Tough task ahead for the YMP Bumbles

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

Sometimes a mean streak comes in handy.

And tomorrow the YMP Bumbles under Tony Barbarich have an assignment requiring that they be ornery in excelsis.

Hooker Keanu Barbarich and first five-eighth Reihana Wyllie will lead YMP away for their clash with Paul Morunga’s defending Senior 1 champions Charteris Choppers Wairoa Athletic.

The hosts’ co-captains are loosehead prop Alex Little and Rei Wyllie’s opposite Joe McGregor. McGregor will run things behind a forward pack with the tallest man in New Zealand first-class rugby, 6ft 10in No.8 Adriaan Brits, skilful openside flanker Ollie Rhodes and a quality second-row in Brodie Taylor and Toby Wilkinson.

The Bumbles can break out from deep — fullback Lee Nepe was their sole tryscorer in a 17-point loss last Saturday — and the midfield pairing of Dominique Snowden and Tuhakia Stewart are strong on attack and resolute in defence.

A high skill-level will be on display at Bayleys Athletic Park from 2.30pm, and in Wairoa-based Matt Smith, they have a referee armed with local knowledge and a feel for the game.

YMP coach Barbarich hopes to see his forwards produce  a hard, physical match-effort up front in order for his backs to “do their thing”. The likes of rake Barbarich and No.8 Wiremu King-Taufa will be central to his plans.

The job for Ngatapa Harvest Matawhero Transport coaches Alex Chrisp and Scott Brodie tomorrow will include the need — as with Uawa — to keep a cap on emotion at Paddy’s Park 1 from 12.45pm. Genial whistle-blower Les Thomas will be in charge of a must-see game, the visitors’ Week 2 farewell to veteran prop and farm manager John Mathias before his return to the mainland.

On Senior 1 opening day, the Nuhaka V8s at home proved too much for Ngatapa (20-3) but they are well aware of the importance of the match to Uawa. Captain and No.8 Flynn Burkett and the Round 1 player of the day, scrum-anchor Chris Kaa, have key roles to play. The Ngatapa pack must contain the BJ Sidney-coached Uawa. Accuracy at the lineout and first-up tackles will be critical.

With the game between Larsawn Ngatapa and premier champions East Coast Farm Vets YMP to follow, what is always a parochial crowd will build up throughout the match. Were Ngatapa to win the game against Uawa, it might rank as one of the upsets of the Senior 1 season.

OBM and Horouta promise to turn out a good contest. Last Saturday, both sides lost Game 1. Wairoa-Athletic beat OBM 29-5 on the Oval No.1 and Roseland Tavern Tapuae ran out 76-0 victors on Oval 2. Both OBM and Horouta therefore have a point to prove. As great a try as right wing Josh Talaese’s score was for OBM against Athletic, he and others must take their chances when opportunity knocks tomorrow.

Horouta player-coach Richie Matenga, halfback Raymond Poutu and first-five Anthony Brown must play well for their team to win. Flashy stuff is of no value — graft and the ability to take points on offer will have value.

OBM-Horouta at 12.45pm will have Tony Watson as referee. Aaron Brown will take charge of the V8s and Tapuae at Nuhaka Domain.

Hooker Wayne Hema and his Tapuae skipper No.8 Gabriel Doull are two the visitors’ name-forwards. Halfback Kingi Te Amo and a brilliant talent in centre Tione Hubbard are two of their most dangerous backs. It will be extremely tough rugby at the Domain tomorrow. None of the above lack for courage or functionality under pressure.

Nor do such as Nuhaka openside flanker Hickson Raroa or powerful No.8 Aoterangi Cotter want for grit. Captain and second-five Russel Love said: “Tapuae will be a tough game for us. They’re a strong team with great mana, but we have home ground advantage and our preparation leading up to this game has been excellent. As always, the field will be packed with both sides’ supporters.”