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The Red Machine
No 4. July 2001

Top photographer Peter Bush was at Rugby League Park to take this shot of the premier’s win over Wests (see below also). MSP players from left are: Luke Mahoney, Dave McGuinness, Nick Tuohy (with ball), Andrew Gallagher, Lome Fa’atau, Joe Lawn, and Tony Coughlan (no 3).

Chairman's Report
by Brian McGuinness

Great effort to reach semis
Congratulations to our premier team on winning a place in the Jubilee Cup semi-finals this Friday night.
Having to win the last game with four tries to secure the bonus point was a big challenge for the team, especially in the atrocious conditions at Rugby League Park last Saturday.
Their win demonstrated they have the spirit to succeed at the stadium and let’s enjoy the achievement of being there.
Most would be aware of recent media coverage about the non-availability of some of the NPC squad for the semis and finals of the Jubilee Cup.
Marist St Pats has made strong representations to ensure all club players be available for these important games which are the showcase of club rugby.
Much could be written on how this inexplicable decision was arrived at by the powers-that-be – but it would serve little purpose at this point. Suffice to say as this publication goes to print that discussions continue to try and reach an acceptable solution.
Special mention must be made of the senior one’s performance in the Hardham Cup.
They put up some very creditable performances against premier teams, going down only narrowly to Tawa in their last match and coming within one win of making the Hardham Cup semi-finals.
Coach John Schuster and technical adviser Tony Meachen have done a great job with this team which has an average age of 22 and a constantly changing team list because of demands from the premiers.
Many of the young players in this squad will have gained valuable experience in competing in a premier division which can only assist the club’s depth in the years to come.
See you at the stadium – 6pm Friday night.

Support MSP premiers!
Friday semi-final at the Stadium

All MSP supporters are urged to attend the Jubilee Cup semi-final, MSP v Petone on Friday 27 July
Westpac Trust Stadium.
Kick-off: 6 pm. $5 entry
(season ticket holders free).
MSP supporters - including those with season tickets - are invited to gather at Gate 10.

"An evening to be proud of"
The annual Test Dinner on 29 June was outstanding and an evening the club should be very proud of, says club chairman Brian McGuinness.
The dinner marked the 10th anniversary of the club’s fundraising arm, the Shamrock Club.
Fifty companies now make up the Shamrock Club, and Brian says they provide not only vital sponsorship but also an additional social dimension for Marist St Pats.
Brian also thanked Alan Woods and his team for doing a great job over the whole Test weekend.

	SURROUNDED BY THE IRISH: Eric Rush with (from left) Fr Paddy Costello, Daire Higgins, George Flynn, and Paul Jenkins. Daire, George, and Paul play for the Clontarf club in Dublin, where former MSP man Matt Smith coaches. The trio are in New Zealand for three months and are currently playing for the MSP Colts.

Test Dinner story tellers
Former All Black and 7s legend ERIC RUSH and TV commentator KEITH QUINN provided some of the most entertaining speeches heard in years.
With a Billy Connolly-like knack for story telling, Eric, the “boy from Kamo”, revealed which All Black said what to Lady Diana when she met the All Blacks.
He also explained how he never made any rep teams until he was 21. Every time he trialled and missed out, his father would comment: “Don’t worry son, it’s only one man’s opinion. Another man might see it differently.”
When Eric was finally selected for the All Blacks, his first phone call was to his father. “Don’t worry son, it’s only one man’s opinion,” said his dad. “Another man might see it differently.”
When John Hart first picked him to play for Auckland, Eric was playing for an East Tamaki team that hadn’t won a game all year. “We used to do a victory lap when we won the toss,” Eric claimed.

	From left: Eric Rush, MC Tony Duffin, and Keith Quinn at the Test Dinner.

Open rugby the key to senior 2’s success
The senior 2s managed just one try in their Saturday 21 July game against Norths – it was, however, their 86th try of the season.
The 10-9 win was ground out at Cobham Park in freezing conditions, which cramped the open, flowing rugby which has been the senior 2s hallmark.
Seven consecutive wins have put the senior 2s five points clear on the table with just two games to play, a great achievement given that players are regularly called up to the senior ones.
Coach Liam Halpin says new players coming into the team, from both the premier 2s and senior 3s, have done particularly well.
The team plays open, attacking rugby, says Liam, who coaches the side along with Stu Hancock.
Winger Tim Cahill has featured in the try scoring stakes, and halfback Ian Leasa was in fine form until injury cut his season short.
The team’s unbeaten record in the second round goes on the line on Saturday 28 July when they play Rimutaka. “If we win, the grade championship is in the bag – almost,” says Liam.

