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As we end the first round of the 2002 season, I am proud to advise that our senior one, senior two and colts A teams are unbeaten in their respective grades.
Congratulations to all coaches and players - I look forward to continued successes.
The social calendar got underway on 11 May with the MSP Quiz night. My thanks to Catherine Laing, Trent Eagle, Soody and Henry Fidow for their work in creating such a successful and fun evening for the 20 teams that participated.
It is also great to see the involvement of SMOG netball players at social events. Players are reminded that the clubrooms exist for your enjoyment and this requires support and attendance on Saturday evenings and at social events.
I welcome all past supporters, administrators and players to Old Timers’ Day on 1 June. A special welcome to recent past players.
A Special General Meeting will be called on 22 June at 5.30pm at the clubrooms to seek approval for the committee to proceed with extensive refurbishment of the gymnasium.
We are very excited about the refurbishment that will provide us with one of the best rugby club training facilities in the country.
These improvements are set to cost $350,000, proving that excellent management by previous committees has enabled us to undertake such a project.
However, I take the opportunity to remind all players that these types of facilities cannot be provided without contributions from players by way of subs.
These are due and can be paid to your manager, to Steve McGill, or to Mary-Ann Spillane. I expect all players to take responsibility for paying - please don’t wait to be asked.
You can see that great things are happening both on and off the field and I thank those involved. Anyone willing to become involved in some aspect of MSP please let me know.

A free lunch at....
Old Timers’ Day
There is such a thing as a ‘free lunch’ - be at the clubrooms at
12 noon on Saturday 1 June
to enjoy one if you are a past player, official or club member.
There are spot prizes to be won, and a great time is assured.
MSP’s top three teams are playing Petone in town -
transport to the games will be provided.
For catering purposes, if you have not already advised a sub-committee member that you can attend, please ph 476 7081 or fax 476 7085.

Nickname: Rooster
Age: 23
Family: Girlfriend Tiki, mum and dad, bro and sis
Home town: Wadestown
Workplace: Vivian Street
Playing position: 1st five-eight
Rugby history: Captain NZ Marist 15s tour (2001); Manu Samoa 7s 2002; NZ Marist 7s tour of Samoa
Other sports: Birdwatching
FAVOURITES:
food: Dad’s bacon and egg pie
drink: bourbon and coke
movie: Mike Rangi’s private collection
author: J.D.Salinger (Catcher in the Rye)
singer/band: True Bliss
ground: Apia Park
rugby player: Errol Tobias
rugby memory: Winning the Mount and Taupiri sevens tournament this year.

Four MSP players selected for Manu Samoa Cup campaign
Congratulations to MSP’s four latest internationals - Kas Lealamanua, Fa’atonu Fili, and brothers Ene and Lome Fa’atau who have been selected for Manu Samoa.
If results go the team’s way, all four could end up playing in next year’s World Cup in Australia.
Over the next few months, Manu Samoa play Tonga and Fiji in World Cup qualifiers and also for the Pacific Tri-Nations championship.
The team, which is coached by John Boe and Michael Jones, includes two other players with strong MSP links - Semo Sititi, who is the captain, and Brian Lima.
Club members will follow the MSP boys’ progress with interest and wish the team all the best.

Scholarship winners
Congratulations to John Paul Tocker, Richard Thurston, and Jamie Houstan, recipients of the Massey scholarships for 2002.
The scholarships result from an agreement MSP has with Massey University Wellington.
Six of the best
Some players might be lucky to score six tries in a season, or even a career. However, fullback Mike Renouf managed that feat in just one game recently when the senior 2s defeated Poneke 100-5.
Mike, who started playing for MSP in 1992, has been in London for the past two years, and is enjoying his season back in the undefeated senior 2s.
Senior 4s step up
Several senior 4 players have been rewarded for recent good performances by playing matches for the senior 1s and 2s, says coach Perelini Coffin.
Locks Ene Brown and Fa’atoia Saipani and second-five Ova Momanu have all played at a higher level.
The team is going well, says Perelini, with up to six reserves every week, and seven players new to MSP fitting in well.
Presidents soldier on
A three-year unbeaten run by the Stokes Valley presidents’ side ended on 25 May when they came up against the mighty MSP presidents.
Lock Peter Dunn turned in a player-of-the-day performance in the 26-15 victory, made all the more meritorious by the fact an unnamed MSP player was red carded and the team had to soldier on with 14 players.
Regular dashes onto the field by watergirls LIbby and Jane played a big part in maintaining the spirits of the club’s ageing kaumatua.
“Luke Meredith had a great game,” said Luke Meredith after the game.
“Andy Bell was awesome too,” said Andy Bell.
Under-19 reps
Congratulations to the following players who have been selected for in the Wellington under-19 representative squad: Ged Robinson, Matthew Egan, Peniasi Tokakece, Mark Simeon, Toese Lealamanua, Nathan Sweetman, and Joe Wright.

Pass it on
As the club gets older, so do its members. So from time to time we need to note that some have, regrettably, passed on.
Wherever possible, the club needs to know this for obituaries and other acknowledgements. If you have such information, please let us know:
- Dan Kelly. Ph/fax 970 3208.
- Ron Evans. Ph 386 3771, fax 386 3779.

