Profile of a senior rugby team

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 255, 20 September 1988, Page 16

Profile of a senior rugby team

lhis baturday ihe Ohakune Karioi Rugby Club hold their end of season prize giving. The scnior rugby team startcd their 1988 season with most of last season's players, with notable exccption of Bruce Cranston (out with work commitmcnts) and Stcve Gordon, who playcd for Raetihi this ycar. Coach Ken Gcorgc and tcn players from Waiouru startcd with a prc-season * g a m c against Waiouru with a win. From thcre thcy startcd the domcstic round, cnding with a final against Raetihi - the Northcrn Champion team to bc decidcd plus the Raetihi Shicld at slake. Bcfore the biggcst crowd seen at Raetihi for many ycars the Raetihi team, with Sleve Gordon as Captain wcre the winncrs. Thus taking ihe sheild which Ohakune Karioi had won and successfully dcfcnded for exactly 13 ycars to the day. In ihe combincd Division Onc Wanganui

qualifying round ihe team finished strongly. From the start of ihe division One championship round thcre appearcd a diffcrcncc of stylc of play bctwccn the scnior players and the coach Ken George. This uliimatcly lcd to Ken rcsigning with Bruce Cranston and Lachlan Harding taking ovcr ihe coaching rolc. Aftcr beating High School Old Boys, (last ycars' champion team), and bcing vcry unlucky not to beat this ycar's champion team Marist, thcy finished fourth in the compctilion. Following is the first part of a profile of the seniors, with snippcts on what thcy gct out of rugby. The answers Robbie Hawira, Prop/Lock. Robbie has played more games for Ohakune than any other current player. Hc's a very dedicated player and supports the club 100 per cent. 1. Robert Bruce Hawira. 2. Blackie. 3. Hunterville. 4 .

27/8/??. 5. Ruapehu. 6. Operator. 7. Darnella. 8. Many. 9. Raetihi and Karioi. 10. I can't think of one.

11. Winning competitions, tours of USA and Canada. 12. Cold, wct miserable training nights and losing. 13. Mangatiti. 14. Steve Boobycr. 15. What carecr?. 16. Winning. 17. Family and pig hunting. 18. To retire. 19. Mike Gordon. 20. Let me think? 2 1 . Rochfort Park. 22. "Whetu". 23. Injuries. 24. Cammy.

After playing second fiddle to Andrew Donald, Whetu has shown the public in Ohakune and Wanganui that he has the class to match any halfback in the country. Setting up trys is his speciality, he's always thinking about his job. 1. Whetu Mareikura. 2. Head. 3. Waimarino Hospital. 4. 2/8/62. 5. Ruapehu College. 6. - 7. Ginny. 8. 20. 9. None. 10. The three championship finals Ohakune-Karioi won. 11. Winning U16s rcgionals in Wellington, 1979. 12. Losing to Utiku. 13. Ohakune-Karioi. 14. Smurf (Alan Crowley).

15. Family. 16. Ales and participation in games. 17. Golf, soccer, TV, ales (Samples). 18. Carry on with the game. 19. A consistent No 8. 20. Robinson. 21. Rochfort Park. 22. JR, BJ, TV. 23. On the Line. 24. Buck.

A good team man who has a lot to offer his fellow backs. Brendon has the knack to be in the right place at the right time. Currently the top try scorer. 1. Brendon Wilson. 2. Bam. 3. Raetihi. 4. 20/11/64. 5. Ruapehu College. 6. Fitter Welder. 7.-8. 12. 9 . Kensington (Sydney). 10. 1984-85 Combincd Club Championship Final. 1 1 . 1979 Aussie Rugby tour. 12. Playing a bummer of a game. 13. Ohakune Karioi, Marist St Patricks. 14. No one to date. 15. All the rclations. 16. Winning, scoring try's, good team work. 1 7 . Beaches, good times out with Jct. 18. To play Percentage Rugby. 19. The guys inside - outside of mc. 2 0 . Colin Pedley. 2 1 . Karioi Domain. 22. Koro Joe Waretini, Ian Meredith. 23. Shitty coaches. 24. Joe Morgan, BG Williams, Grant Batty. Brian Oliver, Lock. Looked promising at the beginning of season but a knee injury halted his progress. Plenty of aggression and a bit of quickness

will produce exccllent results.

