Harbour has had a tough season competing in the premier colts grade this season, but all could change come Saturday!
The Harbour colts have had a tough season to date so far with loses across the board, they went down on the weekend to a very dominant and experienced Kaikorai team, but showed they would not give up with a late dominating serge in the last 7min that saw winger Nathaniel Anderson dive over for the try only to be disallowed for a jerboas call.
The game did not start well for Harbour with a yellow card within the first minute of the game for being off side! Unheard of these days. This really ruined the game for the boys as Kaik scored 3 tries in the first four minutes.
The boys kept trying though, but ill disciplined again saw loose forward Jack Addis sent to the bin early in the second half for asking the ref if he used to play for Kaik. Fair to say the ref was having none of it.
The Harbour colts have showed this season they can score tries with scoring against every team in the competition and notably their best game although going down to third placed Dunedin, they managed to score 5 tries.
Harbour co-captain Pj Tili said “It’s about sticking together, we knew entering this grade it was going to be tough. I believe it will eventually come, the boys just need to keep the belief. We have shown glimpses each game of what we are capable of, we just need an 80 minute performance”
Tili has been a vital member of the squad and is even playing with two broken fingers. “We have the biggest game of the season this weekend, we have a chance to resurrect the season as we are playing against Southland boy’s in an 8th vs 5th playoff and we should be able to field our strongest team to date.”
Harbour colts coach Darryl Ogilvie believes the boys could cause an upset this week, it really depends if the boys play for the full 80 minutes and turn up. When asked about the season he said “Its a 2 or 3 year plan, you can’t expect too much in the first year, as more players arrive we will be able to have a better selection process and potentially be able to pick from 2 colts sides. We will have a full evaluation at the end of the season and look to build on our nucleus of players we have gathered from this year.”
Chairman Marty Paris said to the boys “we are impressed at your guys grit and determination. It takes at least a couple of years to mould a good Colts side. I have watched you play and your certainly ahead of the schedule.
I have no doubt with the determination your management and coaching has you are not far away from success.
Good luck and look forward to watching you again.
Harbour also has three boys in the mix for the Otago under 19’s flanker Dylan Tutty, midfielder Nale Ofa and fullback Ben Pringle
The Harbour colts are playing this weekend against Southland Boy’s where they will be looking to get their first win of the season.