NZ Club Rugby 2022 ( General)
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Waikato Draught Premiership A Week 6 (Kickoff 2.45 pm)
Fraser Tech continue to lead the Premiership division and remain undefeated plus the holders of the Ron Crawford Memorial Trophy and Stag Trophy after another successful defense last weekend. This week they travel across the road to defend the Ron Crawford Memorial Trophy against challengers, Hamilton Old Boys. Another interesting matchup this weekend sees 2nd equal Hamilton Marist and Te Awamutu Sports vying for outright 2nd at Albert Park.Hamilton Old Boys v Fraser Tech - Fred Jones Park (Ron Crawford Memorial Challenge)
Melville v United Matamata Sports - Collins Road
Otorohanga v Morrinsville Sports - Island Reserve
Te Awamutu Sports v Hamilton Marist - Albert Park
University v Hautapu - Waikato University -
Dylan Cleaver went to the top-of-the-table North Shore vs Takapuna game:
Instead of suffering through the anticlimactic final round I took up the invitation to check out a fierce local club rugby rivalry that also happened to be a top of the table clash between unbeaten Takapuna and North Shore, the plutocrats of Harbour rugby.
The first thing that struck me was the crowd, which might have looked bigger than it was in the picturesque confines of Devonport but nevertheless there was a better atmosphere there than any Harbour game I’ve attended recently.
The game itself wasn’t great. Takapuna, who won 31-17, got a stranglehold early and despite being pinned in their own 22m for long periods of the second half, never looked like relinquishing the win.
But there was one moment in the first half I wish I recorded and saved to my cloud (I don’t actually know what that means but I’ve heard other people say it), pulling it back down again to screen on special occasions, public holidays and every third Tuesday.
I was gassing to my mate at the time so missed the buildup but out of nowhere someone in the Shore backline attempted a spiral punt wipers kick.
My body was instantly flooded with the sort of nostalgia men of my age can only get from remembering your first taste of Rheineck, playing air guitar to Sweet Child O’ Mine, or reading the Elle Macpherson Bendon catalogue for the articles.
Man I miss everything about the spiral punt: the almost gentle “thwock” sound when struck well, how it drew right to left then straightened out again, how it skipped forward on greasy turf to roll into touch.
Damn you Mick Byrne and your insistence on the consistency and control of the drop punt.
My other takeaway from the domain was how a well-run, engaged club can retain its place in the heart of the community. Admittedly, North Shore has got certain demographic advantages in terms of the benefactors it can draw upon, but they have invested massively in their junior programme, especially girls rugby, so they’re changing the club from the ground up.
There was an old boys’ lunch before the game so the clubrooms were a bit of a “sausage sizzle” at the end, but on normal game times I’m reliably informed the vibe is extremely family friendly, with mums and dads having a drink inside while the kids play outside.
The reports of club rugby’s demise are not necessarily exaggerated, but if you do it right there is still hope - much like the spiral punt.
Face it, we're all to blame for Lodge's exit
Elsewhere, The Bounce goes grassroots and pines for the days of the spiral punt.
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Hurricanes players playing club rugby in Wellington this weekend are:
- Jackson Garden-Bachop (Norths)
- Reed Prinsep (Tawa)
- Alex Fidow (Ories)
- Pasilo Tosi (Pare-Plimmerton)
- Tei Walden (Poneke)
No Peter Umaga-Jensen which is interesting.
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@Canes4life said in NZ Club Rugby 2022 ( General):
Hurricanes players playing club rugby in Wellington this weekend are:
- Jackson Garden-Bachop (Norths)
- Reed Prinsep (Tawa)
- Alex Fidow (Ories)
- Pasilo Tosi (Pare-Plimmerton)
- Tei Walden (Poneke)
No Peter Umaga-Jensen which is interesting.
I am pleased he has finally found his level.
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Waikato club rugby is back after a week off.
Waikato Draught Premiership A Week 7 (Kick-off 2:45 pm)
Te Awamutu Sports v Fraser Tech - Albert Park, Te Awamutu
Hamilton Old Boys v United Matamata Sports - Fred Jones Park, Hamilton (Ron Crawford Memorial)
Hamilton Marist v Morrinsville Sports - Marist Park, Hamilton
Otorohanga v University of Waikato - Island Reserve, Otorohanga
Hautapu v Melville - Memorial Park, Cambridge -
Looking at the Waikato club team lists I see that Ayden Johnstone is on the bench for Hautapu against Melville (which includes Rivez Reihana at 1st 5, a Waaka and a Poihipi - both brothers of).
40-yr old Adam Thomson is again playing for HOB (he is one of the coaches).
Marist vs Morrinsville Sports has Quinn Tupaea's brothers playing against each other. Dwayne Sweeney is still playing for Morrinsville.
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@Bovidae said in NZ Club Rugby 2022 ( General):
Looking at the Waikato club team lists I see that Ayden Johnstone is on the bench for Hautapu against Melville (which includes Rivez Reihana at 1st 5, a Waaka and a Poihipi - both brothers of).
40-yr old Adam Thomson is again playing for HOB (he is one of the coaches).
Marist vs Morrinsville Sports has Quinn Tupaea's brothers playing against each other. Dwayne Sweeney is still playing for Morrinsville
Presidents Grade or Premires?
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Waikato Draught Premiership A Week 8 (Kick-off 2.45 pm)
University vs Te Awamutu Sport - Waikato University
United Matamata Sports vs Hamilton Marist - Bedford Park
Morrinsville Sports vs Hamilton Old Boys - Campbell Park
Fraser Tech vs Melville - Waikato Steel Fabricators Park
Hautapu vs Otorohanga - Memorial Park
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A new trophy for the Waikato country clubs.
GEORGE SIMPKIN MEMORIAL POWER FARMING SHIELD INTRODUCED FOR 2023 SEASON
On Saturday 18 June Waikato Rugby CEO Carl Moon on behalf of both Sponsor Power Farming and the Simpkin Family will...
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@Bovidae said in NZ Club Rugby 2022 ( General):
A new trophy for the Waikato country clubs.
GEORGE SIMPKIN MEMORIAL POWER FARMING SHIELD INTRODUCED FOR 2023 SEASON
On Saturday 18 June Waikato Rugby CEO Carl Moon on behalf of both Sponsor Power Farming and the Simpkin Family will...
is that a tractor seat?
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@Kiwiwomble said in NZ Club Rugby 2022 ( General):
is that a tractor seat?
I think that could be the design based on the sponsor.
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