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The Red Machine
No 4. August 2002

Support the MSP premiers at the
Jubilee Cup Final
Westpac Trust Stadium,
Sunday 4 August, 2.30pm.
All supporters are invited to gather at Aisles 26 and 27.
The MSP clubrooms will be open from 11 am.
A buffet lunch will be available for $10.
Transport will be provided to and from the clubrooms to the Stadium.
A creche will run at the clubrooms from 11am to 8pm.
Live music from 7pm.
Entry to the game: $5. Under-13s: free.

Wear red, and support the Red Machine!

Congratulations to our premier teams
Chairman's report
by Alan Woods
For the sixth time in nine seasons, our premier team has reached the finals of the Jubilee Cup.
This is an outstanding effort, and a history of which we should be very proud. I offer my congratulations to Peter Russell, Trent Eagle and all the team on a very successful season, and wish you all the best for Sunday.
I also wish to congratulate John Duignan, Aaron Davies and the premier two team on reaching the Hardham Cup semi-finals.
This is the first time any club’s “second” team has achieved this. Competing against other clubs first teams is not easy, and this season’s wonderful results prove the level of player depth we have at MSP.
Other fantastic results include Steve Cavanagh’s senior three team reaching their semi-finals, and the Colts A remaining unbeaten for the championship round.
Shamrock Club members enjoyed another successful and entertaining Test dinner, with guest speakers Rodney Walshe and Ken Rutherford.
My thanks to all Shamrock Club members for your ongoing support of our club, which is vital to our success both on and off the field.
The successful Test weekend continued for all members at the Boatshed, pre and post the Test. It is encouraging to see the support for such functions and the enjoyment people get from sharing a social occasion.
I sensed that club spirit was high, and was of course, topped off by a good All Black win!
I would like to congratulate former premier captain and committee member Paul Quinn, and wish him well with his appointment as deputy chairman of the NZRFU.
I regret having to end this column mentioning unpaid subs. However, it is unacceptable and unfair to all fellow club members. I expect those who have yet to pay to give their subscription to their manager now.

Premier 2s success bodes well for club's future

Senior 1s captain Rhys Johnston accepts the Harper Lock Shield from WRFU president John Davies (right), after 11 wins from 11 games in the first round. Aaron Davies captained the team in the latter half of the season.

Although the premier 2s lost their Hardham Cup semi-final 31-17 against Wests’ premier 1 side, the fact MSP made it to the finals at all is a remarkable achievement for the club.
A win would have put MSP in the unprecedented position of its top two teams contesting the finals for Wellington’s top two club trophies.
“There’s a great bunch of guys in the whole squad,” says coach John Duignan.
When the semi-final was played, four of John’s regular players had to back up for the premier 1s who were playing a Jubilee Cup semi-final at the Stadium as the same time.
MSP’s squad system works well and has been a key to the team’s success, says John.
The club’s top three teams run as one squad. A common style of play is developed and every week three teams are selected from the squad.
In the first half of the season as the senior 1s, the team went unbeaten to win the Harper Lock Shield.
A very young side, the premier 2s would have gained a great deal of experience from their season which augurs well for the club’s future.

The senior 1s followed up on their first-round success by making it to the semi-finals of the Hardham Cup.

MY THREE SONS: The late Terry Robinson, a club identity and life member of MSP, would have been proud to see his three sons in the senior 1s clash with Petone. Phil, Ged, and Chris are all front rowers, and they are pictured here with their mum Monica holding the Harper Lock Shield.

AROUND THE TRAPS

Six make colts team
Congratulations to the following MSP players who have been selected for the Wellington Colts team: Bernard Upton, Barry Meyer, Neil Meyer, Fa’atonu Fili, Brendon Watt, and John Paul Tocker.
Skipping practice
Congratulations also to senior 2 coach Liam Halpin and Chrissie Bramwell, who were married on Sunday 7 July.
Following his wedding, Liam was unable to make training the next Tuesday night. However, he was back at the gym on Thursday.
Winners of the first round, the senior 2s have spent the second half of the season playing senior 1.
80/80 rep side
80/80 players have an added incentive to play well this year, with news that the Wellington Rugby Union will be picking an 80/80 representative side to play Auckland early in October.
Two of MSP’s three 80/80 teams have a chance of making their division semi-finals.
Mike Sood’s Red team has had a particularly good run of form, with just one loss all year.
“I hope the selectors are looking at the third division sides,” says Soody.

