Makos, Wellington Lions prepare for Marlborough pre-season match

Marlborough gets its first taste of National Provincial Championship rugby for the season this week with the Tasman Makos and Wellington Lions spending time in the province ahead of their pre-season match at Lansdowne Park on Thursday.

The Makos, who have been training in Nelson, will venture over the hill midweek to Marlborough for a short stay, but hope to make every moment count. They arrive in Blenheim early Wednesday morning, train at Lansdowne, then participate in a couple of promotional events. At 1.30pm some team members will be part of a combined Diabetes Marlborough and Churchill Hospital Trust event at Blenheim New World. This is followed by a "Meet the Makos" session from 3.30pm, open to all, at Lansdowne Park, with a barbeque in operation. 

With the Makos' first premiership match, against Waikato in Hamilton on Friday, August 14, approaching quickly Thursday's match will be their final chance for the 2014 runners-up to gel before the season proper begins.

Saturday's 31-25 win over Otago in Nelson saw most of the Makos Super Rugby players merged back into the pre-season squad and it seems likely coaches Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald will want to run as close to their A team as possible against a formidable-looking Wellington outfit.     

The Lions arrived in Picton on Sunday for their traditional pre-NPC camp. They will be based at the seaside town until the end of the week, training daily at Endeavour Park as they seek to right the ship after the proud province's disastrous 2014 campaign. The Lions won only one of their 10 games and were relegated to the championship division for this season.

They have brought a 31-strong wider training squad to Picton. With a host of accomplished Super Rugby players to call on, such as Ardie Savea, Reg Goodes, Brad Shields, Mark Reddish, Ben May, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, John Schwalger, Matt Proctor and Shaun Treeby, the Lions are well-placed to rebound quickly from their recent woes.

Coach Earl Va'a said on the Lions' website the five-day getaway was a chance for the squad to work hard, grow as a full unit, and become more familiar with the new defensive and attacking structures they have put in place for 2015.

The Lions have no public sessions planned while they are in Picton, but will be highly visible as they enjoy the local hospitality.

Thursday's match kicks off at 5.30pm, gates open 4.30pm. Entry is $5 for adults, children 16 and under free.