance on Saturday, and wing Jonah Lowe, heading for match No 79.

Parsons’ return, with fellow lock Isaia Walker-Leawere back to the subs’ bench, is one of two changes in the starting line-up, the other being a first start for Anaru Paenga-Morgan, who made his Magpies debut off the bench in the 27-22 loss in Whangarei. He replaces Kieran Higgins at second five-eighths,

Parsons turned 35 in June and has indicated this year could be his last in the NPC.

He rates Dixon’s 100th match among his own most memorable, being in 2020 when the Magpies beat Otago to claim the Ranfurly Shield for the third time in eight seasons, along with winning the NPC championship division that season with a 36-24 final win over Northland.

Northland will be fresh in mind this week as the Magpies respond to last weekend’s 27-22 loss to the Taniwha in Whangarei.

Back for a 2.05pm match on the home ground, the skipper wants to win, explaining his extended career, which also includes 53 other first-class matches, by saying: “It’s the enjoyment I still get out of it. I was born here, lived here most of my life. I’m proud of the province. There’s not much that beats playing on McLean Park.”

The Magpies will be out to right the ship, with two consecutive losses dropping them to 6th place at the halfway stage, of 5 matches.

Defending champions Wellington have had three losses, lose three All Blacks squad members who played in a 36-17 win over Auckland in Porirua last Sunday, and expect to have three players on NPC debut in Napier.

In the curtain-raiser, the Hawke’s Bay Tui will play Auckland Storm, with less than 10 survivors from the 23 that beat Auckland 48-24 at Eden Park last year.

The Magpies team is: Hadlee Hay-Horton, Jacob Devery (co-captain), Pouri Rakete-Stones; Geoff Cridge, Tom Parsons (captain); Miracle Fai’ilagi, Cooper Flanders; Devan Flanders (vice-captain); Folau Fakatava, Harry Godfrey; Neria Fomai, Anaru Paenga-Morgan, Nick Grigg, Jonah Lowe; Zarn Sullivan. Subs: Kianu Kereru-Symes, Nik Patumaka, Lolani Faleiva, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Frank Lochore; Ereatara Enari, Lukas Ripley, Andrew Tauatevalu.

The Hawke’s Bay Tui team will be named on Friday.

Hawke’s Bay match centurions (1884-2005):

158 Neil Thimbleby (1959-1971)

147 Richard Hunt (1967-1983)

137 Michael Johnson (1998-2011)

127 Robbie Hunter (1971-1982)

120 Robbie Stuart (1967-1980)

113 Chris Eaton (2005-2017)

111 Orcades Crawford (1988-1989, 1992-2000); Ash Dixon (2008-2021).

108 Bill Davis (1961-1971)

106 Clint Newland (1999-2010)

100 Karaan Crawford (1964-1971), Murdoch Paewai (1991-2003), Karl Lowe (2004-2013).

Doug Laing has been a reporter for 52 years, more than 40 of them in Hawke’s Bay, at the Central Hawke’s Bay Press, the Napier Daily Telegraph and, Hawke’s Bay Today. He has covered most aspects of general news and sport.