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No peace for the Gough

Swindale Shield | 08 May 2018 | Adam Julian

 No peace for the Gough

“I’m nothing special, but I’m pretty loud. I put my hand up to do most things,” Mitchell Gough responds when asked why he was appointed head prefect of Rongotai College last year.

The 18-year-old hooker recently showcased his superior work ethic at Poneke by playing five games of rugby in a week, celebrating four wins and a starting Premier debut.

On Friday, April 20, Gough played 80 minutes for the Colts in their 40-15 win over Avalon. The next day Poneke’s Premier hooker Kelvin Harper was injured not long after the opening exchanges against Johnsonville so Gough steeped up for 70 minutes in a 25-15 victory.

On ANZAC day Gough started in the narrow defeat to Hutt Old Boys Marist and on Saturday he played a role in two matches, a 35-26 Colts victory against Wainuiomata and the Premier’s 28-25 success against Oriental Rongotai.

“I was pretty knackered, but it was good at the same time to get some positive results and test my fitness,” Gough observes  

Dave Meaclem was Gough’s First XV coach and isn’t surprised by Gough’s unusual commitment.

“He is the sort of kid every coach loves. He works hard on corrections and just keeps turning up. He isn’t the biggest, but he’s an old-fashioned front rower who never shirks the physical contest,” Meaclem acclaimed.

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“I went and watched his Premier debut against OBU. His jersey was three sizes too big. I told him he looked like he had a spinnaker up. He just loves code,” Meaclem continued.

Gough identified Meaclem as a key mentor.

“Dave was First XV coach the whole time I was at Rongotai. He cared about developing good men as well as good rugby players. It was all about getting stuck in, growing your confidence and taking your opportunities,” he says.

Gough spent three years in the First XV. His debut was a one-point win against Nelson College in 2015.

In 2016, Gough helped Rongotai beat St Pats Silverstream twice by the same score of 20-14 on their home ground. The latter win took Rongotai to the semi-finals of the Premiership for the first time since 2011 when All Black Ardie Savea was First XV captain.

“The wins against St Pats Silverstream were amazing and something I will cherish forever. It was great for the boys to put Rongotai back on the map,” Gough enthuses.

Sometimes Gough’s growing confidence didn’t always pay off. In Rongotai’s 2017 meeting with eventual National Champions, Hastings Boys’ High School a sledge Gough made ended badly.
Kini Naholo had scored six tries the previous week against St Pat’s Town and had to be stopped. Dave Meaclem recalls what happened.

“We held Kini up over the line to get a scrum. Mitchy said, ‘good on ya boys he’s only a name.’ Everybody heard him. After that Kini scored four tries,” he laughs.

“Afterwards I asked Mitch what he was thinking, he replied, ‘it was a battle to be won at the time,’” Meaclem continued.

Speaking became a more natural skill for Gough when he was appointed head prefect of Rongotai College. It was something he didn’t expect.

“It was a bit of a shock. I was told the day I was appointed and it didn’t really register until I saw my parents. They have never been so happy,” Gough recalls.

Gough says the most rewarding thing about being the head boy was meeting “all sorts of inspiring people” and the “honour and respect the position brings.”   

A farewell address Gough made at the Kilbirnie Indian Hall was especially well received.

“It was in front of a big crowd and gave me the chance to thank all the people who had helped me at the college. I loved Rongotai. It’s helped me become the man I am today and I hope I can continue to bring it at Poneke,” Gough concludes.

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