Late-starter Schenk's chance to fly with Wasps

RUGBY
He's been likened to former Steamers captain Wayne Ormond - and young Rotorua flanker Steven Schenk has just been given a golden chance to continue those comparisons.
The 20-year-old Whakarewarewa blindside will line up for a Bay of Plenty Wasps XV to play Waikato Harlequins next week, picked after a strong sub-union campaign.
Wasps will be coached by Clayton McMillan, who has seen Schenk develop from a raw schoolboy into a damaging senior club rugby player in two years.
McMillan doesn't shy away from the comparisons with Ormond.
"Wayne probably didn't start coming into his own until his mid-20s, even though he had the ability from a young age," McMillan said.
"He was one of those guys who just took a bit longer to reach his potential and Steve Schenk is a good example of that.
"He's probably put on around 6-7kg since last year and he's probably still got a way to go. He's just one of those guys from out of the bush who has probably got pretty good natural strength but it's just a matter of getting in the gym and harnessing that."
Schenk could form a mouth-watering combination with 18-year-old Tauranga Sports openside Sam Cane, with New Zealand sevens player Solomon King likely to start at No 8.
Cane, a New Zealand schools representative last year, has made a seamless transition to senior rugby this season and adds to the staggering openside depth in the province, behind All Black Tanerau Latimer and Chiefs player Luke Braid.
Rugged Rotoiti captain Zach Hohneck and experienced Opotiki No 8 Matt Henwood complete a formidable loose forward mix.
Other features of the squad are the inclusion of Tauranga Sports prop Pingi Talaapitanga, from Sydney but on a scholarship with Tauranga's Inside Running Academy, and the return of former Steamer Tajhon Mailata.
Mount Maunganui have 10 players in the squad, with Tauranga Sports six and Whakarewarewa and Te Puna three each. Wasps will play Harlequins next Wednesday night in Hinuera, while an academy-based Wasps side will also play a Counties-Manukau XV in Katikati two weeks later.
BAY OF PLENTY WASPS:
Joe Savage, Steven Schenk, Paula Asaeli (Whakarewarewa), Zach Hohneck (Rotoiti), Matt Henwood (Opotiki Sports), Ted Tauroa, Luke Katene, Mata McGrath, Chris Elvin, Chad Tuoro, Dan Waenga, Zion Norstrom, Grant McQuoid, Lance MacDonald, Zar Lawrence (Mount Maunganui), Simon Chisholm, Solomon King (Te Puke Sports), Pingi Talaapitaga, Dan Perrin, Sam Cane, Josh Hall, Matt Hodson, Toby Arnold (Tauranga Sports), Dan Schuster, Aidan Kuka, Tajhon Malata (Te Puna).