New Zealand Marist Sevens, Wellington, 2010

The recent 7’s Tournament in Wellington can be classed as a great success with 16 NZ Marist Club sides participating in the Club draw and 8 sides (including two from Marist St Joseph’s of Samoa) in the international draw.

The New Zealand Marist Club Sevens champion for 2010 is Ardmore Marist, having beaten Marist St Pats in the final.

The New Zealand Marist International Sevens champions are Marist St Joseph's of Samoa, having beaten Moata'a in the final.

Marist St Joseph's went on to win the Pacific Rim Trophy against Ardmore Marist to round off the day.

Results

NZ Marist Club 7's

Championship Cup Final: Ardmore Marist 26, Marist St Pats 19
Plate Final: Hamilton Marist 29, Hutt O B Marist(1) 19
Bowl Final: Hutt O B Marist(2) 29, Nelson Marist 19

NZ Marist International 7's

Cup Final: Marist St Joseph's Samoa 45, Moata’a 19
Plate Final: Vaiusu Kingfishers 22, Pacific Warriors 10
Pacific Rim Trophy: Marist St Joseph's Samoa 26, Ardmore Marist 12

The NZ Marist 7's team was selected at the NZ Marist Clubs 7's Tournament in Wellington on the 5th & 6th February. The team will travel to Fiji to play in the Fiji Marist International tournament on the 5th and 6th of March 2010.

The Team: Polonga Pedro, Hutt OB Marist; Taleta Tupuola, Hutt OB Marist; Chris Slade, Marist St Pat's; Fa'atonu Fili, Marist St Pat's; Alex Tulou, Marist St Pat's; Chris Walker, Tukapa; Whaimotu Craft-Chemis, Tukapa; Steve Ketu, Hamilton Marist; Mike Pehi, Nelson Marist; John Gbenda-Charles, Nelson Marist; Tivani Fomai, Hastings Rugby & Sports ; Sam McIvor, Marist Albion.

Results and team have been posted on the website as well as the 2009 NZ Marist Player of the Year (Callum Bruce – Hamilton Marist) and the newly created NZ Marist Personality of the Year (David Neame – Greymouth Marist).

NZ Marist 2009 Player of the Year

At the recent NZ Marist AGM, Callum Bruce - Hamilton Marist, was named as the NZ Marist Player of The Year for the 2009 season.

In 2009 Callum played for the Chiefs Super 14 franchise and the Waikato Air NZ Cup team who made the final for the first time with Callum playing in every game and captaining them in their last foray on the paddock. Regardless of his Super 14 and Air NZ Cup commitments, Callum has always made time for the Club and continues to play Club rugby when he is allowed. He always makes time to attend Club practices during his representative season and attends club games and team functions whenever he can.

The talented midfield back played for the Highlanders Super 14 team in 2006/7 before moving to the Waikato. He can cover at both 12 and 10 and is also a competent goal kicker. The Hastings-born back has previously played 24 games for Otago and has represented the Napier OB Marist Club in Colts and 7's rugby and attended the NZ Marist 7's Tournament in Wellington. Whilst in Otago, Callum also played for another Marist affiliate club, Dunedin RFC, and represented that club in the NZ Marist Sevens team in 2002 to Samoa. He has also been a member of the 2006 - 08 NZ Maori Rugby team.

Callum is a great 'Marist' man and loyal to his Hamilton Marist Club. He won the 2009 Aaron Hopa Memorial Trophy which is awarded to a member of the Waikato Air NZ Cup team who made the most outstanding contribution to team culture.

NZ Marist 2009 Personality of the Year

This award was presented for the first time at the NZ Marist AGM to David Neame of Greymouth Marist for the 2009 season.

This award recognises David's overall contribution to the Greymouth Marist RFC. David's playing record at senior and senior reserve level dates back 20 years from 1990-2010, and he has continued unbroken through to West Coast club finals season 2009.

David has been a team captain at both senior reserve, and senior level. He is a tireless trainer, and even at the age of 37, he is one of the most professional players our club has ever seen. At pre season trainings, he pushes and encourages the younger players to realise their potential, and that is such a valuable asset for any club to have.

In the days where most senior sides field teams with a youthful look about them, the experience, wisdom and knowledge of having a stalwart like David in the team is most invaluable.

David was selected for the NZ Marist Colts in 1993, and the coaching and experience of that tour, helped David grow into the fine club man that we have today.

David has represented and captained the West Coast senior team, and all up has 16 caps for the senior rep team.

Off the field, David's contribution has included committee service, tireless fundraising hours and the executive post as current club captain.

David has also over the years has coached several school boy teams, and been very popular with our school boys. As a player, at no stage has David fallen foul of referees or disciplinary panels, nor has he devoted any less than 100 percent support to club management, promotion and administration.

The nominee is a funeral director and as such is at the mercy of death's schedule - a schedule with little regard for match and practice. He does however still manage to make practically every training and game. In 2009, David was one of the driving forces behind setting up a Greymouth Marist R.F.C golden oldie side, and this was a huge success.

Greymouth Marist now has a database of former players from around New Zealand that come back to Greymouth for club games and having this team shows the true Marist spirit and what it means to the former players to still feel a part of their club. It is also very healthy for the club coffers, especially for the clubrooms when there is a home match, so there is a lot to be thankful to David for this.

David is also a very popular person not only in the club, but West Coast wide, and a facebook group has been set up for David, which now boasts over 600 members worldwide. In it are photos and video clips featuring David, and an interview with current All Black hooker Andrew Hore from the 2009 Steinlager Rugby awards, giving David some advice on his career. We feel David deserves this recognition for his services to the Greymouth R.F.C and is a most fitting tribute to David as he enters the end of his long playing service to the Greymouth RFC.

Standout Ardmore Marist player Sherwin Stowers, has re-signed with the Counties Manukau RFU for 3 years ... more ...

Standout Ardmore Marist player Sherwin Stowers, playing in the IRB World Sevens Series in George last weekend, was the leading try scorer in the tournament. Sherwin had a great tournament in Dubai the week before and has continued to show his amazing speed and skill to help New Zealand win the second round of Sevens in George, South Africa.

Check out some coverage of Sherwin's form at the following link.

The Senior Prizegiving ceremony was held on Saturday 23rd August 2009.

A great night was had by all. Thanks to everybody for your support throughout the year.

The recipients of the annual awards are listed below:

Team	Award	Player
Premiers Coach - Bevan Murray Asst Coach - Sam Alatini Manager - Ray Cullen Strapper - Kelvin Bangs, Katie Burton	Best Team Member	Roger Fua'aletoelau
	Best Forward	Amos Mataia
	Best Back	Sherwin Stowers
	Player of the Year	Sherwin Stowers
Premier Reserves Coach - Vena Ulae Assistant Coach - Murray Campbell Manager - Clarkie Assistant Manager - Rob Burton	Best Team Member	Tiaan Volschenk
	Best Forward	Ben Fa'agata
	Best Back	Kane Ruddell
	Player of the Year	Matthew Kitto
Presidents Manager - Tom Baker	Best Team Member	Heath Wallwork
	Best Forward	Scott Delacey
	Best Back	Dean Hopkins
	Player of the Year	Scott Delacey
Under 21 Red Coach - Richie Robson Assistant Coach - Steve Burrows Assistant Coach (Forwards) - Darryl Robson Assistant Manager - Brian McNeil Assistant Manager - Glenn Flavell	Best Team Member	Tamapi Akanoa
	Best Forward	Penetana Wallis
	Best Back	Robert Wallis
	Player of the Year	Christopher Beard
Under 21 Blue Coach - Clive Castle	Best Team Member	Christopher Grey
	Best Forward	Kelly Mefua
	Best Back	Saipele Ropati
	Player of the Year	Tainui Rickard
Under 85kg Coach - Chris Lusby Manager - Kester Banfield	Most Valuable Player	Matt Tanner
	Most Improved Player	Cory Mchardy Daniel Tollen
	Supporter of the Year	Yvette Morehu
	Player of the Year	Leighton Morehu
Club Awards	Supporter of the Year	The Beard Family
	Junior Supporter of the Year	Cameron Flavell Hayden Bangs
	Most Promising Player	Sikeli Nabou
	Club Player of the Year	Sherwin Stowers
	Team of the Year	Premier Reserves
	Coach of the Year	Ritchie Robson
	Manager of the Year	Ray Cullen

With the best day for rugby for some weeks and the ground in beautiful condition the South Auckland Motors Ardmore Marist Premiers produced a ten try romp against cellar dwellers Papakura at home on the weekend.

After Papakura opened the scoring with a try after 5 minutes it was all one way traffic from then with the second half in particular resulting on a number of tries all of which ended up with a score line of 61-8.

Tries were scored by Suli Taufalele, Dylan Prasad, and Raymond Cullen (all crossed twice), while Tau Mata'afa (back from Samoa), Leka Tonga, Roger Fuaaletoelau, and Sam Alatini all scored one. Sam converted three and Whai converted one as the kicking duties were shared around.

However the game was not the ideal build up to the semi finals next Saturday but we have to take consolation that it was better than Patumahoe who had a bye.

