Waiapu, Hikurangi matches ‘only bring out the best in you’: Moana-Baker

Hikurangi’s Te Mana Barbarich has Putahi Morice (left) and Savaan Beardsley in support as he runs towards the Waima defence in Week 1 of the Ngati Porou East Coast Premier Men’s club rugby competition. Hikurangi won 45-12. Picture by Doone Harrison

‘We know what we are in for’

Families, friends and fierce competitors will make it a big day out up State Highway 35 tomorrow.

The H Blackbee Contractors Ngāti Porou East Coast men’s and Enterprise Cars NPEC women’s club rugby competitions are set to run at three different venues.

The TVC sides will host Ruatoria City at Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa, Cape Runaway. The women play at 11.30am and the defending champion men face City at 2pm.

Defending women’s champions Waiapu are hosting Hikurangi Mountain Maidens at  Rangitukia at 11.30am in a replay of last year’s final. Hikurangi men and their Waiapu counterparts follow at 2pm.

The Hicks Bay men host Tokararangi at Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti, Wharekahika, at 2pm.

Waima have the bye.

Haimona Waititi is likely to play at blindside flanker for TVC.

He and Tutere Waenga, who is out as the result of an injury in the pre-season, are second-year player-coaches with the Victory club.

Rika Mato will be at loosehead prop, with Waititi hoping to see Frank Henderson and Hoani Te Moana — both of whom scored tries in TVC’s 15-12 win against Tokararangi last weekend —at lock and No.8 respectively.

Teina Ruha, Tukaki Tukaki, Tame Anderson and Renata Te Moana may feature in the hosts’ backline.

In the absence of Week 1 skipper and fetcher extraordinaire Jack Richardson and player-coach Tanetoa Parata (injury), Ruatoria City’s captaincy will pass to skilful first-five Neihana Ratahi-Brown.

He has a strong supporting cast in props Kenny Smith and Nui Ngarimu, and right winger Eru Mataira.

Waiapu vice-captain halfback Hamuera Moana-Baker and his unit appreciate their historic rivalry with Hikurangi,

“We’re looking forward to playing our family from the other side of the river.

“The Maunga boys are always close up in terms of being the benchmark of the comp. We know what we’re in for.

“These matches only bring the best out of you, so we’re pumped and ready to go.”

Moana-Baker, player-coach loosehead prop Braxton Bonica-Kururangi, captain and No.8 Will Bolingford and openside flanker Richie Green — a try scorer in Waiapu’s 27-15 win against City last Saturday — are all influential players.

Under skipper and fullback Kris Palmer, Hikurangi have in their arsenal bruising talent such as scrum anchor Putahi Morice, lock Savaan Beardsley, centre Fabyan Kahaki and right-wing David Manuel.

NPEC rugby development officer and fullback Southern-Rose Hiha is excited at the prospect of her Waiapu ladies chasing back-to-back titles.

She, team captain and tighthead prop Rakai Papanui and outstanding fetcher Billi-Jo Tangaere will have in their charge debutants in lock Hayley Ruru and left-wing Caelyn Pere.

Tomorrow will be Week 2 for the men and opening day for the women.

Hicks Bay will join the NPEC women’s’ competition from next week.

The referees for this weekend’s fixtures at Cape Runaway will be Jackson Reuben-Swinton (women) and Eruera Kawhia (men).

At Rangitukia, Matt Richards (women) and Whetu Haerewa (men) will have the whistle.

Reuben-Swinton will be in the middle for Hicks Bay v Tokararangi at Wharekahika.