Youthful influx revitalises club
A new coach and an injection of young blood has spirits high at Freyberg this year.
Potene Paewai has returned to the club as head coach this season, having previously had the job in 2013 and 2014, and with him has come a group of keen and talented school-leavers.
Colquhoun Park-based Freyberg have been at the bottom of the Manawatu¯ club table in recent years and wins are rare, but Paewai has started a campaign to turn around the club’s fortunes.
‘‘With the short season we’re not expecting big results on the field,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re just looking to create a strong culture and hopefully more players will be there for a few years to grow and develop.
‘‘Maybe in a few years time they will be contenders.’’
New players from Manukura, Palmerston North Boys’ High School and Whanganui Collegiate School have joined the ranks, including a couple of schoolboy stars from last year.
Hooker Ben Strang, from Collegiate, was in the New Zealand secondary schools side last year and prop Joseph Gavigan, from Manukura, was in the New Zealand schools barbarians team.
The youngsters, along with the seasoned campaigners who have been doing the job for Freys in the past couple of seasons, should make for a competitive team if they can stay together.
Freyberg showed ticker in their 52-7 loss to Feilding last weekend and Paewai said they were given a lesson physically by Te Kawau in pre-season.
But he hoped that would change as the young players adjusted to the rigours of playing against experienced men.
Paewai said there was competition for spots, rather than people being able to just turn up and get a game.
Freyberg will need to front this weekend against Kia Toa at Bill Brown Park, Palmerston North, in what should be a tough encounter.
Kias, who lost 33-20 to College Old Boys last week, have a few new players of their own, but still have an experienced core of senior men and threats across the park.
In other matches, defending champions Feilding have a tough match against Te Kawau at Rongotea.
Yellows showed their firepower in the forwards and backs during the win over Freyberg last week.
Te Kawau were beaten 35-10 by Varsity last week, but will be hard to beat at home.
Feilding Old Boys-o¯roua will have a chance to atone for their round-one loss when they host Varsity at Johnston Park.
Old Boys-marist shut Fob-o¯roua out for much of the game last week and the Stags will need to get their attack firing if they want to test Varsity.
The students were in control for large parts of their win over Te Kawau last week and have the ability to do real damage to the Stags.
College Old Boys and Old BoysMarist will be keen to earn bragging rights from their clash at the Arena, Palmerston North.
COB looked good in their win over Kia Toa last week and face another stiff challenge in Old BoysMarist, who beat Fob-o¯roua 21-5 last week.