CLUB RUGBY - Mid Western hope Chilean props help

By Sports Editor Tim Eves
A bone scan on Chilean prop Francesco Deforms today will determine if the promoted Mid Western rugby team will front with their imported bulk of front row meat for their first real test of the season: A wooden spoon battle with the only other winless team this season, Whangarei Old Boys.
Deforms, a loosehead prop, has been out of action since round three, initially to serve a mandatory stand-down after getting redcarded then later to rest a strained neck.
But since his sideline hiatus another Chilean of impressive proportions has arrived at Mid Western, a tighthead prop forward called Sergio De La Fuenhe, and added bulk to what is becoming an impressive-looking club forward pack.
Mid Western coach Steve Carter acknowledged the pressure will be on his troops tomorrow as they will be playing at home with the added expectation of victory for the first time this season.
Mid Western have fared well enough to justify their promotion to the premier grade this year but have yet to experience the taste of victory in the top echelon. Ditto for Old Boys who have leaked more than 200 points in six games so far this season.
"There will be that pressure there, we have played well enough in stages where we should have won games but not consistently enough to actually get the points," Carter said.
"We go well in 15-20 minute bursts then fall off the boil."
Taking his team from unbeaten second division status into the premier grade has been an interesting experience for Carter.
Some players have managed the step up well, others have not, but Carter has been pleasantly surprised that some of his troops are starting to revel in the action now.
He hopes that confidence continues tomorrow. If he can field his two imported prop forwards all the better.
"We know we have done it with these boys (Old Boys) because we gave them a bloody good hiding at their place last season," Carter said.
"Hopefully we can repeat that exercise."
The clash of the cellar-dwellers is just one of a hatful of intriguing clashes tomorrow though.
While Mid Western and Old Boys will be hoping to avoid the wooden spoon, at least for the first round, Mid Northern and Marist are set for a top-of-the-table wrestle at Kensington Park.
Hora Hora are running hot for a mouth-watering collision with Hikurangi at Hora Hora, and Kamo's form of late makes their game against Wellsford at Kamo a potential humdinger.
Even the game at Dargaville between the Western Sharks and Waipu could be interesting if Waipu can rebound from some awful results of late. Mid Northern will be buoyant as they prepare for the much-anticipated clash against Marist as they will welcome back locks Kira Taihere and Kyran Pita and hope to field hooker Tyler Ashworth as well. Marist will be keyed up though, this is the test they have been waiting for.
The head-to-head tussle between centres Damian Fakafanua and Warren Dunn will add some sting to the Hora Hora game against Hikurangi. Fakafanua was added to the Northland training squad on Monday. Dunn wants to get there.
Kamo have welcomed a hooker called Juan Cordy to their already bulky forward pack. Wellsford will need to be prepared for a battering upfront.