Welcome back: it’s a Senior showdown

They’ve missed each other for more than 12 months but one anticipated northern sub-union fixture is back on the cards as Utiku Old Boys host McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu at Memorial Park tomorrow.

The first super-clash of the 2024 WRFU Senior competition, although Whanganui Marist RFC supporters might argue their club derby holds that distinction, the Memorial Park fixture pits the beaten finalists of the past two years against each other — 2022 runners-up Ruapehu returning to the grade after a season in Tasman Tanning Premier.

Both sides are undefeated and the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield being defended by Ruapehu only adds spice to the broth.

“We’re excited, this will be, without doubt, our biggest test,” Utiku coach James Maher said.

“When you play Ruapehu, we know it’s going to be pretty physical — a close-at-hand game.”

Driven by their taste of Cooks Gardens finals day last year and wanting more, the expansion of Utiku’s playing roster in the past few years has been impressive.

Augmented by local shepherds and soldiers from Waiō uru Military Camp, the team have not had the same lineup yet in their four straight victories — due to the roar, duck shooting, military exercises and family commitments.

Utiku started their campaign on the road with comfortable wins over McCrea Scanning Counties (32-14) and Black Bull Liquor Pirates (36-12), before making a statement at home against 2022-23 semifinalists Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau (34-7) and last weekend with JJ Walters Asphalt Marton (52-5).

“We’ve already used, I don’t know how many players — it’s tested our depth,” Maher said.

Nonetheless with a tough run home in their past three games before the likely quarter-finals, Maher is confident they will have lots of injury cover as well as being conditioned for the big games of late June and early July.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better draw in that regard,” he said.

“It’s a real challenge, having a squad as big as we do, to keep everyone happy. “We’re giving them blooding. Naturally, it’s always a younger squad.”

Of the key men in the engine room, eldest Coogan brother James has returned to the squad to join Mark and Gordon, the latter having played in the off-season in England, although he was injured in his team’s impressive win over 2022-23 semifinalists Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau.

Fellow forward Joseph Abernethy has representative experience and is another standout.