Makos men feature in Curtain Raiser this Friday
Vernon Fredericks, left, and Jesse MacDonald, pictured here at last year’s Marlborough Sports Awards, are set to turn out for the Crusaders Knights in Blenheim on Friday.
Not only will Marlborough rugby fans get the chance to see some of the top players in the country go head-to-head for the Crusaders and Hurricanes on Friday, two Marlborough based Makos will also be in action.
Vernon Fredericks and Jesse MacDonald will turn out for the Crusaders Knights development team against the equivalent Hurricanes side, as a curtain raiser to the main event at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim.
Tasman Makos teammate Alex Nakivell will also feature for the Knights, along with Nelson based players Shannon Frizell, Pari Pari Parkinson, Quinten Strange and Tom Hill.
The Knights squad, which was selected following a training camp at Lincoln University last week, is rounded out by primarily Christchurch based players and coached by Joe Maddock.
The development side acts as a feeder team to the Crusaders and so Fredericks, a loose forward, and MacDonald, a hooker, will have the aim of pressing for higher honors as a motivator as well as performing in front of a home crowd.
Kickoff in the curtain raiser is at 3pm, with the Crusaders Hurricanes match set to start at 4.30pm.
Following Friday's hit out, the Knights have three matches against the Highlanders development team scheduled, at Christchurch's Rugby Park on February 27, Dunedin's Logan Park on March 5, and the Pleasant Point Rugby Club on March 12.
Crusaders Knights squad 2016: Alex Nankivell (Lincoln University), Billy Harmon (New Brighton), Blair Prinsep (High School Old Boys), Brett Cameron (Lincoln University), Caleb Aperahama (Canterbury University), Caleb Makene (Lincoln University), Charlie Gamble (Marist Albion), Hamish Dalzell (Lincoln University), Harrison Groundwater (Lincoln University), Inga Finau (Linwood), Jack Stratton (Lincoln University), Jesse MacDonald (Central), Joel Hintz (Lincoln University), Jordie Barrett (Lincoln University), Josh McKay (Lincoln University), Logan Crowley (Lincoln University), Milford Keresoma (TBC), Nick Werahiko (Lincoln University), Nigel Gibb (Canterbury University), Pari Pari Parkinson (Stoke), Poasa Waqanibau (Sumner), Quinten Strange (Nelson), Sam (Godwin Canterbury University), Sean Paranihi (Sumner), Shannon Frizell (Nelson Marist), Tom Hill (Stoke) and Vernon Fredericks (Moutere).
