Bekhuis is pictured, right, with his first cousin, Wakatipu No 8 Bradley Cross, who’s making his comeback after ‘retiring’ in 2022, but came off with a slight niggle on Saturday.
"It’s a shame he went off early, I think he might have been trying to avoid me a bit there," Bekhuis quips.
In the Southland Stags’ final game last year at Invercargill’s Rugby Park — renamed ‘Bekhuis Park’ — he became their most-capped player with 144 appearances.
The 38-year-old also played 83 Highlanders games and had a season for the Blues before playing six years overseas, in France and Japan.
Meanwhile, Wakatipu, who have a bye this Saturday before kicking off their season with a White Horse Cup defence against Alexandra on the 29th, lost to Star but fought valiantly in hot conditions.
Arrowtown’s striving for better results
Following two seasons in which they only celebrated three wins apiece, the Arrowtown Premiers captain is confident of better results this season — kicking off with a home game against Matakanui this Saturday.
"I think the first game last year we handed out about 13 ties for debutants," Ryan Egerton says, "and all those boys are back.
"Because it’s their second year, they’ve got a bit more confidence about them, and hopefully we go alright."
It’s also coach Jackson Wallace’s second season. "He obviously learned a few things as well, and I think we’ve got a good game plan and everyone’s starting to buy into it."
Wallace will also be assisted by former veteran lock Malcolm Sutherland.
Egerton says they’ve had good numbers to training and won both out-of-town preseason games.
Stalwart Blair Foster is only available this weekend before heading to Canada "so we’ll hopefully send him away with a good ‘W"’.
Another long-timer Tom Grandiek’s also looking at coming back — "he’s looking sharp and he’s looking to go for all-time Arrowtown try-scorer — I think he’s only about 10 away", Egerton says.
- Arrowtown v Matakanui, Saturday, 2.30pm, Jack Reid Park
