Featherston firsts on new path

Featherston won't just be making up the numbers in their return to the Wairarapa-Bush senior first division rugby competition this year.
Who better to make that promise than Garry Smith, who fills the dual role of club president and premier team coach?
"We're in there to give it a decent crack ... absolutely," Smith said yesterday. "We're pretty excited, it's all looking good."
Smith said the idea of Featherston returning to first division play after an absence of more than five years was born last season and it had been accepted big changes needed to be made on and off the field for the dream to become a reality.
"The whole ethos of the club had to be improved and that's what we've done," he said. "We wanted to bring together a group who were prepared to work hard for all the right reasons and I'm confident we've got that now."
The name Sargent has been synonymous with Featherston rugby for many years and it was Wairarapa-Bush loose forward Tommy Sargent who, along with Smith, was at the forefront of the drive to have Featherston back in first division action.
"We sat down and had a good look at the playing resources we could have and decided it was worth a go," Smith said. "He [Sargent] was very keen and I think his enthusiasm rubbed off on a lot of other players who were looking at their options."
Featherston have 23 players in their premier squad with Tommy Sargent having transferred back from Greytown and he is joined by brother Jeremy, a capable front row forward.
Other notable gains in the forwards are loosie John Padlie, lock Stu Berry and prop Shaun Dowd, while a leading light in the backs will be first-five James Spicer, a former member of the Upper Hutt club.
Featherston, which have Upper Hutt-based Waterview Aluminium as their main sponsor, have drawn the bye for the opening round of senior first division on March 19 and open their campaign a week later.