Bayleys Premier 1^st XV Competition Preview

The Bayleys Premier 1^st XV competition kicks off on Saturday with six teams vying to be crowned Taranaki champions. Taranaki Rugby in partnership with naming rights partner Bayleys preview the six teams ahead of their Round 1 encounters.

For full fixtures and results please click HERE.

Bayleys Taranaki are proud supporters of Taranaki Rugby and the Bayleys Premier 1^st XV competition Academy. Bayleys are a team of passionate and professional property experts. Their team cover the region from their offices in New Plymouth and Hawera. Bayleys specialise across all sectors including residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial with agents who have knowledge and experience. Plus, they have an exceptional property management team with a high level of respect by local landlords and tenants. 

Hawera High School 1^st XV

The Hawera High School 1^st XV is a relatively young team with 14 new players to the team including five Year 11 and 11 Year 12 students. Troy Fowler will lead from the front and will backed up ably by Josh Wallace, with young guns Reuben Nelley and Max Broughton providing support in the loose forwards.  In the Backs New Zealand Under 16 Touch Rugby representative Niall Clancy returns to rugby after several years away from the sport as does age grade representative cricketer Jack Fowler. Hawera will look to pace men Tane Leatherby and Hunter Boyes for x factor out wide.

Squad: Troy Fowler (Captain), Tai Wright, Josh Wallace (Vice Captain), Tait Scott, William Sua’ilua, Max Edgcombe, Josh Hurley, Max Broughton, Blake Midgley, Kaese Smith, Liam Cadman, Reuben Nelley, Zander Rupapere, Cordel Greenhill, Mason Fleming, Jack Fowler, Niall Clancy, Hunter Boyes, Hazley Butler, Jacob Kuklinski, Te Poutokomanawa Kupe-King, Liam Swainson, Jaron Dombroski, Tane Leatherby

Notable Recent Rugby Alumni: Michael Bent, Jayden Hayward

Inglewood High School 1^st XV

Inglewood High School 1st XV is looking to build on the base that was set by the players from last year. They have a number of players returning to the team this year and hopefully that experience will assist the team in tight games. There is an exciting group of young players coming through from the champion Under 15 side from last year.  Some players to watch this year are Michael Appert at flanker, Jack Higgie a utility back, Vai Fruean in the midfield, Brooklyn Saunders off the back of the scrum and Theo Hoogeboom on the wing.

Squad: Appert, Michael; Brocklehurst, Korben; Dravitzki, Jayden; Fruean, Vai; Goble, Aidan; Hoogeboom, Anthony;  Hoogeboom, Theo; Macks, Cody;  Martin, Matatuhi;  Miller, Weston; Peters, Olly; Petersen, Caleb; Phillips, Alex; Steele, Connor; Tibbenham, Stirling; Reuben Halliday; Cameron Broadmore; Jack Phillips; Alex Stuart; Jacob Clemont; Luke Turnball; Jack Higgie; Brooklyn Saunders;  Lachlan Smith; Joseph Kuklinski; Nick Smith 

Notable Recent Rugby Alumni: Callum Gibbins, Avon Lewis

Central Rugby Under 19 1^st XV

Central is an U19 rugby club team, based at Stratford High School.  It is a combination of Stratford High School students and U19 boys from the local community. The team is coached by Aaron Riddick and Shane Wheeler and managed by Jono Erwood.  Central has a strong connection with the Stratford Eltham Rugby & Sports Club. SERSC support the team with coaches and game facilities where we occasionally play curtain raiser games for the club senior teams. Central also has two U15 boys’ rugby teams and a girls’ rugby team.

Squad:

Notable Recent Rugby Alumni: Mark Allen, Brendan Haami, Kyle Stewart, Jack Jordan

Coastal 1^st XV

This year the Coastal Secondary School 1st XV has a mixture of new 1st XV players, players who have returned from last year and younger Under 15 players. This situation has resulted in a mixture of experience and inexperience, that has given our senior players a good opportunity to support the younger players as they step up.
 

The front-row team has a number of young players in this area who are showing promising talent. Caleb Peyton, Brayden Shaw and Thomas Mclean are three young front rowers who have shown the ability to be effective with good strong carries, line breaks and the ability to connect with the backs. They are supported within an experienced hooker in Matt Clarke who has become a leader within our forward pack.  
 

Moving into the second row and loose forwards are Ty Jones who comes from the Plumtree whanau of South Taranaki. He is a lock/ loose forward in his second year of 1st XV rugby. Ty has displayed good form in the preseason games with a man of the match performance against the FDMC 2nd XV. Ty has a high level of fitness and work rate, with the ability to carry strong and clean out the ruck area. The loose forward area is one our most contested positions, with a lot of talented players. Captain Scott Quinnell is our leading blindside flanker, who can also equally play number 8. He has shown good decision making on the field, both as captain and as a player. He is strong over the ball, but with good footwork, pace and hands skills, he can be hard to defend in open play. 

The backline has a lot of new combinations this year. They have shown the potential to become a handful for opposition defence. Cheaden Nagaia is moving in one position to play a crucial role as number 10 this season where he can develop his strong ball carrying and defensive abilities. Corbyn Sutcliffe is a real threat in our midfield with pace to burn. Caleb Terry and Decoda Harvey-Smith are two young backs that have untapped potential to grow over this year and into next season. 

Squad:

Notable Recent Rugby Alumni: Mark Robinson, Graham Mourie

FDMC 2^nd XV

The FDMC 2^nd XV will be looking to string together strong performances as a team with individuals looking to put their hand up for 1^st XV selection for the Central North Island competition. The side will be coached by old boys Fraser McDonald, Chris Gawler and Josh Walden.

Squad:

Aidyn Wright - loves to dominate in the lineout

Alex Roberts - loves a hearty carry, puts his body on the line

Caleb Crawford- hearty at the breakdown

Caleb Lawn - pace to burn

Cooper Werder- smart rugby brain, good chop tackle

Cullen Hurley - goes all day, big ticker

Dane Hofmans- outstanding tackler

Ethan Adams - very athletic, good defensively

Fletcher Smith - nuggety, toils in the tight spaces

George Boon - controller of the game

Jack Feaver - goes all day, fantastic step, flair

Jack Meads - tough competitor, big voice

James Moffitt - loves his code, plenty of heart

Jamie Horgan - good scrummager, great technique

Jayden Ruakere - loves the open space, good ball carrier

Jordie Adams- doesn't mind the tough stuff, good pace on the back of a scrum

Kobe Lucas - multi-skilled utility man

Luke Crowley- tough as nails

Matthew O’Rorke - great team man

Marcus Lupton - carries well a quick attacking threat

Monaro Ruakere-Bennett - strong ball carrier will always get over the advantage line

Rhys Revell - gives 100 percent

Riley Fowler - loves ball in space

Samuel Drought - great at lineout time, tough at the breakdown

William Southorn - a good link man

Notable Recent Rugby Alumni: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Kane Barrett, Ricky Riccitelli, Tei Walden, Duplessis Kirifi, Liam Coltman, Conrad Smith

NPBHS 3^rd XV

The NPBHS 3^rd XV have a wealth of depth and the makings of a strong side to challenge local 1^st XVs. The side will be coached by Kevin Gledhill and Sam Moore and managed by Hannah Goodall.

Notable Recent Rugby Alumni: Rhys Marshall, Mitch Brown, Lachlan Boshier, Tom Florence, Reuben Thorne, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Codey Rei

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Article added: Thursday 23 July 2020