Newcomer takes long route to BoP honours

Mark Sorenson, who makes his Bay of Plenty debut against North Harbour in Rotorua today, has taken the long route into the team - via Scotland.

Contacted a year ago about playing rugby for Bay of Plenty, the former Chiefs and Waikato colts second rower had already committed to Edinburgh club Boroughmuir and opted to head overseas.

But Sorenson returned from Scotland last month, and last week linked with the Steamers. He is one of three players making their debut for the province tonight; locking partner Greg Rawlinson and hooker Ngarimu Simpkins are the others.

Sorenson, a 23-year-old Waikato University graduate who last played for Bay of Plenty in 1996 at secondary school level, has put his plans on hold in a bid to crack the Bay of Plenty NPC squad.

"It has been a bit of a rushed last 10 days. I had been living in Auckland trying to find a job but travelling back to Hamilton to play club rugby for Varsity," Sorenson said.

"[Tonight's] an opportunity for me and it'll feel good to pull on a Bay of Plenty jersey again after six years.

"I'm fairly realistic, though. I'm probably only there because of injuries [to locks Dave Duley and Mark Weedon] and I'm battling for a place in the squad like a lot of other guys."

Bay of Plenty coach Vern Cotter views Sorenson as a long-term prospect for the Bay.

Bay of Plenty: Paul Waiariki, Jake Kennedy, Nick Collins, Dale Rasmussen, Damien Karauna, Tyrone Taiepa, Chris Le Leivre, Clayton McMillan (capt), Rodney Voullaire, Dave Gorrie, Mark Sorenson, Greg Rawlinson, Aleki Lutui, Ngarimu Simpkins, Simms Davison. Res: Thompson Tapsell, Francis Cameron, Paul Tupai, Dave Dillon, Rameka Poihipi, Paul Asaeli, Glen Jackson.

North Harbour: Hayden Reid, Jerome Smith, Rodd Penney, Joe Fa'alogo, Nick Evans, Tusi Pisi, Mark Robinson (capt), Manako Tonga, Jay Cowley, Malua Tipi, Luke Hanvey, Andrew Jackson, Adrian Donald, Joe Ward, John Buchanan. Res: Mehaka Wickliffe, Tevita Taumoepaeu, Paul Towersey, David Alo, Andrew Gallagher, Justin Poihipi, Graham Smith, Dan Robinson.

- NZPA