THE TOUCH FINDER
MARIST BROTHERS OLD BOYS RUGBY CLUB INC
Premiers and Under 21 Teams Perform well at Spillane Cup
There were highs and lows at the Spillane Cup in New Plymouth last weekend. The Premier team drew 19 all against Marist St Pats (MSP), Wellington on day one while the Under 21 team played hard to subdue PSM Colts 63-22. Premier team had a good pool warm down at their motel after their game before returning to Tukapa clubrooms to join the other teams. After the rugby and netball on Saturday the teams were served the typical Spillane dinner; the netball prize-giving took place soon afterwards.
On Sunday the Under 21 team played Hutt Valley Old Boys Marist in their final in a tense match. It took 40 minutes for the team to dominate the opposition and run away winners by 48-17 points. There are a number of Under 21 players who are showing early season potential. Sunday’s match for the Premier team kicked off at 11am in the play off for 3rd and 4th position. Tournament rules declare the winner of a drawn game to be the team with the most tries scored, therefore our Premiers played in the Ham Cumming Cup match against Napier in a match which will be remembered solely for the socking standard of refereeing. I do not know how the players maintained their discipline against blatant refereeing errors, but they kept their heads and spirits high to eventually win 50-7. The referee penalty count was a mirror of the result! Sadly, in the closing minutes of the Premier match, the 1st 5/8 Luti Matavao broke his lower leg in a tackle and needed surgery in New Plymouth hospital. Luti and our support people will remain in New Plymouth until Luti is able to travel home. The Premier team send their sincere thanks to Bryan Boulton, Tukapa Club Captain for his direct assistance to the team and Luti, Max at the Flamingo Motel for his assistance with accommodation and stay behind club support personnel and our club members, Dave MacKinnon and Premier team physiotherapist, Nathan, for their immediate response to Luti’s injury.
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Premier Reserves Hold Their Own Against Otahuhu Premiers n Waka Nathan Cup
Considering we had only been together as a squad for a week and this was our 1st hit out as a team we gave a pretty good account of ourselves. As you would expect at this time of the season, there is plenty to work on, especially work around our defensive system & making first up tackles. At times we made it too easy for Otahuhu. With ball in hand we at times looked dangerous & when we put Vaha Fili in space he scored a great try. It was good to see some of our young players stepping up to senior rugby with the likes of Zac Ferris, Sam Christianson & Alex Knowles from last years U21’s & new players to the club James Pulehega & John Williams Nanai to name a few. This week we play East Tamaki away.
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This Saturday’s Matches
Premier team v East Tamaki at East Tamaki, 2.45pm – Waka Nathan Cup
Premier Reserve Team v East Tamaki at East Tamaki, 1pm – Waka Nathan Cup
Under 21 and Under 19 play North Harbour Marist, MWWMR, 1pm - pre season games
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Club Gear Sale
The club will be having a surplus gear sale starting from Saturday 24 March at 10.30am in the Member’Lounge in the clubrooms. Used jerseys and shorts suitable for training, fishing, home-chores etc range from $5 to $20. New centenary clothing – junior shorts $5; dress jerseys, sleeveless vests - $20; track suits pants $10; caps $5. Club pin badges $5; Caps $5, Beanies $5. New 2011 Stadium jackets $80; 2011 lightweight windbreaker jackets $30 plus many more bargains. Cash or Etfpos sales only.
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Premier Team Spar in the Bar
On Friday night 23rd March the clubrooms Tamaki Lounge will be transformed into a Premier team “spar in the bar” fund-raiser at 6.30pm when players, coaches and board members will “spar up a sweat” to entertain our members. The night will be a lot of fun with live music keeping the beat going after the sparring end. See the flyer in this newsletter and on the web site .
Club Contact Details:
Club Office:T 09-570 5361E
President: John Hunt T 021 278 8554 E.
Chairman: Andy Evans T 021 319 600 E
Director of Rugby: Dave Mackinnon T 021944877E
Rugby Development Officer: Hamish Fraser T 021 0316665 E
Club Captain: Dave PrendergastT021 605 561E
Junior Rugby Delegate: Choppa Casey T 021 847 541E
Tamaki Junior Club: Bruce Forbes T 021 958 803 Ebruceforbes@clear,net.nz
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Club Calendar
March
15 (Thu)Junior Players Milo Registration, Clubrooms, 3.30 – 5.30pm
17 (Sat)St Patrick’s Day
Waka Nathan Challenge Cup – Game 2, venue TBA
Premier Reserves follow Premier Team
Under 21 & U19 Preseason game v North Harbour Marist at MWWMR
Blues v Stormers at Capetown, 6.10am
20 (Tue)Junior Players Milo Registration, Clubrooms, 3.30 – 5.30pm
22 (Thu)Junior Players Milo Registration, Clubrooms, 3.30 – 5.30pm
23 (Fri)Premier Team “Spar in the bar” fundraiser, Clubrooms, 6.30pm
Blues v Hurricanes at EdenPark, 7.35pm
24 (Sat)Club Surplus Gear Sale, Members Lounge 10.30am
Waka Nathan Challenge Cup – Game 3, Venue TBA
Premier Reserves follow Premier Team
U21 & U19 Preseason game v Pukekohe, MWWMR
27 (Tue)Junior Players Milo Registration, Clubrooms, 3.30 – 5.30pm
29 (Thu)Junior Players Milo Registration, Clubrooms, 3.30 – 5.30pm
31 (Sat)Club Surplus Gear Sale, Members Lounge 10.30am
Waka Nathan Challenge Cup – Final, Venue TBA
Premier Reserves follow Premier Team
U21 & U19 Preseason game v NorthShore, MWWMR
April
1 (Sun)Daylight Saving Ends
5 (Thu)Blues v Rebels at Melbourne, 9.40pm
6 (Fri)Good Friday
7 (Sat)Marist v Ponsonby at MWWMR, 2.45pm (Start of ARFU Competition)
8(Mon)Easter Monday
13 (Fri)Club Golf Day, Pakuranga Golf Club, shot gun start 12.30pm
Blues v Sharks at EdenPark, 7.35pm
14 (Sat)Marist v College Rifles at CollegeRiflesPark, 2.45pm
Under 21 &Under 19 Teams v College Rifles at MWWMR, 1pm
20 (Fri)Blues v Highlanders at EdenPark, 7.35pm
21(Sat)Marist v East Tamaki at MWWMR, 2.45pm
Under 21 &Under 19 Teams East Tamaki at East Tamaki, 1pm
25 (Mon)ANZAC Day
27 (Fri)Blues v Reds at EdenPark, 7.35pm
30 (Sat)Marist v Pakuranga at BellPark, 2.45pm
Under 21 &Under 19 Teams v Pakuranga at MWWMR, 1pm
Marist Old Boys Rugby Club (Auckland) Inc is affilliated to the NZ Marist Rugby Football Federation