North Otago hoping to keep winning momentum

North Otago will hope to make it two in a row in the Heartland Championship when it plays Wairarapa-Bush at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.

North Otago was impressive when it beat 2018 Meads Cup finalist South Canterbury 26-20 in Timaru last Saturday.

It produced a strong forward effort backed up by an effective defensive performance.

North Otago, as with many other unions this round, will not be at full strength for this game.

The Heartland XV, which was selected before the beginning of the competition was announced, will make use of the competition's leading personnel.

The Heartland XV plays Samoa at Eden Park tomorrow afternoon.

All Heartland teams bar East Coast will be represented in the fixture, although some have bigger losses than others.

Wairarapa-Bush loses four players, while North Otago will be without key players in props Ralph Darling and Meli Kolinisau and No8 Josh Clark.

Accordingly, North Otago has made changes. Michael Mata'afa (loosehead) and Kelepi Funaki (tighthead) join the front row, which includes captain Sam Sturgess at hooker.

Charles Elton and William Kirkwood, both Otago loan players, will lock the scrum, while Mat Duff returns to the pack, joining the versatile Jacob Coghlan and Jake Greenslade.

North Otago's Robbie Smith, probably the form halfback in the competition, links up with Mike Williams.

Williams, an Otago University and New Zealand University under-23 representative, made his debut last Saturday when he came on as a replacement for Lachie Kingan.

Maheno speedster Adam Johnson comes on to the left wing outside Sam Tatupu and Lemi Masoe, while the aggressive Howard Packman is on the other wing.

Patrick Pati, who missed the South Canterbury game last week, starts at fullback.

Wairarapa-Bush made a confident start when it beat Wanganui 28-18.

"It was a good game but Wairarapa-Bush, to us, were always in command and it was one of those games ... followers felt that the game was never going to go Wanganui's way," Wairarapa-Bush chief executive Tony Hargood said.

In other games, Mid Canterbury will play East Coast, Horowhenua-Kapiti travels to West Coast, King Country hosts Buller, Poverty Bay meets South Canterbury, and Wanganui hosts Thames Valley.

North Otago v Wairarapa-Bush 

Forsyth Barr Stadium, tonight, 5.05pm

North Otago: Patrick Pati, Howard Packman, Lemi Masoe, Samuel Tatupu, Adam Johnson, Michael Williams, Robbie Smith, Jake Greenslade, Jacob Coghlan, Mat Duff, William Kirkwood, Charles Elton, Kelepi Funaki, Sam Sturgess, Michael Mata’afa. Reserves: Hayden Tisdall, Bailey Templeton, Joshua Hayward, Manulua Taiti, Anthony Arty, Lachlan Kingan, Clement Garca.

Wairarapa-Bush: Inia Katia, Logan Hebentom-Prendeville, Robbie Anderson, Ueta Tufafa, Tristan Flutey, Tipene Haira, Daryl Pickering, Kirk Tufaga, Johan van Vliet, Joseva Tako, Andrew Smith, Lachlan McFadzean, Sam Tufaga, Bruce Kauika-Petersen, Max Tufaga. Reserves: Elijah James-Pakoti, Sam Gammie, Sam Shaw, Brendan Campbell, Bryan Arnold, Tim Priest, Brock Price.

 - Terry O'Neill 

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