Takapuna v Northcote
North Harbour Stadium, 3pm today
Three brothers appearing in a major club match, as Richard, Michael and Nick Mayhew will do for Northcote against Takapuna in today's North Harbour final, is a rare if not unusual feat.
But what makes the Mayhew treble special is that they will be joined in the Northcote pack by their first cousin, William Whetton, and an important part of Northcote's coaching set-up will come from Whetton's father, the 1990-91 All Black captain Gary.
Northcote head coach Ian Selwyn said yesterday the Mayhew-Whetton connection summed up what the club was all about. "We're a very family-orientated club," he said.
The Mayhew boys' father is John, better known for many years as the All Blacks' team doctor, but who played all his own club rugby with Northcote, as did his brothers, and who is now a life member of the club. Mayhew and Whetton married sisters Sue and Jane Rinkin, both of whom also come from a family with strong links to the club.
Richard, 23 and a No 8, has been in the North Harbour representative squad since 2007 and has been joined this year by his hooker brother Michael, 22. Whetton, a lock, like his dad, and prop Nick Mayhew, both 20 and not long out of Rosmini College, are in the Harbour second XV squad.
For Northcote, today's match will be their first appearance in the final since 1995 and they were last Harbour's champions in 1990.
Takapuna, by contrast, have an imposing record, and will be seeking their fourth consecutive championship since 2006 and their 11th in the past 16 seasons.
Selwyn acknowledged that Northcote faced a difficult task against the club which was Harbour's equivalent of Wellington's Petone or Auckland's Ponsonby. "But if our boys show the same heart they did in our semifinal against Marist we will give them a run for their money," he said.
Takapuna have again had a fine run this season, their only loss being in the second round to Northcote but in a match where they scored three tries to none.
As has become a regular feature in recent years, Takapuna, despite dominating the competition, have few players in the Harbour NPC squad, halfback Matt France, hooker James Parsons and lock Chris Smith.
But manager Gavin Leonard said yesterday lack of recognition would not be the side's main motivation. "We just rely on our experience and a good team spirit," he said.
TAKAPUNA v NORTHCOTE
Takapuna
Jerome Smith
Nick Elrick
Chad Campbell
Marc Camburn
Louis Fesolai
Jon Elrick
Matt France
Charles Waide
Patrick Flavell
Chad Dellow
Simon Hanlon (c)
Chris Smith
Iain Hudson
James Parsons
Adrian Donald
Reserves: Will Crispin, Chris McKean, James Ledwith, Blair Urlich, Alister White, Jeremy Whaikawa, Metu Egelani.
Northcote
Andrew Menzies
Ben Whitley
Philip Tuigamala
Andrew Mailei
D. Pablecheque
Michael Harris
Matt Marwick
R. Mayhew (c)
Mark Chadwick
Theo Hermans
William Whetton
Jason Alexander
Nick Mayhew
Michael Mayhew
James Afoa
Reserves: Tahinganui Hina, Api Qaraniqio, Brad Tibbets, Jonathan Rea, Daniel Deveraux, James Mills, James Peck or Rana Peakman.
