Rugby: Loosie wants milestone win

Luke Ottley, second from right, is focused during a pre-training chat in the buildup to his 150th match for the Havelock North premier rugby team tomorrow. Photo / Duncan Brown

Luke Ottley chuckles as he recalls the days when he was on the top of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Referees Association's "Most Wanted" list.

It was back in 2009 and the unofficial list contained the names of players referees found challenging. In Ottley's case they knew he would give them a hard time on the field but afterwards he would be the first to shout them a beer and have a chat.

"I would like to think my relationship with referees has improved over the last couple of years. I've matured with age ... I haven't been sinbinned this season and last year I only got one yellow which was a dubious one," Ottley, 36, said.

Naturally the rugged loosie will be hoping he avoids the cards when he plays his 150th match for Progressive Meats Havelock North in a sixth round Tui Maddison Trophy encounter against Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist at Park Island tomorrow.

"My 100th was a win against NOBM at the same venue. I'll be happy with a similar result this week," Ottley said referring to a 24-19 victory in 2011.

While the villagers will be missing two of this season's regulars, speedster Shannan Chase and loosie Tony Lamborn, because of their Magpies match next week Ottley agreed his team will be the slight favourites as their hosts will be missing three key starters in prop Jarvy Aoake, No 8 Joseph Penitito and pivot Tyrone Elkington-McDonald.

"At the same time teams have prepared for the loss of Magpies and it will still be a tough game. All games are hard in this competition and all are pretty close if you don't turn up with the right attitude," the former Northland and Magpies NPC player said.

Ottley also has an extra incentive to help the unbeaten co-leaders of the comp go back-to-back this season. He retires at the end of the season, 17 years after his first game for the side.

"My body isn't in good nick. I've got a knee injury which continues to cause concern ... I was just lucky I got fit for the charity boxing event at the start of the season and that prompted me to come back and help the boys again."

Ottley, who has won his team's player-of-the-year award twice, ranked last year's and the 2008 Maddison Trophy wins as his most satisfying of four.

"Last year a lot of people wrote us off and we did it without a lot of Magpies. In 2008 we ended a 12-year drought," he said.

Ottley listed former Magpies Jeff Karika and Paul Symes as the toughest flankers he marked during the early days of his career and in recent times the Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports pair of Karl Bloxham and Dane McCarthy in the 2011 Maddison Trophy final and Hastings Rugby and Sports stalwart Tivaini Fomai.

We couldn't end our chat with Ottley without quizzing him on the villagers' chances of going back-to-back.

"I would like to think we can but with the young squad we have we don't want to get too ahead of ourselves. We're just taking things game by game because once the Magpies are gone injuries become a factor.

"It takes a little bit of luck ... but in saying that we've got a good run into the semifinals," he said.

It will be a surprise if Havelock don't repeat that 2011 five-point win today. Expect Northfuels Central to post their second win in the comp with a seven-point margin when they are hosted by K9 Petfoods Clive at Farndon Park.

Carters Frame and Truss Taradale will be missing four Magpies and at least three other regular starters who are injured but should still beat Tamatea by 25 at Bill Mathewson Park. Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports should pip MAC by six at Elwood Park and Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports should beat Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical by 11 at Whitmore Park.