Review of the 1987 rugby season

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 15, 8 September 1987, Page 20

Review of the 1987 rugby season

Rugby in the Waimarino this season probably peaked in February during the Ohakune Jubilee when the Ohakune- 1 Karioi Club, with the help of the Jubilee Committee and the Lions Club staged, and organised the invitation match between Andy Donald's Invitation XV, against his fellow AI1 Blacks and friends invitation team. The only guys missing from all the glamour were probably Michael Jones and John Kirwin. If ever there was to be any solid promotion for rugby in this area, this game was certainly the game, if not, the most historic game of rugby in our declining rugby-mad region. This invitation game provided the thrills and excitement that one goes along to watch rugby for and the players certainly switched it on. What was more important were the players who gave time later to talk and help the younger rugby players after the game, generally, just promoting our national sport, rugby. During the season I watched a lot of lower grade rugby, always on the lookout for a new up-and-coming rugby playing star. As usual there were a few around like the Edmonds, Herewinis, Sues, Callaghans, Suttons, Barretts and McDonnells just to; name some. Good up-and-coming, players who might never make it to the top like I've seen in the past, fall off rugby. Probably because of a lack of promotion for the game. This area is in danger of losing its rugby identity if: it continues its usual course meandering along from season to season. We see good administrators and older players' move aside never to put anything back into the game they loved so dearly. This year we saw the Hardings, Whetu Mareikura, Bruce Cranston, Maun-, sell from Waiouru make it

to the Representative team and Thomas Waara make it to the Colts team and one day they will take the place of trialists Parr, Spry, Mcllroy, Paki or the Pearsons, Wilsons and others who have kept rugby alive in this region. Ohakune-Karioi and Raetihi Seniors did not do so well this season but their efforts were not a waste of time because they learnt a lot and hopefully they could come back next year. There has even been talk that if there is no improvement next year the senior teams might have to become the Ohakune-Kari-oi-Raetihi Senior team which probably doesn't go down too well with the old stalwarts of both clubs. The Ohakune-Karioi Club plans for next year are to play winning rugby and an all-out effort to conccntrate on the young up-and-com-ing players. They are hoping that two or three years could produce an even better team than the former regional champions.