What a weekend down Devonport Saturday. We had ECB  Prems, Prem 2 and u21, Northcote u85 and to set the day off, TakapunaGrammar 1st xv played Orewa College as the curtain raiser to the Prem game on the no1 field.

The Prems were outstanding in beating ECB 31-22. It was a great game of rugby played in front of a big crowd. Once again Donald Coleman had a huge game but it is hard not to mention the whole side. New front rower Vincent Tuitupou has found his new club to his liking. James Little and Fraser Conway in the mid field were very solid, the back three of Callum Law,Caleb Leef and Daniel Lee were the same. Sam Babb and Jordan McGregor combined  well and Sam is kicking goals with confidence. In the forward pack everyone just moved up a notch and didn't take a backward step.We mentioned Donald and Vincent but with Jake Antonio-Rooney, Dan Sinclair in the front row, Rex Pollock and Cameron McLachlan in the loose and Kieran McBride and player of the day Campbell Chandler in the middle row all completed a very formidable front eight. 

Campbell was a late starter for the side with Jacob Pierce not making the field with an injury.So the leaderboard is now looking like this: ECB 48, North Shore 43, Takapuna 43, Northcote 41, Kumeu 19, Silverdale 16, Marist 15, Massey 14 and Mahu 15, a big gap between the top 4 and the rest.

Then you have the bench, Joshua Third, Sam Cheesman, Sione Teu, Pierce  Bryers, Jimmy Nalewaivake and Maui Hausia all making a contribution. This was a big confidence building game for the team and we are just starting to see what they are capable of. Well done to Frano and his crew.

Prem 2 also had a good win v ECB 33-27 and retained the Trickey - Tank Shield. Big games from Charles Pettifer in the forwards and in the backs Gerard Russel and for half a game Tim Berry at half back. The top four on the leaderboard are now only four points apart with Massey 41, ECB 40, North Shore 38 and Northcote 37. Then Helensville 29, Takapuna 29, Navy 28, Kumeu 24, Silverdale 16, Marist 15 and Glenfield 6.

U21 lost to ECB on the no 3 field 13-53. ECB are the defending champions and are a well drilled side. But the score is not the real indication on how the u21 played. If they had played like this last week they would have thumped Kumeu.They were in the game for the first 60 mins and within16 points then Bays got on top and scored some unanswered tries in the later stages of the game. Joe Seufatu, Miller Hazleman and Keagan Sangster all had strong games for the u21s.

U85 lost to Northcote 15-25 and this has been a hard year for the team. Nice to see Thomas Stuart back from university having a game. It is still a struggle with numbers for the u85 side but they are hanging in there and not sure what we would do without the likes of Daniel Keeling, Steve Hinchey and Andrew Boys who look after this side you guys do our Club proud.

The Takapuna Grammar 1st xv lost to Orewa College 6-24 in the curtain raiser. This is a great event for the Club and the Schools to be playing a curtain raiser game at Shore and long may that continue. The NSRFC Old Boys paid for a feed for both teams after the game.

It was just a huge day and there were many involved in organizing the day and the Club would just like to thank Iain McIntyre [sorting the changing rooms ] Pete Coleman helping the School game, our flagmen Richard, Gary and Craig, Joe Pettifer who just loves that high viz jacket, Jamie and his crew in the bar, Heath and his crew in the kitchen and just all of you NSRFC people for just being part of the day.We also have to say that the Saturday started with a huge Junior day and finished off with the J1 side being the curtain Raiser to the 1st xv game. We are a special Club and long may that continue.

There were a few Blazers handed out Sat and none more deserving than the one given to Andrew Farrell who is the manager of the Prem 2 side. Andrew played all his Junior rugby at the Club from J8 to J1. Then played for the u19, the old Suits side had a few games for the Prem 2 side and has been their Manager for the last 3 years.

Brad McNaughton got his 25 game Blazer and Jordan McGregor was recognized for his 50th game.

The two clowns on the Mic did their job well in welcoming our visitors to the Club but not sure about that bloody whistle though. He would never have been a good Ref so why the whistle?? Chairman Max was a very happy man after a huge day.

This weeks Draw

Prms have a Bye [Glenfield Game]

Prem 2 v Glenfield Vauxhall 1.00pm

u21 v Silverdale 1.00pm @ Silverdale

u85 v ECB 2.45pm @ Windsor Park.

The Prem 2 game will be for the Fraser King Shield. Fraser died while referring a Prem game a number of years ago on the No1 field at Vauxhall. A number of our present members of the Club were playing in that game including Pete Coleman [front row] Tank, Murray Scott, Frano, Kev Rowe, Gary Cunningham, Wayne Underhay, Mark Conway, Russell Jones, Scott Pierce and in the reserves a very young Peter Burgess.Other players in the team included Doug Hopkins, Clinton Jones, Andrew Botica, Barry Pettigrew, Dave Murray, Nick Laurie and Stu Atkinson. Coaching the team was Brad Johnstone and the manager  was John Hook.There was Uncle playing with a Nephew  playing in the the team.This info came from the rugby museum of Murray Scott.

There is no 100 Club this week as there is no Prem game.

ED

ps try and find a spelling mistake in this [you know who]