Scott tops fitness tests
Loosie impresses Hawke’s Bay Sevens coach Wilson ahead of Wellington tournament Home clash with ‘big brothers’ welcomed
QShane Hurndell
uiz Hawke’s Bay Sevens coach Ellery Wilson about who is impressing him most during his wider training squad sessions and he is quick to respond.
“Damien Scott . . . he is the fittest,” Wilson replied, referring to the Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports and Hawke’s Bay Saracens loosie.
“We had a Bronco test the other day. It’s considered pretty good if you finish under five minutes. Damien did it in 4m 30s and 10s ahead of his nearest rival.”
For the uninitiated, the Bronco test is a 1200m run consisting of five 20m, 40m and 60m shuttle runs.
“Fitness is a part of the game I pride myself on,” Scott replied, when congratulated on his feat.
A third-season veteran of the Hawke’s Bay squad, Scott, 22, is also one of the oldest players in the team that will play in a Wellington-hosted tournament tomorrow.
While Scott is hoping for another consistent summer of sevens, he is equally focused on his main goal for next winter — cracking a berth in the Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad.
Considering what he achieved this year, few pundits would bet against him ticking off that goal.
With Magpies prop Pouri RaketeStones, Scott formed the Hawke’s Bay contingent in the New Zealand Universities team which played in Japan earlier this year and he is aiming to make the national side again next year when they host a team from Japan.
The old boy of St John’s College in Hastings as well as Clive and Hereworth schools often exceeded expectations in premier club play and it wasn’t a surprise when he played a prominent role in the Hawke’s Bay Saracens’ third consecutive Hurricanes Development competition win.
“That was the first time I’ve been involved with the Saracens. I’ve had a pretty good year,” Scott explained.
A prop in sevens, Scott pointed out Wilson is taking a young team south to the capital tonight.
“Every year we have a young squad and this weekend we have a lot of first-timers. This weekend is more about working on combinations and getting matchplay, rather than results. December 1 is when results will be the priority,” Scott said, referring to the Central Region tournament in Levin which will be a qualification event for the December 15 and 16 nationals in Tauranga.
Earlier this year Scott graduated from Otago University with a science degree. He majored in chemistry and next year intends to begin studying again with the aim of becoming a science teacher.
In the meantime he is enjoying working as a labourer for McNatty Construction.
The physical nature of the job helps him achieve the high fitness levels his teammates and coaching staff salute.
Ricky Hayes, Hayden Hann and Mitch Drew are other experienced sevens players in this weekend’s Bay squad.
However, they know with the likes of Samuels, Spooner-Neera and several Magpies squad members still to return they will have to produce some polished displays to make the cut for Levin.
There will be plenty of competition for berths in Wilson’s nationals squad this summer.
Fans can’t wait for Magpies speedsters Mason Emerson and Michael Buckley to be on the field together at the same time.
Providing the best sevens players are available and injury free, Wilson should be able to guide his team to a semifinal finish in Tauranga. Expect Scott to be in the mix again.
He is the bloke who brings the necessary grit at contact time. His defensive workrate is top shelf and his recent Bronco test is proof of how much he wants to be there.
Hawke’s Bay will be one of eight teams at tomorrow’s tournament.
Wellington will field two sides, Manawatu two and Canterbury, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Whanganui one each.
Hawke’s Bay will take on Wellington Black, Whanganui and Manawau Green in pool play before playing a crossover game.
Coach Wilson will miss the services of former All Blacks Sevens players Tamati Samuels and Trinity Spooner-Neera, who are both injured.
Magpies players are still in their post-Mitre 10 Cup rest period and another three of Wilson’s training squad; Teihana Brown, Kalin Paewai and Sam Walton-Sexton, are playing a tournament in Thailand this weekend.
■ The Hawke’s Bay team for tomorrow is: Ricky Hayes, Hayden Hann, Jayden Rihia, Mitch Drew, Damien Scott, Trent Hape, Saia Paese, Jacob Stephenson, Tyrone DoddEdwards, Zac Donaldson, Nathan Ramsay, Tione Hubbard, Rana Hubbard. The Hawke’s Bay Magpies rugby team will host Wellington at Napier’s McLean Park for the first time in three seasons next year.
“We’re pretty happy to get a home game against our Hurricanes big brothers . . . it’s a game which is always followed with a lot of interest,” Magpies head coach Mark Ozich said yesterday
“It will be good to compare us with them and it’s good to get them back at McLean Park.”
Ozich was commenting on the Mitre 10 Cup crossover matches draw which was published on Wednesday.
The Magpies, beaten semifinalists in this season’s Championship, will host Wellington and Tasman and play this season’s Championship winners Waikato and CountiesManukau away in their four matches against Premiership opponents.
“We’re pretty happy with those matches too. We’ve missed Auckland and Canterbury which is a bonus,” Ozich added referring to the two teams that played in this season’s Premiership final won by Auckland.
When the Magpies played Wellington at Napier’s McLean Park in 2016 the Lions won 36-26. That was a crossover clash and the Magpies were a Premiership team that season.
The Magpies last hosted the Tasman Mako at McLean Park in 2016. Tasman won that encounter 36-29.
Ozich’s troops took on Waikato and Counties-Manukau this season. Waikato retained the Ranfurly Shield with their 42-22 win in Hamilton and Counties Manukau recorded a 29-25 win at McLean Park.
New Zealand Rugby’s head of participation and development, Steve Lancaster, said the crossover fixtures were an integral part of the Mitre 10 Cup.
“These matches form an essential part of the Mitre 10 Cup format, the ability to have crossover fixtures between Premiership and Championship teams sees the traditional rivalries maintained and those are the sort of matches that make this competition special.
“Year after year we see Championship teams upsetting the Premiership side in these matches, that was no different in the season just been.”
Premiership winners Auckland lost only one match in the 2018 competition — at the hands of Championship team Otago, while Waikato’s early wins against Premiership teams Wellington and Taranaki got their season on track and led them all the way to the final.
The full Mitre 10 Cup draw is expected to be completed early next year.
Every year we have a young squad and this weekend we have a lot of first-timers. This weekend is more about working on combinations and getting matchplay, rather than results. Damien Scott