Taranaki's contribution to this year's Wanganui Heartland Championship rugby team scored hit No 3 on Saturday.
Big Inglewood centre Faapulou Soolefai was a dominating figure in midfield in Wanganui's 36-16 win over Poverty Bay, maintaining the home team's unbeaten record in this year's competition and on course for a clash with
tournament favourite Mid Canterbury on Cooks Gardens on September 20.
Soolefai started the first match against East Coast but lasted just 30-odd minutes because of a hamstring strain.
He was rested against Thames Valley, but showed no signs of the hamstring on Saturday instead finishing with a sore ankle because someone stood on it.
In those first two matches (Taranaki) Coastal's Mark Davis and John Mow had scored a bundle of points to make their mark in Wanganui.
Saturday saw both in good form again with Davis kicking some huge goals and Mow scampering in for two tries but while Soolefai didn't score, he created.
Coach Guy Lennox: "He made a big difference today, just by going forward. His role in the game was crucial he created the first two tries."
Captain David Gower: "He added a different style of game to what we've been playing. It's good to have someone who can take the ball up."
Soolefai took up slow ruck ball strongly to give Cameron Crowley his try, then made the initial break that eventually led to Mow's first try one in which he was going so quick that he very nearly went over Cooks Gardens' short in-goal area.
A midfielder who's had games for Taranaki in each of the past five seasons, Soolefai was a very happy man to have made a contribution.
"The coach rang me to see what I was doing this year, and asked me whether I would like to play down here. I said, 'it's something different'. And it's good fun here, I'm enjoying it."
"I think we can go all the way."
The other outstanding player of the day Wanganui No 8 Ron Katonivere will be remembered by the Poverty Bay players for a while for his huge head-on tackling style, one rather frightening to behold from the safety of the Cooks Gardens grandstand.
Captain David Gower says he was asked for a big effort.
"He had a good game. I'm really proud for him off his game today he really stepped up. He was asked to put in a huge effort in defence, and you can't ask any more of the young man."
Coach Lennox, on his tackling: "He's a lethal weapon, isn't he. I'm pleased he's on our side, and not their's."
