Turbos get first shield challenge

RUGBY: The Manawatu¯ Turbos will get the first crack at the Ranfurly Shield in this year’s national provincial championship.

The side has drawn Taranaki in New Plymouth in the second round of the competition, which doubles as the shield-holder’s first home game of the season on August 24.

Taranaki will place the shield on the line in a couple of preseason matches against Heartland opponents, but not against any Mitre 10 teams before the Turbos come to town.

Manawatu¯ had the last crack at the shield last season, when they fell to Taranaki 46-25. But unlike last season, when their challenge was in a double-header week, Manawatu¯ have a much more favourable preparation time.

They host last year’s demoted premiership side Waikato in their season opener at CET Arena on August 18, with six days to prepare for their challenge. Manawatu¯ chose Taranaki as one of their premiership-championship crossover opponents late last year.

But the double-header weekend will be the most challenging hurdle for the side. Their two-match week falls in week six and features two premiership-championship opponents.

They face Tasman at home in a Wednesday-night match on September 19 and then host Wellington on Sunday, September 23. To increase the difficulty of that streak, they then travel to Rotorua to play Bay of Plenty on Thursday, September 27, making it three matches in eight days.

Manawatu¯ ’s other home matches are against Otago on September 1 and Southland in the last round robin match of the season on October 14.

Due to a quirk in the draw, the Turbos will once against have to make the trip to Mclean Park to take on Hawke’s Bay on October 5. It has been 63 years since Manawatu¯ won in Napier.

Their other away matches are against Canterbury, on September 6, and Northland, September 14.