HERE’S a first for Hawke’s Bay’s optimum club rugby competition’s MVP award.
Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports fullback Sakopo Ofa is the primary beekeeper to feature some of the weekly winners within the 9-12 months records of the McDonald’ Hawke’s Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.
“It’s my first complete season doing it, and I’m certainly playing it. We get to tour around several orchards in Hawke’s Bay,” Ofa stated.
Ofa, 23, has additionally executed something else few gamers do inside the opposition. This season, the daddy of 3, who has been within the Bay all his existence, left Maddison Trophy holders Clive to play for Hastings Rugby and Sports.
The move is paying off, too. Ofa produced a player-of-the-suit overall performance, including two tries, as Hastings pipped his former club 31-27 in a Tui Nash Cup 2nd spherical fixture at Elwood Park on Saturday. This made Ofa the second weekly winner inside the conflict to emerge as the 2019 award recipient.
“I performed for Hastings Rugby and Sports throughout my JAB days, so I’ve gone again to my home membership. I’ve had 5 years at Clive, and I was given my blazer for fifty games after going to assist them out once they had been quick on numbers. They’ve got lots of numbers now, so it’s time to go back home,” Ofa stated.
Last season, he played a maximum of his games in the midfield but was also playing the transfer to the fullback function.
“Now that I’m loads fitter, it is accurate too. Last year, I got up to 115kgs. Now I’m down to 88kgs … I’m watching my eating, slicing down on takeaways.”
When Ofa turned into St John’s College, he spent three years in the 1st XV, including an unbeaten tour of Australia in 2013. Hastings halfback Jayden Rihia became his teammate on that tour, becoming Clive midfield lower back Duff Penitito.
His Hastings team’s two performances have inspired a former Hawke’s Bay below-19 rep, Ofa.
“We’ve been given the right leaders and coaches.”
He predicts a close encounter when Hastings tackles in-form, unbeaten defending champions WIT Napier Old Boys Marist at Tremain Field on Saturday in the feature round three clash.
“It ought to be a very good sport and could go either way.”
Ofa has set a long-term aim of securing a berth in the Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad before his career ends.
“Most folks have eyes on a Magpies jersey. So it’s important I take little steps and paint in its direction,” he added.
In other suits this weekend, Ofa’s former crew, Tremains Andrew Clark Clive, need to record their first win of the season when they meet Tamatea at Bill Mathewson Park; unbeaten Taradale Rugby and Sports will begin as favorites in opposition to MAC at Tareha Reserve, Progressive Meats Havelock North must keep their unbeaten run after taking up Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical at Whitmore Park. Tanalized Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports should pip Northfuels Central at Tamatea Park.
Best & Fairest
Hastings v Clive: 3, Sakopo Ofa (Hastings); 2, Donovan Mataira (Clive); 1, Jessie Lisa-Sipaia (Hastings).
Havelock North v MAC: three, Jacob Stephenson (Havelock); 2, Adam Blake (Havelock North); 1, Damaris Hokianga (MAC).
IBM v Central: three, Liam Edwards (NOBM); 2, Saia Paese (NOBM); 1, Pouvi Fatialofa (NOBM).
Pirate v Tamatea: three, Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate); 2, Braxton Robinson (Tamatea); 1, Kane Nepa-Apatu (Pirate).
Taradale v Napier Technical: three, Junior Malielegaoi (Taradale); 2, Jordan Kupa (Taradale); 1, Elijah Martin (Tech).
Leaderboard: 5 factors: Liam Edwards (NOBM). Three: Matt Morrison, Jacob Stephenson (both Havelock North), Sakopo Ofa, Jayden Rihia (both Hastings), Tyler Symon-Burke (NOBM), Iakopo Mapu, Junior Malielegaoi (both Taradale), Tom Iosefo (MAC), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate).
