NPC RUGBY - At long last, Dewes gets chance he's waited for

It has taken Aiden Dewes a long time to get his big opportunity.
Now he has the chance, you get the feeling the 23-year-old rugby centre is not likely to let go. Not after the tribulations he has endured just getting his rugby career on track.
Dewes is one of the new faces lining up in the Northland rugby team to play Counties-Manukau at Okara Park tonight. But, had it not been for two frustrating and untimely injury breaks, Dewes could easily have been one of the old heads by now.
Dewes was first picked in the Northland rugby squad four years ago, after making a big impression at the New Zealand under 21 trials then cruising into reckoning for the New Zealand sevens team. But a shoulder injury limited his game time to a brief five-minute cameo and stopped his sevens career short of a trip to the IRB tournament final in London.
It took two years to get another chance but that too was snatched away when his imminent representative selection was blocked by a serious knee strain last year.
A gruelling six-month recuperation followed. Now he has finally made it to the team roster with all his limbs in working order and has already staked a bold claim as a central figure in the Northland backline.
"The knee put me out for the whole season last year, that was about as gutting as it could get. I was bummed out big time," Dewes said.
"Right now I feel like I am in pretty good shape, I feel like I am ready for this now. When I first made the Northland team I was just 19 and a bit of a cruiser, but I feel like I know a bit more about what is going on this time," he said.
That confidence is showing in Dewes' form on the pitch. Until instructed by Northland backs coach Bruce Robertson to move into the No13 jersey, Dewes was playing most of his rugby at second five eighths.
But in the No13 slot Dewes was in full cry against a disappointingly disorganised North Harbour team two weeks ago, then solid in defence in difficult conditions against Manawatu last week.
It was enough to convince the Northland selectors to stick with Dewes for the final trial game tonight and groom him as the first choice centre for the Air NZ Cup opener against Waikato next week.
Northland coach Mark Anscombe for one has been pleasantly surprised by Dewes.
"In two games so far he has been superb, reliable in the tackle and very good in his role distributing the ball. Hopefully we are not talking him up too soon but, until the pre-season games started, we were worried about the No13 position. But at this stage he is making the spot his own," Anscombe said.
Tonight's match will also feature the appearance of another loan player, flanker Hamish Patterson from Auckland. There is also the prospect of Auckland and former Blues prop Chris Heard coming north for the campaign. Still in experimentation mode, Anscombe is keen for his new-look forward pack to create some chances for a talented backline to stretch their legs. With wingers Rene Ranger and Fetu Vainikolo waiting out wide, the prospects look bright.
The game tonight is scheduled to kick-off at 6pm.
NORTHLAND 15. Jared Payne 14. Rene Ranger 13. Aiden Dewes 12. Leo Taliu 11. Fetu Vainikolo 10. David Holwell 9. James Rodley 8. Blair Urlich 7. John Cocker 6. Justin Collins (c) 5. Marty Veale 4. Dan Goodwin 3. Bronson Murray 2. Francis Smith 1. Tony Coughlan
Reserves: Justin Davies, Terry Ashworth, Roy Griffin, Hamish Patterson, Kaino Kaino, Derek Carpenter, Damien Fakafanua.