1. B. Oliver. 2. - 3 . Wanganui. 4. 28/3/67. 5. Ruapehu College. 6. Service Station attendant. 7. -8. 1 5 years. 9. Raetihi. 10. Playing Raetihi reserve for Kuane 1988. 11. Winning grand final in Australia. 12. Losing to Raetihi Seniors 1988. 13. Ohakune R e serves. 14. The Forwards. 15. Self. 16. Over the top and tackling. 17. Playing Touch. 18. To win today. 19. The pack. 20. - 21. Kune. 22. - 2 3 . Training. 2 4 . Mark Shaw.

Bruce stands at 6'5in and is the number one ball winner in the team. He was plagued by injuries in the latter part of the season. With all his experience was a vital coq in the team. 1. Bruce Cranston. 2. Rubs. 3. Taihape. 4. 20/10/58. 5. Ruapehu College. 6. Engineer. 7. Karen and son Nicholas. 8. All. 9. - 10. Wanganui v Springbox 1981, Ranfurly Shield Challenge, Wanganui v Wellington 1982, 1979 Rovers tour, Canada. 1 1 . 1979 club season, Do-

mestic and Combined champions. 12. 1988 losing to Raetihi and Sin bins. 1 3 . Ohakune-Karioi. 14. The ref. 1 5 . Ken George. 16. After matches. 17. Family, hunting, golf. 18. To win another Combined and Domestic Championship unbcaten. 19. Robin Pearson. 20. Is thcre one?. 2 1 . Rochford Park. 22. Ken George, Jim Wallace. 23. Away games and injuries. 24. The whole team.

Hemi only joined the club recently, but with an older brother like Whetu must surely have the goods. One of the sprinters in the team. 1 . Hemi J. P. Mareikura. 2. - 3 . Raetihi. 4. 19/3/6 8. 5. Ruapehu College, Hato Paora College. 6. Office Clerk. 7. - 8 . 13-14 years. 9. Papatoetoe, Tamatea. 10. Beating St Stevens 1st XV 1985. 11. 1985 Hato Paora College 1st XV Tour, 1983 Ruapehu College 1st XV South Island. 12. Not rembering that game. 13. Ohakune Karioi. 14. Dad. 15. Wanganui Sevens 1987. 1 6 . Playing seriously and fair. 17. The Arts, Travelling, Skiing. 1 8 . Play in South Africa. 1 9 . M y Brother. 20. Colin Pedley. 21. Ray Edwards, P. Fooley and Dad. 22. Rockford Park. 23. One the line,kicking. 24. Andrew Donald.

Experienced first five that ncver misses a tackle. Putting a player in the gap is what he loves best. Also a good goalkicker. 1. Ray Brown. 2 .

Sammy. 3. Not telling you. 4. Not telling you that either. 5. Ruapehu College. 6 . Welder. 7. Kura. 8. Been a few now. 9 . None. 10. First game for Wanganui 1986. 11. Winning three championships in a row, 84, 85, 86.. 12. Not being ablc to make Wanganui earlier. 13. Ohakune-Karioi. 14. Injuries and the flu. 15. Everybody. 16. Winning. 17. Skiing, • TV. 18. Might retire ncxt ycar. 19. The other 14 players. 20. The ones on my sidc. 21. Rochfort Park whcn its dry, other fields whcn its not.. 22. Jim Wallacc. 23. Playing in the rain and mud. 24. Stcve Camcron.

He only played half the season after injuring his elbow. Lachlan took over the coaching of the Backs for the rest of the season and has produced a backline unit that has impressed every weekend. He has been a Wanganui Rep for several years. His daughter Melissa would not let him be available this season. 1. Lachlan Harding. 2. Looky. 3. Wanganui. 4. 26/6/62. 5. Ruapehu College. 6. Farmer. 7. Kerry. 8. 16. 9. Huia. 10. Wanganui v s Australia 1986. 11. Playing Auckland for the Ranfurly Shield. 12. Losing to Wellington B 83-0 at Athletic Park. 1 3 . Avalon. 1 4 . Lindsay Harris. 15. Maori Boys at school. 16. A few beers after the game. 17. Windsurfing, golf and mucking around at the gym. 18. To shake off injuries and stay injury frec. 19. My brothers. 2 0 . Haven't c o m e across any. 2 1 . Rochfort Park. 22. Koro Joe Waretini. 23. Playing with players that don't give a damn. 24. John Gallagher. More next week