TOO SEXY FOR THEIR SHORTS: New shorts for the 80/80 Cs have proved very lucky to date, says coach Soody, with the team undefeated since Budgie provided the smart looking gear. The shorts are made in Fiji, and Soody says the team can’t wait until Budgie shouts the end-of-year team trip to Wananavu so they can see where the new shorts come from.

Top points' scorers
The club’s top points scorers up to and including games on 25 May are:
Tries:
Brendan Watt (prem/senior 1) -12
Mike Renouf (senior 2) - 11
Shane Baker (senior 2) - 9
Joe Wright (senior 1) - 8
Mike Hansen (presidents) - 9
Norm Broughton (premier) - 7
Gavin Williams (colts A) - 7
Kicking points first, with total points in brackets
Fa’atonu Fili (premier) - 95, [115]
Tom Cook (senior 2) - 90, [115]
Sam Rasch (senior 1) - 58, [68]
Stephen Murdoch (colts A) - 42, [52]
Mike Renouf (senior 2) - 23, [78]
Brendan Watt (prem/senior 1) - 6, [66]

Coming up...
Events in June 2002
Social events coming up at MSP over the next month include:

Saturday 1 June - Old Timers’ Day.
Saturday 1 June - Skitz Night, MSP clubrooms.
Sunday 2 June - Club Mass. MSP clubrooms, 11am.
Saturday 8 June - MSP juniors grand sausage sizzle.
Saturday 8 June - Ladies’ Night.
Saturday 29 June - Masquerade Party, MSP clubrooms.

A complimentary glass of bubbly at
LADIES' NIGHT
and a warm welcome for all wives, girlfriends, partners, grandmas,
daughters, and aunties at the clubrooms on
Saturday 8 June from 4.30pm onwards.

Last chance to purchase a copy of Athletic Park - A Lost Football Ground!
Author Tim Donoghue is now offering the books for sale as a club fundraiser. If you would like a copy of this collector’s piece, send a crossed $30 cheque, made out to Marist St Pats, to: Tim Donoghue, 140 Townsend Road, Miramar, Wellington.

Shamrock Club plans celebrations for Test Weekend 19-20 July
The Shamrock Club has planned an exciting weekend based around the All Blacks v Springbok Test on 20th July.
The dinner at the clubrooms on Friday evening 19 July is always a great event with good speakers, great food and copious liquid refreshments.
The Shamrock Club has obtained venues for both Shamrock and club members on the Saturday before and after the test (a night game this year).
Shamrock members will be catered for at “The Boatshed” on the waterfront, and club members at “The Rowers Room” above the Wellington Rowing Club’s rooms. These locations are within easy walking distance of the stadium.

CLUB MASS
Marist St Pats annual Club Mass, this Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
Sunday 2 June 11am at the clubrooms.
A light lunch will be provided - all are welcome.

The MSP juniors’ grand sausage sizzle
Saturday 8 June
All of MSP’s 26 junior teams, parents and supporters are invited to the MSP clubrooms following the junior games.
(The BBQ is cancelled if Wellington junior rugby is cancelled.)

Match report: battle of the under-6s
In the first under-6 game of the season, the MSP Shamrocks from St Patricks Kilbirnie (coached by Chris Halliday and Andrew McLean) took on the MSP Western Saints (coached by Grant and Fiona Peters).
For most players on both sides, this was their first real game of rugby. The concept of fun, run and pass was followed with great success.
As the game wore on, passes started to stick and the support play became more co-ordinated, due mainly to a desire to get the ball in hand and head off toward the tryline.
A large group of parents and family members provided solid vocal support from the sideline. The Shamrocks player-of-the-day was the team’s youngest member, Christopher Bellwood, who showed good early season skill with the ball in hand. Overall, a promising start for both teams.

Junior liaison officers for schools
The junior club is delighted to have the support of school principals and secretaries. The club also has in place School Liaison Officers attached to each school to assist parents;
St Bernard’s, Brooklyn - Nicky Scott
St Francis De Sales, Island Bay - John Murfitt
St Teresa’s, Karori - Bernie Hunt
St Patrick’s, Kilbirnie - Mary Crewdson
Holy Cross, Miramar - Pat Dunn and Sue Lemon
St Anthony’s, Seatoun - Paul Murray
Cardinal McKeefry, Northland - Helen Ford
Sacred Heart, Central - Dan Tait-Jamieson
St Anne’s, Newtown - Richard Goodwin
St Brigids, Johnsonville - Judy Proops
St Benedicts, Khandallah - John Holden
Parents with children at other schools can direct enquiries though junior convenor John Holden.

For more information on the MSP juniors, please contact:
Under 13: Libby Mollo. Ph 971 6284
Under-9 to under-12 tackle grades: John Holden. Ph 970 8949
Under-6 to under-8 touch grades: John O’Keefe. Ph 473 6345
(see also the Juniors page).

Junior support appreciated
The Marist St Pats junior club is proudly supported by:
- The Society of Mary (the Marists!)
- Trust House
- Pak ‘n’ Save Eastern Suburbs Sports Trust
- Community Trust of Wellington
- the Hillary Commission, and
- the Wellington City Council.