An architect’s drawing of the new gym, looking towards Evans Bay Park.

Major refurbishment of gym gets go-ahead
Club members have given the green light to a $370,000 refurbishment of the MSP gym at Evans Bay.
At a special general meeting on 22 June, a motion to proceed with the project was passed unanimously.
The renovations should be completed in time for the start of the 2003 rugby season. No significant work on the gym has taken place since it was built in 1978.
Most of the new development centres on the north end of the building adjacent to the St Pats College ground.
The plans feature:
- a new shower and toilet block;
- a sports education facility on the first floor with video facilities, small kitchenette, and seating for 30-35 people;
- a new entrance (wind) lobby;
- a new viewing/physiotherapy room; and
- a new office for coaching and teaching staff.
The current north ground floor will be gutted to create two large change rooms, while the proposed first floor is an entirely new structure.
Costs will be shared between Marist St Pats ($200,000) and the St Pats College Trust Board ($100,000), with the remainder to come from lotteries and other funding.

Gym alterations
Registrations of interest invited
Club members who have an interest in the various trades involved in the gym refurbishment, such as plumbing, carpentry, electrical work and drain laying, are invited to register their interest in tendering for the work by contacting MSP chairman Alan Woods, ph 389 3357 (h), 479 6135 (w), fax 479 8453.

Test celebrity dinner

TEST DINNNER SPEAKERS: Former New Zealand cricket captain Ken Rutherford (left) and Rodney Walshe, honorary consul general of Ireland, were guest speakers at the MSP celebrity dinner held at the clubrooms the night before the South Africa test at the Stadium. Hosted by the Shamrock Club, over 200 guests enjoyed the fine food of Tony O’Brien, the polish of MC Tony Duffin, and the entertaining speakers, both of whom complimented the club on its ability to host the event. The dinner is a great social occasion, enhanced this year by the attendance of former 1960s All Blacks Waka Nathan and Pat Walsh.

At the dinner, MSP chaplain Fr Geoff Broad met up with old schoolmate and former All Black Pat Walsh, who was so overcome he said a prayer for the occasion.

JUNIOR RUGBY

The under-8 Hurricanes with coach John O’Keefe at their home ground, Kelburn Park. John, together with manager Noelene Jones, will be coordinating MSP’s junior tackle grade teams in 2003.

The under-10 Knights at Kelburn Park just prior to a rousing encounter with a Wests under-10 team. The Knights are coached by Michael Holden and Elijah Kalolo and managed by MSP junior club stalwart Nikki Scott.

Southern suburbs team, the under-8 Pacers at Evans Bay Park. Back (left to right): Joseph Esposito, Mackenzie Taylor, master coach Tim Telfer, Matthew Reis and Hana Goodwin. Front (left to right): James Malcolm, Daniel Hunt and Samantha Telfer.

A sizzling morning at MSP
The junior club was delighted to host the Grand MSP Sausage Sizzle on the morning of Saturday 8 June.
Following their matches, all of MSP’s 26 junior teams and their supporters were invited to the Hataitai clubrooms.
The fun-filled morning was a terrific way to celebrate some great games, talk about what might have been with teammates and coaches, and share some MSP hospitality.
The junior club is fortunate to have a group of dedicated parents, well coordinated by Noelene Jones of the under-8 Hurricanes, who helped serve the 400 sausages, 20 loaves of bread, 30 dozen cans of soft drink and 300 cups of coffee!
Many thanks - it is what makes MSP such a great club!

Junior rep nominations
Congratulations to those MSP under-13 and under-12 players who were selected to trial for the Wellington zone primary school teams:
Under-13 Sharks (coached by Libby Mollo and Paul Nansett): - Valentine Meachen, John Mollo, Ben Tiua, Tipene Friday, Frankie Vaaua, Isaac O’Connor, Liu TaiTuave. Under-13 Cougars (coached by Richard Goodwin): - Jason Guesebrook, Michael Faamu, Ben Makea Goodwin, and Aaron Telfer.
Under-12 Pumas (coached by Dan Tait Jamieson and Kathy Shaw): - Stephen Carter, Paul Churchman, Thomas English, Aleki Pua, Aleni Pua.
Under-12 Hurricanes (coached by Jim Gerondis and Denis Reid): - Faafeu Kapeneta, Jacob Vaigafa, Manu Telefoni, Max Kerr-Hislop, Chris Greco, Willie McPhee, Tino Hughes.

For more information on the MSP juniors, see 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.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY