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The Red Machine
No 2. April-May 2001

Chairman's Report
by Brian McGuinness

Rising to the challenge
There is no doubt the 2001 season is going to be a challenging one for the premier team and their supporters.
The last gasp win over Tawa on Old Timers' Day, apart from doing nothing for the old timers' blood pressure, proved that there are few easy-beat teams in this year's competition.
It promises to be an exciting season and your support for the team at the games and the clubrooms later is going to be a key component in the team's fortunes this year.
We are fortunate in having strong senior one, two, and three teams which are all near the top of their competitions - many players in these teams are one step away from premier rugby and they are what gives Marist St Pats its playing strength.

Colts rugby
Rob Evans and John Spillane took their colts team to the Easter Spillane Cup at Napier and introduced many of our new players to the Marist St Pats environment.
From all accounts it was a great weekend, with the team performing well against other North Island Marist colts teams.
The club is fielding two colts teams this year, with Myles Cowper and Patrick Mapu coaching the Colts B.
Having two colts teams is an achievement in itself, considering some clubs are struggling to field one team. Colts rugby is an essential part of the apprenticeship for premier rugby, and the Wellington Rugby Union needs to ensure the colts grade maintains its status on the Wellington club rugby scene.

Sponsorship
Twenty years ago rugby clubs survived on the income from subscriptions, pig-in-the-barrow, and bar revenue. This is no longer the case - subs account for hardly 10% of club revenue, with the bar lucky to break even.
Recent figures suggest the costs of running a rugby club are around $400 per player. The only way rugby clubs and other amateur sports have been able to survive is through sponsorship money by way of poker machines.
Our main source of revenue is Suresh Dayal's "Local Point" outlets, for which we are extremely grateful. We ask members to support these outlets, which are located all over the Wellington area.
Finally, a reminder about the Marist St Pats website, www.msprugby.co.nz - results of Saturday's games are available online from 7pm on Saturday evenings.

TOP SENIOR 3s: The debate over which team - the Reds or the Greens - is the club's top senior 3 side was settled with the Green's emphatic 19-13 win over Mouse Jensen's Reds. Here the Greens celebrate (back, from left): Chris Masi, Walker Falefa, player/manager Olly Tafua, and Charlie Leo. (Front, from left): Fa'atiga Tolovala, coach Fr Steve Thomsen, and Tasi Lefifi.

Around the traps

Well done
Congratulations to premier hooker Luke Mahoney (pictured, right), who has been selected in the 50-strong New Zealand Colts training squad. Congratulations also to
- Colts player Tyrone Edwards who won two gold medals at the recent New Zealand karate championships, and one gold at the Varsity games; and
- Colts B coach Myles Cowper who was married at Easter.

Sound defence
The premiers, who now lead the Swindale Shield outright, have conceded just four tries in their first six games.
That's a great defensive record for over eight hours of rugby. Their points against - a total of 51- is less than half that of the next placed team, Poneke. And with 211 points for, the premiers also boast the best attacking record.

Top magpies
The presidents 27-5 victory over Ories meant a lot to old timers in the pressies. The two clubs, along with Poneke, make up a golden oldies team known as the Eastern Suburbs Magpies. Given the rivalry in the Magpies, MSP members can quietly mention the result if the Ories members get too uppity.

LADIES' NIGHT
A complimentary glass of wine and a warm welcome awaits all wives, girlfriends, partners, grandmas, daughters, and aunties at the clubrooms on Saturday 5 May from 4.30pm onwards.
('Ladies night" is held on the first Saturday of every month.)

Fifty years' distinguished service
It's 51 years since Marist St Pats' life member John Gordon last played rugby, so a comeback is not on the cards. However, John's enthusiasm for the club and his active role in administration remain as strong as ever.
An old boy of St Pats Silverstream, John is currently on the school's board of trustees.
Back in his rugby days, John was fullback for the St Pats Old Boys senior side which defeated Petone in a Jubilee Cup round in 1950.
He was also an accomplished athlete, but his sporting career was cut short the following year when he went away to sea as a marine engineer.
Over the past 15 years, John's passion for Marist rugby has seen him take on a number of key administrative roles - committee member from 1986-89, club president in 1994, and club captain in 1995.
His biggest challenge was organising the club's 25th jubilee in 1995. John chaired the Jubilee organising committee while Brian Mulvey (pictured) was the treasurer.
Work began nine months before the big Queens Birthday Weekend celebrations which featured a dinner, social functions, and 900 visitors to the clubrooms on Saturday night.
For his outstanding service to MSP, John was awarded life membership in 1998.
He still maintains a regular log of club records and statistics and, as a vocal supporter, very rarely misses a premier match.
The club is currently in good heart, he believes. "It can't be much better than where it is," he says of the premier's top-of-the-table performances.
The club's good shape is something for which dedicated club members such as John can take a lot of credit.

Life member John Gordon (right) pictured at the recent Old Timers' Day with Brian Mulvey and Brian's partner Faye.

Flying start for 80/80s
by Jeff O'Sullivan

Welcome to all new and returning 80/80 players, coaches and administrators. It's great to have you on board and we hope you enjoy the season.
This year MSP is fielding four 80/80 teams, maintaining our position as the largest 80/80 club in the region for the second year running.
There have been some excellent team performances during the first two grading games, most notably on Saturday 21 April with three wins (Blue v OBU, Green v Poneke, Black v Wgtn) and a draw (Whites v OBU). This will help ensure our teams are placed in the first and second divisions.
The Green team deserves special mention for their considerable pre-season effort to get organised and start training.
Coaches Cliff Deighton and Chad Thornton, ably managed by Inga Deighton, gathered the team together in late January and trained each Sunday until club training began in March.
Well done to the Greens for the great commitment and enthusiasm they have shown. Good luck for the season.

MSP committee for 2001

Members of MSP"s management committee for 2001 are:
President: John Knox
Chairman: Brian McGuinness
Chaplain: Rev. Father Geoff Broad
Vice presidents: Graeme Duffy and David Leavy (Principals, St Pats' Colleges)
Hon secretary: Geraldine Woods
Hon treasurer: Mary-Ann Spillane
Management committee: Brian Coulter, Tony Duffin, Rob Evans, Agnes Madden, Tony Meachen, Bob Metcalf, Ruffy Mollo, Paul Quinn, Pat Martin
Juniors: John Holden

JUNIOR RUGBY

Over 300 at season's launch
Over 300 children, together with their parents and caregivers, from 25 junior teams, converged on Marist St Pat's clubrooms on the morning of Saturday 7 April.
This "Children 'n Coaches" morning was an opportunity for children to meet their coaches, managers and team mates for 2001.
The WRFU also presented players with a registration pack of goodies to go with their MSP team jersey.

MSP junior club convenor John Holden launches the 2001 season.

For more information on the MSP Junior Rugby Club, please contact:
- Dean Dalton 383 6552, or
- John Holden 970 8949, or
- visit the club website www.msprugby.co.nz.

Members of the under-10 MSP St Francis team, which is sponsored by the Hillary Commission. Far right is coach Mark Tesoriero, who will be assisted by Pat Hannaway and Ralph Byrne.

MSP's dedicated coaches and managers!
It takes a huge effort by a band of dedicated parents and caregivers to both coach and organise MSP's 25 junior teams.
Coaches give up time and pass on their knowledge to encourage and develop children on the Rugby Stairway.
Team management co-ordinate transport for players, organise the "energy oranges", remember the "magic ice" and even ref the matches.
The Junior Club and parents and caregivers acknowledge these efforts. Coaches and managers for 2001 are:

Coming up in the junior club….
2 May: "Rugby Smart Course" Injury Prevention - Wellington Clubrooms 6.30 - 8.00pm. Compulsory for tackle grade coaches.

7 May:"Associate Referees Course" Petone WMC 6.30pm-8.00pm (Compulsory for any person refereeing tackle grades in Junior Rugby!).

9 June The famous MSP Junior Club Grand Sausage Sizzle - MSP clubrooms (immediately after junior games, cancelled if junior rugby cancelled!)

Junior support appreciated
While the junior club relies on players' subs it also wishes to recognise the support of:

• The Society of Mary (the Marists!)
• Kilbirnie Sportsworld
• The New World Eastern Suburbs Sports Trust
• Community Trust of Wellington
• Portable Fence Hire Ltd
• The Hillary Commission and WCC
• The Winton and Margaret Bear Charitable Family Trust.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY