CHB Ross Shield team coach Rob Evans (centre, back) and his players and coaching and management staff have high expectations. Photo/Clinton Llewellyn
Central Hawke's Bay are heading to Napier to take home the Ross Shield.
That's the prediction of CHB coach Rob Evans, ahead of the region's premier schoolboys' rugby tournament starting on Tuesday at Park Island in Napier.
"We're going up there to win it. We're going there to win all [our games] - that's our aim," Evans said.
"And I think we are in a pretty good spot to do it, with a pretty good team.
"We'd be pretty disappointed if we didn't come home with [the shield], to be fair."
Given this is his first year coaching Ross Shield, and no CHB team has won the region's premier age and weight-restricted schoolboy rugby tournament in half a century, Evans' comments might sound a little bullish.
But there is no doubting the rugby credentials of the former Hawke's Bay Magpie and member of the 1999 world title-winning New Zealand under-19 team.
After clocking up more than 130 games for Central's premier rugby team, the former lock coached the side for three seasons.
He has already worked with 80 per cent of his 22-player squad as coach of CHB's C and D-grade junior teams and, coupled with his job as manager of Smedley Station, he is certainly no stranger to leading a group of young men.
His confidence is also backed by his side's string of solid victories in the lead-up to the tournament, which have included big wins against Dannevirke for the Trevor White Memorial trophy, Kings Country in Taupo, a 100-point win over Rangitikei in Hunterville, and then a rare 25-17 triumph over Hastings East at Te Aute College just last week.
"I don't know how long it's been since a CHB side beat Hastings East. It's given the players the confidence they can beat those town teams.
"We certainly won't be holding back," said Evans ahead of next week's tournament, where CHB faces a tough three opening games against the fancied city sides.
Evans said his team would be looking to repeat last week's win when they took on Hastings East again in their opener on Tuesday, followed by a clash against two-time defending champions Napier on Wednesday, then Hastings West on Thursday.
The side then round out their tournament with clashes against fellow country sides Wairoa and Dannevirke.
Evans and co-coaches Jim Doolan and Braydon Hardwidge have been working with the squad since February, and Evans said the long preparation had been intentional and would hold the team in good stead.
"I think we've got the best draw possible. I'd much rather have those teams at the start of the week.
"There are a lot of bigger kids up there and we'll be fit and raring to go to attack those teams early in the week, and then we've got Dannevirke and Wairoa at the end.
"We are not going up there just to compete. We are certainly not going to be happy if all we do is beat Dannevirke and Wairoa," he said.
The 22-man CHB squad is being captained by halfback Maika Graham, from Pukehou School.
At least eight players are returning from last year's tournament, and Evans said their collective experience and familiarity with each other from junior grades had been a positive on the field.
"They gel really well together, that's the best part of this team. I think we are pretty well balanced - we've got a good crew and a good coaching and management team. We are preparing as well as we can," he said.
Older than the Ranfurly Shield and now in its 115th year, the Ross Shield is regarded as the pinnacle of primary school rugby in the region and has unearthed a host of rugby talent including Bay born-and-raised All Blacks Josh Kronfeld and Israel Dagg.
Contested by Hawke's Bay Primary Schools Rugby's six districts, the tournament is hosted at a different venue each year.
The fact that CHB was due to host next year's tournament would make victory this year even sweeter, said Evans.
"There'll be nothing better than coming back and defending the shield here at Central Park next year.
"That's the goal."
