Last Saturday's rugby is the best part of my role - the start of the 2018 season for all those players under 18.
It was fantastic to move around various grounds and see the incredible work done by club volunteers who ensure that the 6-year-olds in their first year of rugby to the newly caped 1st XV player is enjoying and having fun playing the best game available for all shapes and sizes.
On Saturday morning I witnessed and heard many many exciting stories about the first day of rugby. I was informed by Dan Robinson (Rangers president) that the “Tackle Box” that took place on Saturday at Tahunanui for the under 8 age group, managed by our RDO Mark Cochrane was brilliant. According to Dan the players had a great rugby experience in a great learning and safe environment.
Then there were two coaches in an under 18 match, Central vs. Waimea, getting together before the match with the referee to ensure that the young boys playing in the front row experienced the joys of that position whilst ensuring the dominant scrum did not put people off the game for life and safety was paramount.
I witnessed first-hand the Nelson College 1st XV that was also beamed live by Sky TV across NZ. There was a very nervous headmaster Gary O’Shea encouraging his team that secured the Moascar Cup with a dominating second half performance. There were 1000’s of supporters watching the game but my eye noted the Thornalley family proudly watching young Tom come on making his first XV debut while the father of Josh McIntyre watched proudly as his son earned his school cap. As we watched this matched, the scores from Marlborough Boys College were relayed and the pride of another Tasman 1st XV dominating was celebrated. Unfortunately Waimea Combined had a difficult day at the office.
Nelson College captain Anton Segner with the Moascar Cup
The real highlight for me was later in the day listening to David Morris, coach of the under 9 Nelson team, that includes his own son Lachie and new Mako recruit Wyatt Crockett's boy, discuss the absolute joy of their game and the pleasure of being a coach. Coach Morris talked about how his young and very small team were developing the catch pass, match and positional awareness, and how they had improved from last year and were just loving rugby. His wife said it was great physical game and boys had huge smiles on their faces while having fun. What interested me most was the three sets of parents, the boys and friends who watched the game while they reviewed every aspect of the game in a most positive fashion - not one person mentioned the score or who was the best player.
Then there was “Wanderers Club Day” where they had every team play on their hallowed turf. It was a great day to showcase the game, their rugby club but more importantly the community of Brightwater and surrounding communities love of the game. It was fantastic to see a club in a rebuilding phase have their senior A players involved in the day. It indicates the importance of the words "team" and "community".
I personally want to congratulate and thank the people and individuals involved in Marlborough age grade rugby who have put personal bias aside and are working as one to grow rugby in this teenage space. It’s a difficult task convincing the youth of today to play this game at times, but we are making progress in Blenheim. There has been some innovative thinking this year and stage one of the plan is showing positive signs.
Jo McLean from the TRU, who manages the draws for all rugby in the Tasman region is to be thanked and congratulated. This is a huge, largely thankless job Her day normally starts with a large number of emails or phone call after phone call from good club people offering advice from their perspective. Thanks Jo for a job well done.
Remember next week on the side-lines:
- To encourage not discourage;
- To value the opposing teams efforts;
- We are role models on the side-line and our children will mirror our behaviour; and
- Finally, the referee is a volunteer too and wants to enjoy the game.
Finally, this weekend's senior rugby features for you all to enjoy are ...
NPD Tasman Trophy - 3pm
Waimea Old Boys v Nelson – Jubilee Park; Marist v Stoke - Tahunanui; Kahurangi v Wanderers – Sports Park Motueka; East Coast v Waitohi - Seddon Domain; Moutere v Renwick – Awarua Park.
Tasman Senior Women - 1.15pm
Marist v Wanderers - Tahunanui; Motueka High School v Waimea OB - MHS; Awatere v Wanderers – Seddon Domain.
Motorworld Marlborough Div 2 - 1.15pm
Awatere v College Old Boys – Seddon Domain; Renwick v Harlequins – Renwick Domain.
The Car Company Nelson Bays Div 2 - 1.15pm
Collingwood v Riwaka – Collingwood (NBS Country Challenge Cup); Huia Birdhurst v Huia New World – Sports Park Motueka; Marist v Stoke – Tahunanui; Waimea OB v Valley Stags – Jubilee Park; Takaka v Nelson - Takaka.
#FinzUp
Tony Lewis