THE RAVE NO. 2

We are back for another season and let’s hope there are no more hold ups with this crazy Covid. Not sure about you lot but The ED is over it big time and we just want life back to normal.

There is rugby down Vauxhall this weekend, with the Prems having a warmup game v College Rifles 2.45pm, Prem 2 v Marist 1pm, [comp game] u21 v Karaka 12.45pm [warm up game] and the u85 v TGS 1st xv 2.45pm [warm up game]

Rua Tipoki has taken over the job of head coach for the Prems with Chris Davies ass Coach. Frano has got caught up with the Covid but is still in the background and won’t be far away. Mike Simpson and Murray Brewer are holding the finances. Adam Batt and Brad McNaughton will be sharing the Captain duties. They have had a very successful preseason with wins v Ponsonby, a win and road trip to Dargaville and a win v Waitakere. This game Saturday v College Rifles will be the first time the Club have played them since our Auckland days and maybe that is where we could be playing Club Rugby again, with a combined Auckland - Harbour Comp.Imagine the Crowd at Vauxhall with us Playing Ponsonby or Varsity. Just a thought but one we must think about.

Clinton Hemepo, Wayne Ratu and Darren Watts have returned from a sabbatical, and they will oversee the Prem 2 side, and we must say we are happy to see them back. Glen Whiting and Andrew Farrell managers.Brett Parakura and Mark Nola are in charge of the u21 with Max Parakura and Tim Young helping.

Willie Remuera is with the U85 side again and he tells us he has Iain McIntyre as his manager, it is important that we keep this u85 side together, especially for the 150 Celebrations next year.There are a new bunch of players for the four sides so it will take us all a bit of time to get to know them all.

The flagmen [Craig Johnstone, Gary Pettifer, Richard Stafford and Brian Wynn] have been in a high-tech training camp [ some of those ropes on the sideline were not straight last year] and they are talking about bringing on an apprentice in Derek Armstrong who has wriggled off the Committee. Also off the committee is Jo Pettifer, Grant Simpkins, and Chairman Max Webb. Max has made a huge contribution to the Club over the last 30 years or more. He has managed our u21 side when Chris Mitchell was coaching them, then he managed the Prems for a few years before going on the Committee 20 years ago and had been Chairman for the last 10 years. He will be sadly missed but is not lost to the Club as he is putting the 150 yearbook together and annoying a lot of people while picking their brains about the History of the Club. Max is truly a North Shore Rugby man through and through and we must be very thankful his long-suffering wife Claudia has let us have Max in our Mix. Grant will be another committee member sorely missed. Playing, coaching and winning championships with the prems and also coaching the b’s and U21’s and then followed that all up with 10 years plus on the committee.

Peter Burgess is now the new Chairman, and we wish him luck in his new role. Hamish Turley has come onto the Committee and will join Daniel Keeling, Ben Browne, Murray Brewer, Gordy Stuart, Snow Harding, President Buck Shelford, Brad Westgate, Club Captain Chris Tankard and Club Manager Paul Cornish.The White Jackets are still keen to MC the place, but new Chairman Pete may have other ideas. Peter Coleman is the President of the Old Boys [now called Hairy Goats Supporters Club]

Peter Bridger was made a Life Member at the AGM for all his years of contributing to the Club, so we congratulate him on that achievement.

Martin Cooper and his Harcourts crew are on board again as are Firth. We are so lucky to have this group supporting the Club and can assure them that we do appreciate their continued support.

There will be 100 Club Membership Tickets for sale Saturday and every member of the Club should buy one.

Has anyone seen Pip Eagles??

So that is the first rugby Rave for the season, if you have anything to say, or some good gossip let the Club know and we can get it on this Rave page.

ED