Rimutaka ready to roll in Swindale Shield

Wellington's newest Premier club, Rimutaka, can't wait for its first taste of Swindale Shield rugby when they line up at home at Maoribank Park against Poneke in their season opener on Saturday 7 April says club spokesperson and Premier team manager Dustin Brattle.

"Rimutaka is extremely excited about the opportunity to play Swindale Shield 2012," says Brattle, "Nervous and excited. All eyes will be on us as the other Premier teams really don't know what we have to offer or what style we will play and we're eager to give it our best."

"Preparation is going well ahead of the 2012 season, with Ray MacDonald, the new head coach, and co-coach Rangi Kelly, bringing a fresh approach to the squad. The skill level of the boys attending the pre-season programme has increased hugely and the coaches are very happy with the progress.

Brattle, along with the new head coach and former New Zealand Maori representative first five-eighth Ray MacDonald are both foundation members of the club, playing together in the junior ranks between 1982-1990, and are proud to be part of Rimutaka Rugby Football Club's new era of rugby.

In an added incentive to do well, the club will also celebrate its 30^th anniversary this year, also making it Wellington's youngest club (not counting Old Boys-University, which was an amalgamation of Wellington College Old Boys and Victoria University).

Rimutaka finished third in the 2011 Hardham Cup and thus qualified for the Swindale Shield for the first time this year, taking the place of another Hutt Valley club, Avalon, whose return to the top grade was short lived after demotion in 2009.

Rimutaka were previously Hardham Cup contenders in 2004, 2008 and 2009 but couldn't push on. However Brattle says now the club has finally achieved Premier status there's huge incentive to stay there. One reason for this is a degree of depth and a player pathway coming through from the lower grades.

"The Colts, coached by Dave Edmonds and Ross Tukukino and managed by Mike Buchanan, have progressed from the U19 grade. They have a good bunch of players and there's some real talent coming through. The Senior B side (Senior 3) is a team with huge potential, making the final last year and pipped at the finish in golden point time by Ories. They have all be training hard and will look much fitter and sharper than ever before once the season kicks off.

"The style of rugby our Premier side will play will be reflected right through our Senior B and Colts side, as the same values have been trained into everyone throughout the pre-season. Rimutaka has always been a club of natural talent so that will never be suppressed, but, with the quality of coaching now it will be polished and controlled to be utilised best to compete with the most structured teams in the Swindale Shield."

Brattle says, while a team effort, four players in particular to look out for this year are Clayton Masina, Troy Jordan, Scott Donald, and Mitch Markov.

"Midfielder Clayton Masina is our 2012 captain. He is a real talent and will be again be stamping his mark on Wellington rugby and will lead with passion for the orange and black jersey.

"Lock Troy Jordan is also a huge talent coming through our ranks and was the standout for us all year in 2011. Loose forward Scott Donald is a huge player for us and his professionalism is a great asset to our team. He has the pace of most top wingers and the size of most locks. We also have an openside flanker in 20-year old Mitch Markov who is on the Wellington representative radar and is looking to make this season his own."

Some key aspects of Rimutaka's Swindale Shield draw include a first-up clash at home at Maoribank Park against Poneke, a home date in round three against Jubilee Cup champions Ories, a meeting with Swindale champions Norths at Porirua in the last round and a midweek Anzac Day clash with neighbours Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park.

Brattle says that Rimutaka is comfortable with the draw, expecting every game to be tough.

"We expect it will be a very hard and trying season, but we are all aware of what we need to do to make this special season the next step in some very focused goals we have set for the club moving into the future. We will be very happy to stay in Swindale this year and look to upset some powerhouses in premier rugby.

"We are also excited about hitting the top teams right away. We don't really focus on any more than others; we will approach playing each of the eleven teams like we want to topple them all. That said, Anzac Day will be interesting and I'm sure the whole of the Upper Hutt Region will show up there. So we will be very eager to play that one well and show our people we are here to stay."

He also cites home ground advantage at Maoribank Park as being a big plus and a potential stumbling block for other teams.

"Home Ground is huge for Rimutaka with a massive following from the squad from last season. We didn't lose there at all in 2011 and don't intend to break that. Maoribank Park is a real cauldron for visitors, yet we also host and look after all visitors like our own."