Rugby: Dillon goes from challenger to defender

After going close with Bay of Plenty to lifting the Ranfurly Shield, Dave Dillon will defend it for Waikato against Hawkes Bay today

This time last year, Dave Dillon was hoping to take rugby's Ranfurly Shield off Waikato.

Today he will be helping them to defend it against Hawkes Bay at Rugby Park in his debut for the province in which he has lived since leaving school.

Dillon, aged 24, has been selected on the openside flank for Waikato in the absence of his clubmate Marty Holah, who has an ankle injury.

Dillon last year was an outstanding figure in second-division Bay of Plenty's heroic challenge, won 25-18 by Waikato.

It was his second season as a loan player for Bay of Plenty, having made his first-class debut for his original home province, Thames Valley, as a 20-year-old from Ngatea in 1995.

A Waikato University student who joined the Hamilton Marist club, he played the 1995 season for the Valley, but returned to play for the unbeaten 1996 Waikato Colts the next year after just four more games for the Swamp Foxes. He has waited patiently to break into the Waikato team, but admits he has learned a lot in the meantime.

"It's been good this week being home [after training] at seven instead of 11 or 11.30. It's been my ambition and I was there or thereabouts for the last couple of years," Dillon said.

"It was a good option to go to the Bay and get some exposure, but this is definitely the pinnacle for me."

Waikato coach Kiwi Searancke spoke to Dillon and Holah before the start of the season after losing Dean Anglesey to Japan and told them they were up against each other for the openside flanker's spot.

"Dave and Marty are very similar footballers. They are very talented around the tackle. They make the tackle, they get to their feet and they either claim ball for you or make the opposition work hard," Searancke said.

At that stage Dillon had the edge in terms of experience, but was injured and missed the start of the club season, while Holah, aged 22, took his chances on the trip to Japan and in the game against Wairarapa Bush before suffering his injury.

Meanwhile, the injury news was mostly good for Searancke, with fullback Todd Miller, wing Roger Randle, flanker Nick Holten and hooker Guy Coleman all taking a full part in training.

Only first five-eighths Michael Blank was ruled out of the reserves, although Randle has been bracketed with Damian Karauna as a precaution.

Searancke expects a tough challenge from Hawkes Bay, while admitting the Waikato squad had an extra edge with players aware it will be their strongest test so far this season as well as a fight for national provincial championship places.

Waikato: Todd Miller, Roger Randle or Damian Karauna, Keith Lowen, Bruce Reihana, Matthew Cooper, Glen Jackson, Rhys Duggan, Deon Muir (captain), Dave Dillon, Mark Cooksley, Chresten Davis, Nick Holten, Paul Martin, Guy Coleman, David Briggs.
Reserves: Karauna or Grant McQuoid, Mark Ranby, Ben Willis, Hayden Scown, Tony Petero, Michael Collins, Anton Edwards.

Hawkes Bay: Dion Tainui, Willie Fraser, Mark Fatialofa, Steve Skinnon, Marty Lloyd, Mano Flutey, Scott Waldegrave, Maharoni Schawaleger, Jeff Karika, Chris Gibbes, Potu Leavasa, Michael Johnson, Richard Tuhoro, Orcades Crawford, Greg Halford (captain).
Reserves: Jarred Stephenson, Reece Spee, Ryan Lewis, Peter Bielski, Eddie Coombs, Daniel Quate, Rangi Vallance.
- NZPA