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A small and inconsistent line up of players has challenged the Otamatea Hawks rugby team this season as they search for a top four finish.
The side sits second from the bottom of the 10 team Bayley’s Premiership competition, with three wins, one draw and 10 losses.
Otamatea Hawks coach Mike Peeni, who this year won the Kaiwaka Sports Association Services to Sport Award, says getting a regular starting 15 is an issue.
“We’ve struggled to get a consistent line up and we only got a full squad together in the first week of the competition,” Mike says.
“We missed the pre-season opportunity to develop team culture and strategy, which put us on the back foot.”
Mike says this phase was important as only half of the squad are returning players and the side has lost five of its six Mitre Ten Cup contracted players.
“One positive is we’ve had the chance to bring through some of the younger players who wouldn’t normally get an opportunity to play much at this level.”
Despite the rocky start, Mike has kept the teams original target of finishing in the top four.
Currently in ninth position, he says there is always a danger of getting relegated from the competition, but he is positive his team can pick up points in their five remaining home games.
“The main area we need to improve in is our fitness so we can compete past the hour mark of a game.”
Mike says he is confident that the club has plenty of talent to nurture for the coming seasons.
