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Saturday, September 9, 2017
Ashburton Guardian 25
■ RUGBY
Shield up for grabs BY JAIME PITT-MACKAY JAIME.P@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
With the Hanan Shield on the line this weekend, Mid Canterbury’s Heartland clash against their old foes South Canterbury is going to have a lot of weight behind it. Mid Canterbury have made four changes to their starting line-up that will attempt to take the Hanan Shield back that was narrowly lost last year. Adam Williamson makes his first Heartland start of the year, coming in for the injured Mark Andrew. “He had a few injury issues with his knee throughout the season and he has had a scan and will probably be out for a couple of weeks,” co-coach Craig Dunlea said. Openside flanker Kurt Polson returns to the pack, with eyes on the size of the South Canterbury pack after the Hammers struggled somewhat against North Otago last week. Tyler Blackburn starts his first Heartland game of the year as well, in a straight swap with Will Mackenzie, who drops to the bench. “Tyler has had an impact in all the games he has played and he deserves a chance at starting,” Dunlea said. “It is going to be a good battle between the pair of them this season.” Second-five Nete Caucau returns to the starting lineup while Tom Hanham-Carter departs for the Jock Hobbs Tournament, partnering Regan King, who returns to his natural centre position. Two new names to the Heartland team appear on the bench, with loan signing Rupert Elworthy coming in to cover the lock position, while a face familiar to Hammers fans of several years ago, Willie McGoon, makes his return to the first team. “We were quite light at cover for lock, and he (Elworthy), will be a physical heart to the team,” Dunlea said. “Willie has come back from shoulder surgery so it was just a case of him coming through the A team as he has only played a couple games of club rugby. “He is an out-and-out finisher, which is great.” With the Hanan Shield on the line, and the possibility of back-to-back defeats, Dunlea said picking up the win is quite important. “We are definitely a bit sore from losing it (the Hanan Shield) last year and it adds a bit more to the game, you always want to be playing for silverware,” he said. “It is quite important to keep momentum going, there are a couple of key guys that probably didn’t have the best games last week so it will be a chance for them to step up. “We know we’ve let ourselves down over
MC HAMMERS Adam Williamson Jackson Donlan (C) Adam Stewart Eric Duff Angus Lindsay Phil Watson Kurt Polson Sam Finau Tyler Blackburn Jason Kjestrup Christian Vainerere Nete Caucau Regan King Maleli Sau Jarred Percival Phill Mills Tom Heywood Rupert Elworthy Seta Koroitamana Will Mackenzie Willie McGoon Timoci Nabakeke
Hooker Phill Mills is new to the Mid Canterbury squad this year, but has caught the eye with his energetic performances off the bench, and will line up there for the Hammers’ clash against North Otago today. PHOTO JAIME PITT-MACKAY 040817-JP-014 these past few weeks by leaving too many points on the field, and we need to improve that.” One player who has been catching the eye with his appearances off the bench is substitute hooker Phill Mills. After only being in the country since April, Mills has already taken to the field in a Ranfurly Shield Challenge, two Heartland Championship games, and will be lining up for his third today, which has the added emphasis of being a Hanan Shield clash. “I came over in April … just to play a bit of rugby because New Zealand is the place to be for it,” he said.
“I wanted to get as high as I could, but I wasn’t really expecting to be playing for Mid Canterbury this season, maybe in a couple of seasons.” Mills started his rugby playing career at age 11, playing for his hometown club, Bolton Rugby Club, before playing for teams in the third and fourth tiers of the English game. While football rules the roost of ball sports in England, Mills said he only ever really played five-a-side, and even then that was for fitness, with rugby being his passion. “It is interesting over here. “Walking down the street here you see
all the kids in the schools have got rugby balls in their hands and are playing rugby, while over in England it is footballs,” he said. “I love the rugby over here, the fast paced style of rugby is really great.” While he has been getting regular and good minutes off the bench, Mills has his eyes on a starting spot. “It is tough being behind someone as solid as Jackson (Donlan), and he is the captain as well which makes it hard,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep working hard and keep seeing if I can get into that starting spot.”