The whole debate of the structure of the season will no doubt raise it’s ugly head again with the competition starting off as ten teams and then dropping to nine. However with Papakura having a -717 points differential it is highly questionable if the union can sustain a nine or ten team competition. Clearly the difference in performance levels does not do either the winners or losers of such matches any good.

Great to see our Steelers Sikeli, Sherwin and Cody at the game. Looks they will both be starters having featured heavily in the preseason. At this stage it looks as though Cody may be the third hooker (or is it halfback?) however he will only be an injury away from the 22.

The team has no new injury concerns for the semi final and it was especially good to see Harley Crane back on the field and having a run at second five. His distribution skills were outstanding setting up Ray Cullen for one slashing break late in the game.

We need to make the semi next weekend a home game by all getting to Patumahoe at 1:00 to see the U21’s take on their Patumahoe competition and this will be followed by the Premiers and 2:35. So break out the red and blue and be seen and heard next weekend.

In another try fest the Troy Wheeler Transport Reserves topped the points table to earn a home semi-final against Manurewa next weekend. Scoring eight tries with one against to total 50-5 this game was a trend setter for the day with the Papakura team competing well for the first twenty minutes and then running out of fitness allowing our boys to pull away.

One of the features of the match was the outstanding play by halfback Cody Martin released from Steelers duty for the weekend who needed a bit of a run. Cody failed however in his objective of producing a dive pass.

With Matthew Kitto back on deck after illness and with Kyle Jones due back this week the Reserves should prove to tough for Rewa even though they haven’t beaten them this year.

Kick off for the semi will be 1:00. Those of you that don’t go with the U21’s will be expected to be at the Park.

A solid 20-0 three try win in a niggle filled match that saw two of the Karaka players binned. The coaches were happy that the team played better than the previous week and this was a good hard workout ahead of the top of the table clash with Pukekohe next week.

They need a point at least or hope that Paty do not get a five pointer against Waihi to get the home semi.

I think it may be better just to take a five point win and cement top spot.

Watched a bit of this game and the boys showed that while they haven’t won a game this season they don’t lack heart or commitment on the field. They were far from disgraced against the table topping Pukekohe side and turned at half time only 7-0 down.

We hope they can run on a big effort and get across the line for a win against Manurewa who are struggling at present.

After winning two in a row the U85’s needed a win to cement a Semi final position. However playing against the top team in the division the boys came up short 12-15 in a tense end to end game.

Visiting the changing rooms afterwards though the guys were extremely buoyant at the results of the season and are already talking up their chances for next year.

I think Rob owes them a keg…..

Congratulations to Sherwin Stowers, Cody Martin, Sikeli Nabou and Courtney McKay on their selection to the Steelers 30 man training squad.

A very even spread to the squad with four from Ardmore Maridt, Karaka, Patumahoe, Pukekohe and Waiuku with Manurewa contributing seven.

Two players for out of the area Matt Holloway (hooker) from Christchurch Marist and Josh Hall (1st or 2nd five or fullback) from Linwood have also been called in.

Counties B

The following Ardmore Marist players have been selected for the Counties B:

• Jeremiah Fatialofa
• Terence Itinerau
• Bruce John
• Cody Martin
• Gary Saifoloi
• Suli Saufalele
• Callum Cook
• Whaiora Rangiwai

Good to see Callum back in action after a season long layoff and to see Bruiser get the nod after another sterling year. The consistency shown by Whai has been rewarded as have the efforts by Terror, Miah, Gary and Suli.

Congratulations guys.

Counties Under 20s

Kurtz Tia (U21 Red), Tau Mata’afa and Leka Tonga (both Premiers) have been selected for the Counties U20’s.

Counties Under 18s

Congratulations to Junior Taufua (U21’Red) on gaining Counties U18 selection.

Fern Ridge	Peter Single
Southern Bricklayers	David Shortt
Moray Cook Electrical	Steve Cook
Jennian Homes Pukekohe	Bru Goldfinch
JC Walker Transport	Chris Walker
Clevedon Coast Oysters	Callum McCallum
Alan Molander Electrical	Alan Molander
Amcor Kiwi Packaging	Tommy Baker
AquaEnvironmental	Hugh Chapman
Parry and Co	Ken Parry
South Auckland Upholsterers	Pat and Mike Baskett
LC Plastering	Les Coomber
Atlas Gentech	Steve Moss
Swan Workforce	Steve Burrows
EZGO Golf carts	Peter Talyancich
Graeme Massey Cars	Graeme Massey
Mike Sargent Engineering	Mike Sargent
Green & Hughes Racing Stables	John Green
Murdoch Contracting	Chris Murdoch