Remember...the All Blacks clash with Australia in Dunedin will be live on the big screen
at the MSP clubrooms: Saturday, 11 August, 2.35 pm.

MSP players selected for reps
Congratulations to the following MSP players who have been named in rep teams: Wellington Lions
Kas Lealamanua, Tony Coughlan, Semo Sititi, Lome Fa’atau, Luke Mahoney, Apoua Stewart, Andrew Gallagher.
Wellington B
Trent Eagle.
Wellington Maori
Trevor Neal, Clinton Gibson, Rhys Johnson, Jamie Parkinson.
Wellington under-19
Matthew Eagan, Hayden Nganeko, J.P.Tocker.

MSP golf tournament
The annual MSP golf tournament will be on
Thursday 16 August
at the Miramar Golf Course.
People can enter as individuals or they can make up a team.
Entry forms are available from Tony Duffin - ph 479 6314 (h).

MSP man now a club rugby webmaster
A former MSP man, Bernard “Gappa” Gittings, has set up one of New Zealand’s most comprehensive web-based guides to club rugby.
Now living in Hamilton, webmaster Bernie says he was growing tired of his tanker driver’s job when he decided to develop the site.
“I am certainly learning a lot. It also gives me time for rugby and keeps me in touch with rugby people from throughout the country.”
A St Pats Town old boy, Bernie was in the 1st XV from 1975-78. From 1980-83 he was in MSP premier 2 teams (then senior B) coached by Albie Wilson and later Kevin Horan.
In 1984 he was part of Brian Coulter’s Jubilee Cup-winning premier side. In 1986 he moved to Hamilton, but not before being a guest player on the MSP Asian tour at the end of 1985.
“That was an awesome experience,” says Bernie, “both rugby and otherwise - from what I remember of it.”
His brother John was a long-time stalwart of the J6s at MSP until his unfortunate death two years ago.
Bernie played senior A rugby for Hamilton Marist from 1986-93, then senior B for another five years.
Since 1999 he has coached that club’s senior forwards: “you can see Marist Rugby is in my blood”, he says.
Bernie wishes MSP good luck in the next few weeks: “another Jubilee Cup is always welcome”.
His website has a directory of 200 clubs around the country and records over 5000 hits a week.It is linked to MSP’s site and can be found at www.nzclubrugby.co.nz.

JUNIOR RUGBY

MSP juniors star on television
Many thanks to the following parents and players who helped Saatchi and Saatchi with the filming of a new TV advertisement for the NZRFU. Watch for some great viewing:
U-7 Pacers (coached by Brent Edwards and managed by Krysia Reid);
U-7 Saints (coached by Tony Basile and managed by Jo Dalton);
U-8 Flyers (coached by Rob Siolo and managed by Chad Daniels).

The Hurricanes relax after a hard fought win against Johnsonville. From left: Jordan Zonnefeld, Liam Privett, Felix Guigou, Nathan Jones (player of the day), Iafeta Luamanu, Matthew O’Keefe, Rhys Dentice.

SHARK ATTACK: Billy Jackson from the MSP under-6 Deep Blue Sharks has the ball in hand with (from left to right) Viane Lao, Jackson Baker, Ethan Focus-Turk, and Jacob Pickering in support. Husband and wife team Dion and Kim Muollo coach and manage the Sharks, who are largely from Miramar and Seatoun. Immense enthusiasm from all team members plus a good attendance record each Saturday means the Sharks have not lost a game yet!

Calvin Muollo heads for the try line, followed by (left to right) Lalove Leaupepe, Billy Jackson, and Jackson Baker in support.

Key dates for the remainder of the juniors’ season are:
Saturday 11 August Grandstand gathering: watch All Blacks v Australia, 2.35pm, at MSP clubrooms, Hataitai.
Sunday 19 August U-11 teams train with NPC Lions at WestpacTrust Stadium.
Saturday 25 August Final round of junior games for 2001.
Sunday 26 August Team photographs – Hataitai clubrooms (tentative).
Saturday 15 Sept End-of-season function - Hataitai clubrooms (tentative)
Friday 22 Sept Third school term ends.

Junior club information
The Junior Club receives many enquiries about how junior rugby works.
For information visit the MSP website www.msprugby.co.nz or touch base with a member of the junior club’s management;
U-13 (Super Black rugby) Dean Dalton. Ph 383 6552
U-9 to 12 (Junior Black rugby) John Holden. Ph 970 8949
U-6 to 8 (Small Black touch rugby) John O’Keefe. Ph 473 6345

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 and Pak ‘n’ Save 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.

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