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The Red Machine
No 1. March 2003

New gym on schedule
Marist St Pats’ newly renovated gym will be officially opened at 11.30am on Sunday 9 March. The state-of-the-art facility, a joint project by MSP and St Pats College, has cost $380,000.

THE NEW GYM from the northern end - the crests of Marist St Pats and St Pats College will be added before the official opening by NZRFU chairman Jock Hobbs on 9 March.

The viewing room from Evans Bay Park.

LOOKING OUT over Evans Bay Park from the viewing room.

Many faces contribute to promising start

by Alan Woods
MSP chairman

Welcome to this first Red Machine for 2003, and welcome also to new and returning coaches, managers, players and members of our club.
2003 sees many new faces in coaching and management positions. I welcome new committee members, and thank everyone on the committee for continuing to offer their time - your contribution is enormous and appreciated.
I note, particularly, Michael Sood who has stepped into the club captain’s role. I am also delighted to confirm the senior coaches: Liam Halpin (premier), John Bishop and John Bell (senior one), Steve Cavanagh (senior two) and Brett Marais (senior three). I welcome all new coaches and good luck to every team for the season.
Many teams do not yet have managers. Anyone wishing to assist by filling this role would be appreciated. Do not hesitate to contact me (025 439 176) or Michael Sood (025 668 8287) if you are interested.
I am thrilled to announce that the refurbished gymnasium is almost completed. It is a resource which offers our players extremely modern facilities, including a video room, meeting rooms and a brand new shower and toilet block. I am confident these facilities will benefit our players and St Pats College players for many years to come.
My thanks to Chris Ryan and his team for undertaking construction of the renovations, and to Brian and Dan McGuinness for managing the project on behalf of the club. I look forward to seeing many of you at the new gym’s opening on Sunday 9 March at 11.30 am.
Members’ contributions to the Gym Refurbishment Foundation have been received, and your individual support towards the gym’s cost is greatly appreciated. With the total cost exceeding $380,000, fundraising must continue.
All members, including players are invited to donate to the foundation. All contributions will be acknowledged on a plaque inside the gym.
With the premier and senior teams kicking off on 22 March, I look forward to meeting you over the next few months on the sidelines and at the clubrooms.

Pre-season games
Sunday 9 March: Interclub trials for senior and colts grades. Evans Bay Park.
Saturday 15 March: Three senior grades and colts v Norths. Porirua Park.

Club season begins
Competition games for the premiers, senior ones and twos kick off on 22 March.
Pre-season games for other grades will be organised for that weekend,
and for 29/30 March.
Competition games for all other grades begin on 5 April.

Coaches appointed for 2003
Following are Marist St Pats’ coaching appointments for the 2003 season.
Premier:
Coach: Liam Halpin. Ph 801 2794 (w), 025 233 2832.
Technical adviser: Iain Potter. Ph 382 9625 (h), 472 5777 (w)
Senior 1:
Coaches: John Bishop. Ph 389 6275 (h), 025 466 522
John Bell. Ph 386 2449 (h), 498 2188 (w), 0274 828 990.
Senior 2:
Coach: Steve Cavanagh. Ph 973 0606 (h), 025 311 777
Assistant: Jamie Moore
Senior 3:
Coaches: Paddy Mapu. Ph 387 7090 (h)
Brett Marais. Ph 388 2729 (h), 025 284 7518
Senior 3:
Coach: Perelini Coffin. Ph 971 9917 (h)
Senior 4:
Coach: Ollie Tafua. Ph 380 9072 (h), 025 611 4844
Colts:
Coaches: Mike Jensen. Ph 380 8593 (h), 388 8355 (w)
John Spillane. Ph 027 220 6131
Tony Spillane. Ph 938 8022 (h), 473 6099 (w), 025 449 704
Chris Ryan. Ph 380 8899 (h), 0274 333 093
80/80 A:
Coach: Phil Grigg. Ph 479 7682 (h), 025 424 489
80/80 B:
Coaches: Dean Dalton. Ph 04 383 6552 (h), 383 6537 (w) 025 449 704
Fui Tuiasau. Ph 476 0190 (h)
John Duignan is the club’s coaching coordinator: Ph 388 8690 (h), 027 222 8783

MSP Committee 2003
Members of MSP’s management committee for 2003 are:
Chaplain: Reverend Father Geoff Broad
President: Ray Safey
Chairman: Alan Woods
Treasurer: Mary Ann Spillane
Secretary: Dale Renouf
Asst Sec: Pat Martin
Club Captain: Mike Sood
Management Committee: Kevin Allan, Tony Duffin, Catherine Laing, John O’Keefe, Paul Quinn, Paul Simeon, John Wolyncewicz.

