16 replies to this topic

[Higgins]

The Bs are off to a good start tipping over Manawatu B 41 - 25 in Palmy on Saturday. They look to have a decent sqaud judging by the names of some of the players mentioned in the press match report. It is a good start as it comes on top of taking down Waikato B in Taupo 21 - 13 and the Povery BAy NPC team 26 - 24 up in Wairoa

http://www.hawkesbay...ictory/3921421/

Unfortunately the squad is not named on the HBRFU website but I hope to sneak up to Porirua Park on Saturday to see them take on Wellington B and will post the team list and a bit of a match report is I do make it. Hopefully Chainsaw will also turn up and take a few shots that he can provide a link to so we can have a look at them as well.

Here is the link to the oppositon press report which does contain a disturbing note that our backs were outplayed, a major worry considering the ineffectivenss of the ITM CUp backline. Still we won't know who fronted until I can get my hands on a programme from this coming week's game. The 'Poo had also been thumped 20 -53 in New Plymouth the previous week by Taranaki so maybe things are not quite as rosy as they at first seem?

http://www.stuff.co....evelopment-side

The Under 18s smacked Manawatu in Waipuk 33 - 10 and the Under 16s did likewise to the same outfit in Dannevirke by 29 - 07 so all in all it was a reasonably successful weekend if we don't take the ITM Cup into account.

Edited by Higgins, 06 September 2010 - 06:32 PM.
Additional link added

[Higgins]

Just a reminder for those of you who want to front up to support the guys at Porirua Park on Saturday.

It will be a tough match as a bit of ferretting aroung has found that Wellington took out Taranaki 32 -10 at Porirua last week so are obviously in reasonable touch. We did the 'Poo last week 41 - 25 unconvincingly away whilst the 'Poo got rolled big time (30 points) away against the 'Naki so it looks like we might have a bit of a tussle on our hands. Still, if we can front with our first choice lineup there is no reason why we can't take them down a peg or two.

Chainsaw, will you be fronting with your camera?

[Higgins]

Well not good news from Porirua Park guys after we got a good old fashioned hiding Wellington 71 16 Hawkes Bay. Obviously still plenty of developing to be done. Unfortunately there was no programme printed for the match (although the curtainraiser between Wellington and Taranaki Under 20s did have one - Won incidentally 50 odd to about 20 odd by Wellington) so cannot give you the lineup.

The Magpies did not really play like they were 60 points worse strange as that statement may be. It was just that Wellington seems to be just a bit (well quite a bit really) faster in moving around the field and their reactions in picking up and securing the ball as well as taking little time to get their passes away really killed us. Last year we we a bit unlucky to get beaten down here by what was probably a better team than that feilded by Wgtn this season. Disturbingly there were at least four guys drafted from the Wgtn B team that will be in the Wgtn Lions tonight as well as Donal McNamara who is now turning out for the 'Poo in the NPC so it could have been worse. The highlight was once again watching Buxton Popoali'i have another blinder at fullback something he has not yet managed to show when he was a permanent member of the Wgtn Lions NPC mob. Hopefully one day he will show you what I have seen from him a good number of times, he really is an excitingly skilled player (except for his tackling - which has improved it must be conceded). There were a couple of players that are either fulltime professional players, either here or overseas, that turned out for Wellington plus there are probably a good number of others that train full time for want of a better word and today that showed.

Keep you eyes out for the Wellington openside Masefau Leuluniu who is a very talented guy that should be playing at a higher level. He would be dynamic if he was just a couple of inches taller and a bit heavier but despite that disadvantage he has great rugby skills and ability to "read" a game, always seemingly to be in the place he is needed when it is most needed. Not sure if he will be prised away from Wellington but he could start in a number of other ITM Cups sides and more than hold his own.

Well there you are guys not much about the HB Team other than the guy wearing the number 11 jersey scored two tries and the replacement openside flanker in the number 16 jersey had a Colin Meads like powerful surge with the ball in one mitt that set up the first try. Other than that not much to get excited about. Whether it was the best side HB could front with is not known but it did look like it might have been a bit of a ring around job to fill the last few spots so I'm guessing injuries could have played a big part. There were a number of substitutions in the first half and early second half that probably did not help much either. Still they are our guys and we should get out and support them whenever we can. Speaking of that where were you today Chainsaw?

[Chainsaw]

That's the ONE game I really wanted to go and photograph this year, but unfortunately I had to be in Taupo for the weekend for family stuff But I went and did the Wgtn Pride (women) v Akld at Owen Delaney Park instead! They were surprised to see me there.

Another report from the WRFU here: http://www.wrfu.co.n...ms-on-saturday-

I think Buxton has the pace and skills, but he's not a very big boy, so not sure how far he will go.

Edited by Chainsaw, 13 September 2010 - 02:27 PM.

[Higgins]

Though there must have been a good reason for your absence. Hopefully you will have wangled a "Press" sideline pass from the WRFU for this Saturdays game and will post some photos of the HB victory (you have to aim high and go into every match expecting to win!)?

Will get round to ordering those photos from last years Wellington B team very soon by the way in case you were wondering. Fortunately my boy was not playing this year (been injured for pretty much all season) so fronting up after the loss was not quite a tough as it could have been and anyway just have to wave the programme from the Hurricanes Regional Sevens Tournament in front of him to shut him up. I had him and two of his mates who also played in the Wgtn team that got rolled by Hawkes Bay that day staying at my place!

[Chainsaw]

Higgins said:

Though there must have been a good reason for your absence. Hopefully you will have wangled a "Press" sideline pass from the WRFU for this Saturdays game and will post some photos of the HB victory (you have to aim high and go into every match expecting to win!)?

