REAL BLOKES' DOUBLE GAIN
Te Kawau's new signings into the action
Te Kawau’s troopers will be the quintessential Real Blokes playing for each other in the next few weeks.
They will be led by midfielder Te Atuarere Albert against highflying Feilding Old Boys-o¯ roua at Rongotea tomorrow, with coach Alistair Mitchell having embarked on his long-planned trip to Europe.
Former coach Bryan Matenga will take the team for Monday trainings, while the players conduct team runs on Thursdays. It’s unorthodox, but it might work.
The season-opening draw with Kia Toa has given Te Kawau confidence. So will the arrival this week of a Southland loose forward and a hooker, 23-year-old identical twins Jordan and Sam Stewart, who are aspiring Turbos. Jordan was in the Canterbury wider squad in 2016 and Sam has played for Southland, but injuries have held him back.
Turbos lock Liam Phillips plays for the Hurricanes Development XV today and has yet to turn out for the Real Blokes this year. Even having lost Tom Parsons (Hawke’s Bay), Tui Katoa (Waikato), Harrison Brewer (Japan) and Taylor Lowe, farming in Dannevirke, there is still a core of key men.
It might be asking a lot to deny the unbeaten Stags, who appear to be one of the big improvers this season. Tom Stewart’s switch to first-five last Friday proved to be a master stroke and Te Kawau will have to arrest the flying wing Ollie Brosnahan.
Kia Toa should be proud of their new field layout at Bill Brown Park, even if they lost their only game there, 29-22 in round 2 against unbeaten Varsity.
No longer are footballs flying over house fences, never to be seen again.
Kias were way more staunch in the scrums, with Turbos prop Sione Asi back for last week’s win in the dark over Linton Army. And their backline conducted by Atutahi Henare and Jade Te Rure is as dangerous as any.
The double blues will be favoured to topple College Old Boys and it would have taken a brave soul to say that in previous terms. But history doesn’t win games, with COB’S sole win in three coming over Te Kawau.
Varsity are the early favourites for the Centennial Shield for the first round, with maximum points from all three games. They host Old Boys-marist at Massey University tomorrow.
Varsity have depth and rested players such as Hamish Northcott and former Turbo James Oliver last week, although flanker Nathan Tweedy hobbled off last Thursday.
It is worth the trip up the hill to see their backline whippets – Cody Hemi, Ueta Tufuga, who missed the NZ under-20 team, and Jayden Falcon – and the exciting talent of lock Mickey Woolliams.
Old Boys-marist can’t be more ineffective than they were in tumbling to Feilding Yellows last Friday and have shaped up to the students in the past. OBM need to get more ball to strapping wing Ben Werthmuller.
Freyberg’s home track at Colquhoun Park might be enough for them to take Linton Army, both teams winless.
Freys love the pick-and-go driving, which kept Varsity on their heels for the first 40 last Thursday night. Linton’s lineout is missing lofty Matt Cressy, now with COB.
Competition points: Varsity 15, Feilding 13, Kia Toa 8, Fob-oroua 8, Ob-marist 7, College OB 5, Te Kawau 2, Linton Army 0, Freyberg 0.
It might be asking a lot to deny the unbeaten Stags, who appear to be one of the big improvers this season.