LIAM HALPIN: up through the grades

New premier coach keen to build on success
New coach Liam Halpin is well aware of the big expectations on the premiers following the club’s Jubilee Cup successes in recent seasons, but he has a simple message for his players.
MSP has never won three consecutive premier titles and Liam says players can’t assume success will come simply because they pull on a scarlet jersey.
“They have to go out on the paddock and do it.”
While there are not too many changes in the premiers’ playing personnel, there are big changes in coaching and management staff.
Of last year’s management team, Ruffy Mollo is now in Australia, Terry Manion has gone to Wanganui, and Larry Mahoney is unavailable.
For Liam, it has been a case of internal promotion after five years’ coaching at MSP, beginning with an 80/80 team in 1998.
That was followed by a string of five championship wins in four seasons, with Liam guiding the Colts B, Colts A (first and second rounds), and senior twos (twice) to grade titles.
Liam says his coaching strategy begins with the basics of forward play and the forwards’ ability to win and retain the ball. Next is the matter of using it, and he emphasises continuity in the backs and their ability to keep the ball alive.
His biggest influences have been MSP coaches he’s worked with over the years, including Kevin Horan, Tony Meachen and Iain Potter. Iain will assist with coaching this year.
Liam expects to have plenty of pace and skill in this year’s side, but he won’t settle on a gameplan until he knows the final make-up of his squad.
“It will probably be not too far removed from the MSP ethos that begins in the sawdust gym,” he says.
Originally from Taranaki, Liam is regional registrar at Massey University Wellington.

Premier player changes
Former Counties lock Kristian Ormsby is the big addition to MSP’s premier squad this year.
Because of Hurricanes commitments, he will be unavailable until the second round of club matches - Jubilee Cup games start on 31 May after the Super 12 is completed.
Four MSP players in the Hurricanes development team - Bernie Upton, Fa’atonu Fili, Tony Coughlan, and Luke Mahoney - should be available for the first club game of the year.
The development team finishes its games a week before the club competition kicks off on 22 March.
After last year’s Jubilee Cup success, lock Rhys Johnston has retired. However, former premier captain Dave McGuinness is playing again and Johnsonville premier back Effron Heather will turn out for MSP this year.

John Duignan to coordinate coaches
John Duignan will once again be taking on the coaching coordinator’s role at MSP, a part-time position funded 50/50 by the club and the Wellington Rugby Union.
John’s duties include running ‘coach the coaches’ programmes for MSP and St Pats College.
He oversees skill development programmes for coaches at both levels, and also runs MSP’s Academy and assists with facilities management.
Another role is to help junior coaches - any interested junior coaches can contact John through junior convenor Dan Tait-Jamieson (ph 475 9909).

Around the traps

Spillane Cup at North Harbour
MSP will send a 26-strong colts team to the Spillane Cup this year. The tournament will be held over Easter (April 18-21) at North Harbour.
MSP players in Hurricanes
Congratulations to Lome Fa’atau and Kristian Ormsby, MSP’s representatives in the 2003 Hurricanes.
Kristian Ormsby was a member of the Ardmore Marist club in Counties before his transfer to Wellington. Because of that Marist allegiance, he has been allocated to MSP.
Four MSP members are in the Hurricanes development squad - Fa’atonu Fili, Tony Coughlan, Bernie Upton and Luke Mahoney.
Old Timers’ Day
The date has already been set for Old Timers’ Day this year - 3 May. The club’s top three teams will play Poneke at Rugby League Park.
Early season sweat
Pre-season training numbers at the club have been solid, and around 70 players took part in senior trial matches against Petone on 4 March.
Training is also underway at St Pats College, with a trip to Australia planned for the First XV and a college development team.
Coach Mike Woods and assistant Lee Lidstone will take the teams to Sydney in the April school holidays.

JUNIOR RUGBY

At the end of last season, this combined MSP under-11 and under-12 rep side played the visiting champion side Taradale. The exciting match ended in a draw, the only game Taradale did not win all year!

Top club begins with juniors
Six of MSP’s 12 senior teams won championships last year, and the premiers’ Jubilee Cup victory was the sixth in nine years.
The club fields 38 teams from under-6 to presidents, and fantastic new training facilities have been completed - this all begins with the MSP Junior Club, which emphasises:
— enjoyment, teamwork, sportsmanship and discipline in a team environment;
— coaches and referees trained in player safety management, in line with NZ Rugby Union policy; and
— with players from all over Wellington, there is always a team near you.

MSP junior enrolments
To enrol and join one of the largest junior clubs in Wellington (26 teams in 2002), MSP needs your:
— Registration form: either pre-printed for returning players or a new registration;
— Birth Certificate: unless already supplied;
— Email address: if you can, to help with communication;
— Subs: $30 per player, maximum $50 per family.
Your subscription funds a jersey (on loan for the season), rugby balls, coaching and safety equipment, mouthguards, social functions, team photos and awards.
Please hand to your school liaison officer or send to: MSP Junior Rugby Club 20 Moana Road Highbury Wellington 6005.

Junior rugby key dates
Saturday 16 March
Team lists and coaches & managers confirmed.
Saturday 5 April
CLUB DAY at the Hataitai clubrooms to meet coaches and players
Saturday 12 April
School holidays begin.
Saturday 26 April
Junior rugby kicks off!

Junior convenor
Any queries call MSP’s junior club convenor Dan Tait-Jamieson
Ph: 475 9909.
Email: dan@t-j.co.nz.

Special thanks to the Mediterranean Food Warehouse for their support with the Small Blacks’ promotion.

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