Will get round to ordering those photos from last years Wellington B team very soon by the way in case you were wondering. Fortunately my boy was not playing this year (been injured for pretty much all season) so fronting up after the loss was not quite a tough as it could have been and anyway just have to wave the programme from the Hurricanes Regional Sevens Tournament in front of him to shut him up. I had him and two of his mates who also played in the Wgtn team that got rolled by Hawkes Bay that day staying at my place!

Ha! Nice.

Nah, although I think I could wangle a pass to the npc games I decided not to bother. I think I prefer to watch the big games instead, plus really there's no market for the photos as they're covered by the real pros. Not that I sell many anyway (bugger-all in fact). I prefer to go along to my local park and support the lower teams, who I know do appreciate my photos, plus the park is nice and close, and if i don't feel like going, I don't! So I'm keeping it all fairly low key really. I have no delusions of making a lot of money from it, just enough to cover costs and to help keep the gear current is fine. That's also why I have the Google ads on the site, to help cover costs (so feel free to click on one or two, but not too many or else they get suspicious!).

[Higgins]

Forgot to include the date of the programme but it was 08 November 2003 so it is obviously something that long standing HB supporters cherish. Incidentally the Wellington side that day contained 4 players who were or would become International 7s players in Esava Tiko and Asiveni Lutumailagi who had already played for Fiji and Cory Jane and Lote Raikabula who have since played 7s for NZ so it certainly was a victory for the Bay to savour. Just a shame we got rolled by Taranaki in the final. One of these days I might do a bit of a feature on it for including Magpie Rugby website that is attached to this.

[Higgins]

Here is the reports from the Bs match against Taranaki plus mention of wins by the Under 20s and under 18s

http://www.hawkesbay...es-bay/3923249/

http://www.stuff.co....de-out-in-front

Edited by Higgins, 20 September 2010 - 11:06 AM.

[Higgins]

A not so good result for the Bs against the 'Poo on Saturday

http://www.stuff.co....favour-Manawatu

but much better news with the Under 20 smashing Wellington 27 -19 whilst I have not yet managed to get the score from the UNder 18s match at Porirua Park against Wellington yet. Can you help Chainsaw?

[Chainsaw]

Wellington U18s 22 (George Tilsley 2, Terrence Hepetema tries; Andrew Wells pen, con; Tilsley con) beat Hawke's Bay U18s 15. Ht: 15-7

Thought I may have seen you there Higgins.

Report of the game about halfway down this page - http://www.wrfu.co.n...p-25-september-

There's also an Under 20s report on there.

Photos of the Wtgn U18 v HB U18 game here- http://www.chainsawp...ls.php?album=97 Tell your friends!

[Higgins]

A good start by the Under 16s in the torunament in Gisborne with a 29 - 26 victory over Wellington

http://www.gisborneh...ticle/?id=19527

Remaining games this week are against Manawatu and Taranaki, hopefully more good news to come from these guys.
Not so flash for the Under 18s who got tipped over 22 - 15 at Porirua on Saturday by Wellington. Hopefully we cand overturn that result in their Tournament final up in Palmy on Saturday.

[Higgins]

Chainsaw said:

Wellington U18s 22 (George Tilsley 2, Terrence Hepetema tries; Andrew Wells pen, con; Tilsley con) beat Hawke's Bay U18s 15. Ht: 15-7

Thought I may have seen you there Higgins.

Report of the game about halfway down this page - http://www.wrfu.co.n...p-25-september-

There's also an Under 20s report on there.

Photos of the Wtgn U18 v HB U18 game here- http://www.chainsawp...ls.php?album=97 Tell your friends!

Sorry about that Chainsaw, no excuse really other than I completely forgot about it which is unacceptable I know. Some nice shots in your gallery and am I right is observing that the Wellington boys looked slightly larger than our guys?

[Chainsaw]

Thanks. Funny you mention the size thing, I didn't notice it, but I was chatting to a HB supporter on the sideline and she said the same thing. So I guess they were!

[Higgins]

It is not the size of the body that counts (although it does help), it is the size of the heart that really matters so here's hoping for really big hearts in Palmy on Saturday. Hopefully Nepia will be along to keep an eye on our guys and provide a bit of a report on the match.

[Higgins]

Good news again from Gisborne yesterday with HB cleaning up Manawatu 23 - 10. The first part of the report makes you proud to be a rugby supporter and a HB Supoprter in particular knowing that the younger generation know what sacrifice for their team mates (loyal supporters are team mates) really means and are prepared to do put their bodies on the line for us all.

http://www.hawkesbay...r-team/3924466/

[Higgins]

The Under 16s are the Hurricanes Region Champions

Our guys emphasised their dominance with a comprehensive 34 - 07 victory over Taranaki to make it three in a row after the earlier wins over Wellington and Manawatu in the tournament held up in Gisborne. The well drilled forward pack paved the way proving a bit too good for their opposition and they were backed up by the backs who showed a lot of flair.

The following boys made the tournament team: Kerry Love (NBHS), Tim Cadwallader (Lindisfarne), Elijah Martin (NBHS), Matt Phillips (Karamu), Hamish Pyne (NBHS) and Joseph Penitito (St Johns) but they could not have done it without the support of all their teammates. Well done to everyone in the team from all the Magpies supporters everywhere.

http://www.hawkesbay...an-out/3924975/

Edited by Higgins, 04 October 2010 - 10:00 AM.
Link added

[Higgins]

The Under 20s smacked Wellington 44 - 31 but the news was not so good with both the Under 18s (15 - 38) and Bs (15 - 38) finishing on the wrong side of the ledger against their Wellington opponents in matches on Saturday.

http://www.wrfu.co.n...s-come-up-short