The last time the Sky Blues paid a visit to Masterton, the place was in uproar.
Trust House Memorial Park, home to Copthorne Wairarapa-Bush, was in flux as the Bush and the Ngāti Porou East Coast Kaupoi produced arguably the most entertaining Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship match of 2023.
Both sides scored four tries apiece, NPEC led 21-14 at half-time and by as many as 10 points for 73 minutes, reserve right-wing Nathan Hunt scoring the home team's last try for victory and in terms of wins head-to-head, the Bush are 16 to 6 in front since the advent of the National Provincial Championship in 1976.
Tomorrow the Kaupoi will host the Bush, 2pm at Enterprise Cars Whakarua Park in Ruatoria.
This weekend will see the conclusion of play in the round-robin and everyone in pursuit of three-time defending champions Makikihi Fries South Canterbury, who as competition leaders have won 38 in a row and have 35 points.
Ngāti Porou head coach Kahu Tamatea's Kaupoi are placed 8th with three wins from seven games and 15 competition points. The Bush are in 9th place, have won 2 of 7 games and 12 points.
Tamatea said: "We've got genuine X-factor across the board. I want to see my team have the confidence to back their talents and play some really good football."
Tamatea's opposite Reece Robinson - whose crew beat Poverty Bay 39-24 to retain the Jeremy David Memorial Cup, and traded 12th for 11th place with the Weka on September 7 - said: "This will be a tough game and both teams need to win to make the Lochore Cup semi-finals. The Coast are extremely hard to beat at home, but we're excited about the opportunity ahead."
The Sky Blues have made up two big changes up front: loosehead prop Manahi Brooking goes to the bench for Billy Priestly. Priestly scored two tries from hooker for the Coast in their 22-20 win v Central Hawke's Bay at Princess Street Reserve in Opotiki on August 3, and lock Hoani Te Moana - who played his 50th game away v South Canterbury - is not in the game-day 23.
In the backs, mighty 1.96m, 108kg wing Tevita Nabura of Counties-Manukau and the Otago Highlanders is in for Teaotahi Tuhaka and flying machine Whaimotu Craft-Chemis will start at fullback for the sensational youngster Fletcher Carpenter.
Three tough numbers will be on the bench that were not at Fraser Park, Timaru, last weekend - Frank Taiapa, Kaleb Whakataka, Jack Richardson, all of whom are fit and raring to let rip. The one new addition to the back reserves is Benny Haerewa, an extremely dangerous, creative player.
The Sky Blues are strong up front: Priestly, added to ex-NZ Maori hooker Joe Royal and Perrin Manuel, will ensure that the Coast are well-organised for all eventualities at set-piece. Their proficiency at the scrum and the danger posed by their line-out drive will not have escaped the notice of Wairarapa-Bush's young captain blindside flanker Logan Wakefield - or his fellow forwards.
Coast captain halfback Sam Parkes knows that his team more than had the measure of South Canterbury for much of the match last weekend but no matter what conditions are like tomorrow - showers are expected - both sides must lift for this game. The Coast have lost their last three games - albeit two of those were Top 4 teams
Tomorrow for both posses - the Kaupoi and the Bush - could be one wild ride.
Police Senior Sergeant Stu Catley of Hawke's Bay, will referee his 30th first-class match at Ruatoria tomorrow with the assistance of NPEC officials Matthew Richards (AR1) and Joseph Coleman (AR2) .
Ngāti Porou East Coast Kaupoi, 1-23: Billy Priestly, Joseph Royal, Perrin Manuel, Kaydin Budd, Rico TeKani, Richie Green, Will Bolingford, Aorangi Stokes, Sam Parkes (c), Te Rangi Fraser, Pamona Samupo, Leigh Bristowe, Apirana Pewhairangi, Teaotahi Tuhaka, Whaimotu Craft-Chemis; R: Jayden Leiua-Pokia, Manahi Brooking, Frank Taiapa, Kaleb Whakataka, Paora Mullany, Carlos Kemp, Benny Haerewa, Josh Dearden.
Copthorne Wairarapa-Bush, 1-23: Tupou Lea'aemanu, Sam Siaosi, Jordan Sului, Sam Gammie, Alec Odell, Logan Wakefield (c), Thomas Williams, Joe Tako, Benazzi Ward, Ashton Coates, Soli Malatai, Tafa Tafa, Ambrose Curtis, Hayden Cooper, Tipene Haira; R: Kody Thompson, Ty Waight, Stanley Wright jnr, Matt Gain, Cody Cunningham, BJ Campbell, Hayden Cooper/Bryce Cummings, Bili Leberi.
