Club Rugby Kicks off tomorrow

Coach Steve Jackson casts his eye over this weeks match-ups...

This weekend kicks off the first round of Club Rugby, its an exciting time for everyone involved in Harbour Rugby, we get to watch our club talent, see how new coaches operate and see if the defending champions can successfully defend titles and who will challenge them. Pre Season is over and although its the first game teams will be looking to stamp their authority on the competition and all will look to get off to a good start.
 
Their will be plenty of interest in the Premier competition. Defending Champions Massey will again field a strong team with almost all of last seasons victorious squad returning.  They will play the much improved Glenfield and Walter Little is optimistic about their chances this season. With Michael Little available to play this week it will be a mouth watering midfield battle between him and Matt Vaega also from the Blues. The Glenfield Pack has also had a boost with Rangi Otere returning from stints with Suburbs and Silverdale and he will add size to their forwards. Taine Lam, Samoa sevens rep and the older Brother of talented Dylan, has arrived at the Massey club to bolster an already formiddable pack and they should have the services of Blues Lock Gerrard Cowley – Mariner. This will be an intriguing match at Moire park and spectators wont be dissapointed.
 
Runners up North Shore will again keep Massey honest and with New forwards Coach Andre Katipa assisting Shore. Look for their pack to shine again but it will be a new look and young backline that will compliment their forwards. They take on the Men from Mahurangi who will look to Calan Venter and Ray Beamish to lead they way and provide some front foot ball to their exciting backs. North Shore have got the services of ex NZ Sec Schools, Samoa U20 Rep and Auckland ITM Cup Member Sootala Faaoso who has made the shift for an opportunity to further his career. Dan Hilton Jones will lead a yong backline, where we look to see Daniel Li shine in 2016.
 
Westen Pioneers under the guidance of Tu Nuuliatia have lost some strike power from last season but will rely on the relentless work of Josh Williams, Kane Moors and the ever improving Nico Maybury. David Bason will again direct the pack around the park and they will hope to provide their speedsters out wide some ball. The Pioneers face a team that has had good quality numbers at pre season and with some old and new faces fronting for Bays they have experience and enthusiasm and will look to get their campaign underway well.  Kalem Chan Boon has arrived at the club and Tua Saseve looks in the best condition of his career and injury free, they will again hope that Zac Judge and Irwin Finau can add impact and the calm influence of Corey Aporo can direct them around the field.
 
Paul Mant is at the helm of Marist and it is great to see some assistance coming from Club stalwarts Anthony Boric and Scott Uren, the latter to again put his boots on and add value to a team that is rebuilding. We will see a little of the unknown from this group as they look to surprise and push hard, with live wire halfback Ray Daniels joining the team from his stint North he will add plenty of energy.

They come up against Silverdale who have Lock Hamish Munroe from Canterbury joining the team this year, again for an opportunity at Harbour, and at 2.04m will add lineout height to there pack. I have also heard a whisper Robbie Colhoun will put his boots on again and I look forward to seeing him play, one of the loose forwards regarded as the toughest going around when he wore the Harbour Jersey.  In the backs young standout Lewis Gjaltema who has already represented the Bues U20s and the Blues A and was a member of the Harbour Team to Manila will be pushing his club team mate and Harbour wider training player Raniera Takarangi for the No1 halfback position, a head ache Daniel Takarangi is happy about.
 
The Game I will be watching will be Takapuna v Northcote, both teams have recruited well and also lost a couple of players. Northcote with new Head Coach Brett Craies has Harbour signing Murphy Taramai to pack the scrum alongside James Doyle who will lead a formidable loose forward trio and it will be a mouth watering encounter against Martin Brink NZ 20s trials and another mover to the union for an opportunity, Kane Jacobsen form Waikato.He will be joined by ex team mate and Harbour player Bryn Gatland,

Inside him at 9 is Sam Wall another player from Waikato looking to impress. Blair Urlich will be looking for his young Team from 2015 to step up another gear and with big Francois Marais in good pre season form, they should get plenty of lineout ball.
 
On another note great to see Levi McBirney ex Westlake Boys and Harbour Age Grade rep playing for the Warriors U20s against Newcastle over the weekend and we will be tracking his progress with keen interest.
 
Look forward to seeing you all at our club games and chewing the fat on the sidelines. Would like to acknowledge and give a massive thanks to all of the Volunteers and to our Referees and Good luck to all teams, Play Hard but Play Fair.Coach Steve Jackson runs his eye over the match-ups...