Coast out to hit ground running

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Saturday morning is expected to be frosty.

And from 2.30pm an overcast sky and a nor’ westerly breeze will greet Enterprise Cars Ngati Porou East Coast and their Round 1 Heartland Championship opponents Wairarapa Bush.

Dealing with the Reece Robinson-coached Bush at Trust House Memorial Park in Masterton is the Sky Blues’ assignment tomorrow.

As the reigning Lochore Cup champions and holders of the Bill Osborne Taonga, the Coast will be seen by their hosts as a massive scalp to take although the Taonga will not be on the line as it as an away game for the Coast.

Former Maori All Black and Chiefs representative Robinson said: “As a side, we’re improving. East Coast will be a good test of that.”

First-year Kaupoi head coach Kahu Tamatea said: “Bush are a very well structured team, so we’ll need to be on our game, especially defensively.”

Halfback Sam Parkes, the 2022 Heartland Player of the Year, will lead a quality Coast side.

Up front, Manahi Brooking, Moana Pasifika rake Joe Royal and Semisi Akana give the side a strong, stable platform at scrum-time.

Locks Richard Green, Frank Taiapa and super reinforcements the Te Kani brothers — Gabe and Rico — will combine to ensure NPEC get good lineout ball while a loose trio of the tenacious Jack Richardson, Willy Bollingford and Hoani Te Moana covers all bases.

The pack have behind them inside backs the equal of any in the Heartland competition, tricksters in the midfield and a back three to fear.

The hero of the Coast’s 2012 Meads Cup victory, Verdon Bartlett, knows how to get the job done, fellow winger Tavita Nabura scored two tries in last weekend’s win over Eastern Bay of Plenty and Renata Roberts-Te Nana from deep could have them running at Memorial Park.

The Coast are coming off a 29-12 win against Eastern Bay of Plenty and an 18-17 loss to Central Hawke’s Bay in Otane the previous Saturday.

The Bush are coming off a 26-19 victory over Wellington Samoans.

Following the 12.30pm curtain-raiser between the Wairarapa Bush Barbarians and Hawke’s Bay under-19s, HB referee Nick Hogan and local officials Alastair Payne and Chris Jefferies will control the Heartland fixture from 2.30pm.

In other Heartland games tomorrow, Poverty Bay are at home to Buller; Mid Canterbury play North Otago; reigning champions South Canterbury play Horowhenua Kapiti; West Coast play King Country and Whanganui play Thames Valley.

NGATI POROU EAST COAST: Hakarangi Tichborne, Joe Royal, Semesi Akana, Richard Green, Hoani Te Moana, Hone Haerewa (vc), Will Bollingford, Mitchell Crosswell, Sam Parkes (c), Terangi Fraser, Tavita Nabura, Apirana Pewhairangi, Pamona Samupo, Kris Palmer, Renata Roberts Te Nana. Res: Jorian Tangaere, Manahi Brooking, Jody Tuhaka, Riki Waitoa, Faifili Levave, Frank Taiapa, Josh Deardon, Verdon Bartlett.

WAIRARAPA BUSH: Tupou Lea’aemanu, Terongo Tekii, Stanley Wright junior, Sam Gammie (cc), Thomas Campbell, Logan Wakefield, Inia Katia, Leli Biumaiwai, Sam Walton-Sexton, Ben Brooking, Aseri Waqa, Tafa Tafa, Fiula Tameilau, Nikora Ewe, Andre Taylor (cc). Res: George Parkes, Ty Wright, Jared Hawkins, Marcus Ale, Isaac Bracewell, Harry Eschenbach, Nathan Hunt, Lewis Bush.

NGATI POROU EAST COAST HEARTLAND SCHEDULE

Aug 12 — v Wairarapa Bush, in Masterton
Aug 19 — v Mid Canterbury, Ruatoria
Aug 26 — v North Otago, Ruatoria
Sept 2 — v Buller, Westport
Sept 9 — v Poverty Bay, Ruatoria
Sept 16 — v Whanganui, Whanganui
Sept 23 — v King Country, Ruatoria
Sept 30 — v Thames Valley, Waihi
Meads Cup and Lochore Cup semifinals, 
Oct 7; finals, Oct 14