The search for Senior silverware

By Jared Smith

There is both a want and a need which comes with contesting the WRFU Senior crown at Cooks Gardens.

The Division 1 championship will give a substantial ‘shot in the arm’ for the club that wins it – both with the retention and recruitment of players, as well as lifting the spirits of their loyal fan base.

For table-toppers Ali Arc-TD Brick & Blocks Marist Celtic, there is also the need to end a 14-year drought, most often denied each year by one powerful club or another in Senior which had the ability at the time to be competitive at Tasman Tanning Premier level.

For McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu, a victory could be the signal of resurgence – after the first time this season going without having a Premier squad, winning the club’s first Senior title since 2015 could be the boost to see them return to the big time.

“Third time lucky, good things come in three’s,” said Celtic coach Duane Brown, referring to the tough losses in the 2018 and 2020 finals his side suffered against Kelso Hunterville and Ratana respectively.

“We’re building pretty good this second round – been working to fix letting teams back in the second half.”

Two years ago against Ratana, who like Ruapehu were rebuilding as a Senior-only club, Celtic’s young talented backs were only about a year out of high school.

Now, a number of them have had their 21sts, and bring a suitable amount of experience in pressure game situations.

“There’s a bit of confidence from them. Also, a few older guys are nearing the end of their careers – if we win, they’ll probably hang the boots up,” said Brown.

They have taken inspiration from the likes of club legend Trevor Olney, who tells them in finals they key is to get another 10 per cent effort out of yourself.

Brown, aware that after weeks of wet weather that the conditions could favour the country boys, wants his pack to hold the line so the backs can get enough precious chances to deliver.

“We’ll definitely have to adjust. We’ve got an electric backline, they can rip up anything.

With their Premier side having missed the semifinals, while the Buffalos dipped out on the Division 2 playoffs, Brown knows how important a title win for Celtic, finally, would be for all of Marist.

“This game is for the club – it’s been a long time coming and we’re definitely playing for our brethren.”

Celtic avenged their only loss of the year during the Town group matches with back-to-back victories against Gemini Pepper Construction Kaierau at the end of the Division 1 round-robin and last weekend’s semifinal.

This included beating Ruapehu 34-24 at Spriggens Park on June 18, despite the visitors coming back with two late tries.

Ruapehu lifted from that defeat, winning their last three games against Kaierau and Ratana (twice) to secure the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield for the summer and qualify for the trip to Cooks Gardens.

Manager Jamie Brock said despite the tougher of the two semifinals, beating Ratana by one point, the side was up for the challenge and looking forward to it.

“Just the usual aches and stuff.

“We’ll bring some of that mountain weather down with us.”

Ruapehu still have a couple of veterans, namely prop Mac Edmonds and halfback Kahl Elers-Green, who were in the 2015 side that won the Senior title, finding ending Hunterville’s six year grip on the trophy.

Brock agreed it would mean a lot to their Ohakune supporters to do it again.

“It would be quite awesome for old mate Boof [Mark Green] and that. It’s his Senior team, his boys.

“Hopefully the [supporters] bus will be full.”

Green died in a truck crash last year after re-establishing a Senior squad.

The head coach is Willie McDonnell, while advisor Kim McNaught has been to WRFU finals day plenty of times as a player and knows what it takes to lift the silverware.

At Spriggens Park, the Division 2 final sees last year’s overall champions Hunterville have what is likely to be a tough tussle with table-toppers Bennett’s Taihape.

The teams have split their matches this season with each winning their home fixture – 22-14 to Hunterville in the Country group’s season opener on April 23, while Taihape got payback 29-23 to start the Division 2 games on May 28.

The Division 2 final kicks off at 12pm, with the Division 1 final at 12.45pm.