North Otago club rugby kicks off tomorrow with Athletic Marist taking on Old Boys, Valley playing Excelsior and Maheno clashing with Kurow. North Otago sports correspondent Terry O’Neill runs his eyes over the six teams.
Don Lolo.
ATHLETIC MARIST
Coaches: Graham Pitches, Tama Loper, Roly Senior.
Athletic Marist will look back upon a disappointing season in 2016. At times the side showed real potential, and it made the semifinals against Old Boys. The semifinal was virtually over by halftime with Old Boys leading 29-6 at the break. Athletic Marist showed just what its capabilities were in the second half when it outscored Old Boys 29-12 before going down 41-35. Losses for the 2017 season are Alex Hill and Cameron Morris up front but new players are hooker Timoci Bulitavi, first five-eighth Antini Brown and centre Terence Fatu. In pre-season games, Athletic Marist beat Waimate (26-19) and lost to Geraldine (17-7).
EXCELSIOR
Coach: Dan Keno.
It might be a tough year for Excelsior, which finished last in Citizens Shield rugby in 2016, winning only three of its games. Losses from last season include Tyron Davies, James Pillay, Isaac Shields and Rory McMeekan, while front rower Joe Pickett will be a latecomer from Portugal. Excelsior has gained Tim Kaufana, a midfielder from Auckland, Carn Parata from Maheno, Tarn Crow from St Kevin’s College and winger Neo Misiloi, also from the college ranks.
KUROW
Coach: Kevin Malcolm.
Kurow finished third on the Citizens Shield ladder in 2016, a point behind second-placed Maheno, which ultimately defeated Kurow 30-26 in the semifinals after holding Maheno to 13-13 at halftime. Halfback Ross McCone has hung up the boots, as has flanker Tim Anderson. Centre Andrew Cooney is out with a shoulder injury.
Kurow lost its warm-up games against Upper Clutha, and McKenzie for the Jarrad Blackler trophy.
Newcomers to the red jersey are Max Buchan, a hooker from Upper Clutha, Logan Byers, a flanker from Clyde-Earnscleugh, and Isaac Milne, a loose forward from Upper Clutha. Zane Gard returns to Gard Country while key back Ben Nowell is absent on parental leave. Harvard Fale, who impressed in the North Otago Second XV last season, is expected to build on his talent. Coach Malcolm said there were a few players still to show up. Forty-eight players turned up for the Jarrad Blackler trophy game earlier in the season. A big loss is lock Rob Verbakel, who is overseas.
MAHENO
Coaches: Mark Wilson, Nick Anderson.
Major losses to 2016 Citizens Shield winner Maheno will be props Robbie Richardson and Dan Towler. Halfback Robbie Smith, fullback Craig Smith and first five-eighth Chris Jennings will be key players in the backs, while up front Marcus Balchin, who impressed as a loose forward in his first year, and Hayden Tisdall, who led from the front, will be key players.
OLD BOYS
Coaches: Ralph Darling, Lemi Masoe.
Old Boys will be out to regroup after being toppled in the 2016 Citizens Shield final. Missing will be Samisoni Tongotongo, who has gone to Australia, Jeremiah Shields, who will be playing in England, and big English lock Kennet O’Neill, who has returned home. Livewire halfback Inoke Naufahu will be sidelined at the start of the season with a knee injury, as will big Sale Pi’i, who is carrying a knee injury and will be out for the season. Former Waitaki Boys’ lock Don Lolo, who played in South Canterbury last season, returns to Old Boys. Front row will be Ralph Darling, Unga Kefu and Kelepi Funaki with Lolo, Lio Havili and Paea Ala in as locks. Filipo Veamatahau, Manulua Taiti and Palavi Tahaafe are fronting up in the loose. Initially behind the scrum will be the versatile Harry Frost with experienced Lemi Masoe at first five-eighth. Former flanker Maene Mapusaga will slot into the backline along with Una Ofa. Old Boys had wins over Green Island (42-7) and Timaru Celtic (33-19) in warm-up games
VALLEY
Coach: Mike Mavor.
Last season had Valley off to a slow start and it failed to make the Citizens Shield semifinals, finishing fifth on 32 points, three points behind Athletic Marist. Valley has had a good build-up to the season, having travelled to the Gold Coast, where it beat Palm Beach Alleygators 38-17, but it lost to Waimate 43-35. Players missing from last season are mostly from the backline, including Angus Gibb, Mat Iwikau, Ravulo Kuruduadua, Steve McLaughlin and Zane Gard. New faces are lock Aaron Mackay, back after a year off, loosie Cole Ryan, from St Kevin’s College, and Dan Lewis, a first five-eighth from England, who will be arriving late in April.
- Terry O’Neill