Hubbard’s co-captain, Tiny White medallist No.8 George Whakatope, has been in brilliant form but strained a hamstring in the 70-8 win at home v Pirates last Saturday.
Whakatope is in doubt but teammate and scrum-anchor Tom Ormond follows in the tradition of mighty props such as Tevita Pasikala. Only ex-Waikohu giant Jarryd Broughton has ever cast a bigger shadow than strongman Pasikala.
Manuel-Harman said: “It would be nice to knock the defending champs over, but both teams have suffered a number of injuries, so I look forward to having guys step up and take their opportunity to play big minutes.”
YMP skipper and hooker Shayde Skudder’s focus is on keeping things as simple as possible.
“We’re just looking to play our natural game.”
Skudder’s determination to see his team play what is in front of them rather than concieve too much is wisdom.
YMP have laid on 12 tries in the past fortnight and Taine Aupouri’s acceleration to score from second-five after halftime last week was startling.
Both teams have pace of the type that exploits and creates gaps in the opposition back-line.
Waikohu v Ngatapa
Raw-boned, hard-hitting country fare.
GT Shearing Waikohu hold the iconic Black and White Shield, once a sub-union trophy donated by DJ Barry, now played for by Ngatapa and Waikohu.
As Larsawn Ngatapa are hosting the week 3 fixture tomorrow at Paddy’s Park, Patutahi, the Green and Whites must wait until their round 2 meeting to challenge Tane McGuire-coached Waikohu for it.
Until then, the prospect of a second win and first home game win of the season will serve as motivation enough for the Jack Twigley-led posse.
Both Kahu Scaffolding Tapuae and East Coast Farm Vets YMP have 10 competition points, Ngatapa and Enterprise Cars OBM five.
It was Waikohu 10, YMP 31 in the Te Karaka-based team’s tough loss first up on Barry Park 1 last weekend, despite brilliant tries to right-wing Latrell Walker and his captain blindside flanker Kupu Lloyd.
McGuire pointed to player numbers and absences at training as factors in his team playing 40 quality minutes in the first half, and 40 ho-hum minutes after the break. In the second half, YMP showed Waikohu the level that they needed to play at, he said.
Lloyd said: “I’m expecting a physical game. Ngatapa always put their best foot forward on their home turf. The spectators will be eager to see a good display of rugby.”
Ngatapa are coming off a bye. They kept Pirates scoreless on Tiny White Opening Day, and a fortnight ago right-wing Joeli Ragoneliwa won their first Taste One Most Valuable Player Award, despite not scoring any of his side’s six tries.
In this era of false modesty, Ngatapa is a club whose personnel do play for each other and go about their business without fuss. They were disciplined, effective and skilful in defence against the Buccaneers, who were an unknown quantity.
It would have been easy for an unwary team to slip up on opening day. Sione Ngatu’s Ngatapa did not slip up. They led 19-0 at the break and won 40-0.
Pirates v HSOB
The term “target” has both positive and negative connotations in a sporting sense.
The negative conjures up images of a bully preying on a smaller opponent. The positive is centred on thoughtful preparation, focus and timing.
In the Battle of the Oval 1 tomorrow, both the hosts, Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates, and Earthworks Solutions HSOB will go out to play the best rugby they can.
Both clubs have a dedicated, loyal following among past players and coaches. Times have been tough lately but they are made of strong stuff. Between 2015 and 2017, HSOB won three championships, the last one in that run by 34-3 v Waikohu in that club’s first grand final appearance.
Pirates made three straight grand finals between 2010 and 2012, beating YMP back-to-back, 19-8 and 20-8 in 2011-12. It had taken Pirates 58 years to make a final.
They closed the door on the agony of 2005, when HSOB scored a record 24 tries in a 160-12 record win at the Oval.
The late, great Henry Maxwell, who coached HSOB that day, later led Pirates to Lee Brothers Shield glory. Anthony Kiwara, their present head coach, took Pirates to the Senior 1 final against then two-time defending champions Wairoa Athletic. Athletic won that game 37-21 but a new fire had been lit. Kiwara has been joined by former Ngatapa man Kohi Waihi. They have in utility forward Moui Paongo the ideal captain for this crop of players.
HSOB head coach Wayne Ensor knows what it takes to win. In halfback George Halley-Donnelly, he has a captain who has proven he can get them within striking distance.They lost 29-24 against OBM, the match-winning try coming in the 82nd minute. HSOB had led throughout.
The 82nd minute is striking distance.
