All stops out for a full-on final

BY JOHN ALEXANDER

Central's Onolevu Temo and Waitohi's Keiran Gaudin epitomise what the respective clubs are all about as they prepare for tomorrow's much-anticipated Wadsco Marlborough premier club rugby grand final at Lansdowne Park.

They are two very good, tough, uncompromising players who give it everything every time they don their beloved club colours.

The pair get on well and have a mutual respect for each other's play, as do their respective team-mates, but come 3pm tomorrow it's battle stations, full throttle, no quarter given, none asked.

Both have experienced the highs and lows of grand final rugby, and both know that to win tomorrow's game, all the stars will have to be aligned in their team's favour.

It is a repeat of last year's final, where Central raced away to a resounding 36-0 win. That won't happen this time, partly because Waitohi are an improved team but also because Central have lost four key game-breaking players, namely the MacDonald brothers, Quentin and Jesse, Kade Poki and Genesis Mamea.

"It's different footy in the final," said an excited and slightly nervous Temo. "The adrenalin flows. You've got nothing to lose. Every point counts. Every little thing counts on the day and in the buildup.

"A couple of errors can drop the spirit of the team. Those little errors can win and lose finals. It's about getting the basics right."

Gaudin said coming from a rowing background (where he won several national titles) helped him. "It gives you a mental edge – the discipline required for success. Always a good buzz getting into a final."

A lot of players go through their whole careers without making a final, and he said having Waitohi's 125th anniversary this year was an added incentive to play well.

"I played and won in my first final in 2003, straight out of Queen Charlotte College."

Temo is undoubtedly Central's main strike weapon, along with halfback Nick Corkin, and Gaudin admires the way the tough and fearless Fijian plays.

"His physical approach is the most enjoyable part. We like it physical down in Picton."

Ono replied with his trademark smile: "I'm glad we are not playing in Picton. There's some pretty colourful language down there."

Home ground advantage certainly favours Central. They have gone unbeaten on Lansdowne Park's No1 ground for more than two years and 23 matches.

Waitohi deserve to go into the match as favourites, having easily won the round-robin playing some brilliant attacking rugby, but they are without their main playmaker and goal kicker, Daniel Hawkins, who is on Tasman Makos duty. Just how his replacement at first five-eighth, Michael Hillgrove, slots in could decide the game, although he was the regular in that position last year.

Waitohi coach Murray Burgess is confident Hillgrove will do a good job, even if his style of play and skill set differ from Hawkins'.

"We are all about teamwork, which shows in the way we play," he said.

"Michael has done a good job for us, great, and he played last year there for us."

There's no doubt that Waitohi's fast-paced open attacking game will keep Central busy.

The Tohis have pace to burn out wide in Hepe Beech, Hayden Woolley, Kenneth Karena and Hayden Gaudin, and the forwards have a solid and mobile look about them as well. There's the experience and skill of Gaudin, Troy Looms, Daniel Karena and skipper Les Ivamy, plus the blockbusting running skills of flanker Manu Mataele.

Temo and Corkin are undoubtedly Central's strike weapons but it's up front where the Blues' pack need to take control, and they've got a good mix of up-and-comers and old heads.

No8 Reyne Volavola is a Tasman Mako in waiting. His work rate is phenomenal and he has the skills to match.

Prop Jonathan Tiueti is another highly promising player, along with Daniel Crockett and Adam Goldsworthy, and there's the experience of former Tongan test prop John Pale.

Coach Neville Saul says he is looking for his so-called lesser players to step up and take the pressure off his game breakers.

This has the makings of a very close match – in TAB terms, very much a dollar each way.

CLUB FINAL

BIDDY KATES CENTRAL: Rawiri Tamati, Anton Tuimalu, Onolevu Temo, Thomas McFadyen, Simi Volavola, Russell McKinney, Nick Corkin, Reyne Volavola, Adam Goldsworthy, Francis Roebeck, Bruce Bromwich, Dan Crockett, Jonathan Tiueti, Dan McPherson (cpt), John Pale. Subs: Al Sile, Greg Hegglun, Roger Earl, Matthew White, Taylor Wilson, James Marzola, Ben Sutherland.

CRAFAR CROUCH WAITOHI: Hayden Gaudin, Hepe Beech, Kenneth Karena/Joe Stewart, Scott Ivamy, Hayden Gaudin, Michael Hillgrove, James Giles, Manu Mataele, Les Ivamy (cpt), Daniel Karena, Troy Looms, Rory Wright, Matthew Burgess, Keiran Gaudin, Joe Va'atuitui. Subs: Joe Stewart/Toby Randall, William Karena, Jason Watene, Shae Gaudin, Perry Mahuika, Stefan Roguski, Nathan Peipi. Referee: Dave Woodhouse. Kickoff time: 3pm, Lansdowne Park No1. Weather forecast: Thickening high cloud. Northwesterlies strengthening in exposed places. Temperature range, 0-14C. Senior division two: Renwick v Harlequins, 1pm, Lansdowne Park No1. Under-16 final: 12.15pm, Lansdowne Park No5.

- The Marlborough Express