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The Red Machine
No 5. Sept 2002

Full trophy cabinet in MSP’s most successful year

HAPPINESS IS... winning a Jubilee Cup final. Premier lock Rhys Johnston celebrates after the 18-13 victory over Old Boys University.

by Alan Woods
MSP chairman

As we wrap-up the 2002 season, I wish congratulate the club on making this the most successful season in our history.
MSP fielded 12 teams this year and won six championships, including the Jubilee Cup (premier), Harper Lock Shield (senior 1), Ed Chaney Cup (senior 2), Paul Donoghue Cup (senior 4), Paris Memorial Cup and John E.Kelly Cup (colts A first and second rounds), and the 80/80 division 3 grade.
In addition, other teams reached the semi-finals of their grades. Congratulations to the coaches, managers, players and supporters of those teams.
My congratulations also to those who won prizes at the annual prizegiving on 12 September, particularly Luke Mahoney (Sportsman of the Year), Rhys Johnson (Mick Horan Memorial), Trent Eagle (Special Merit) and MaryAnn Spillane (Outstanding Club Member).
In my first year as chairman I have been fortunate in having the assistance and support of the MSP management committee.
My thanks to MaryAnn Spillane, Tony Duffin, Rob Evans, Brian Coulter, John Knox, Kevin Allan and the Shamrock Committee for their considerable contributions all year. There is no doubt their efforts this year have directly contributed our onfield successes.
It is now time to set goals for the 2003 season. I look forward to seeing the gym refurbishment completed and more championship wins.
I also wish to see more people become involved with MSP at all levels. The success we currently enjoy can only continue with the involvement of more people in a number of roles.
Best wishes for a relaxing summer.

Colts A take out grade with unbeaten run

WINNING RUN: The Colts A after their finals win in the Evans Bay Park mud.

The Colts A wrapped up an outstanding season in August when they defeated Hutt Old Boys Marist 16-11 in the grade final to win the John E.Kelly Memorial Cup, their second trophy for the year.
The Colts had won the Paris Memorial Cup in the first round, and they finished the year undefeated in 17 championship games.
Coach John Spillane says the side had no weaknesses, and had gelled early in the season.
“They were also all very fast - even our props were quick, and the outside backs had real gas.”
With just four players from last year’s side, the team was mainly school leavers from St Pats Town and St Pats Silverstream, with a sprinkling from St Bedes in Christchurch and New Plymouth Boys High School.
John says the impact from experienced No 6 Saina Mekaio made a big difference in tight games.
An Italian prop, Iacopo Scaropo, came to the club via a link with former MSP player Kelly Rolleston who is now playing in Italy.
Having a Colts B team also played a huge part, says John. The two teams that fought out the final were from the only two clubs in Wellington - both Marist clubs - that fielded Colts B teams.
“It meant there was competition for places, that the As had competitive practices, and that we always had cover for injuries.”
The Colts B also made the semi-finals of their grade.

Another spectacular year for pressies
by Libby Haines

MSP’s presidents had a splendid 2002 season with 13 wins and six losses.
Although we finished the year with a loss to arch-rivals Poneke, we managed to round off the season with an outstanding line-up of players.
Top performances by most team members at vital times ensured close fought wins over Avalon, HOB Marist and Stokes Valley.
The highest honours went to Con O’Byrne, our well-deserved player of the year.
Special mention also of our top try scorer, Mike Hansen with 17 tries for the season, and to the organisers of the team this year - Ken Carson and Mark Porter.
Each dedicated numerous hours to phoning the team, rallying support and ensuring that the gear (along with clean jerseys) was delivered on time each week.
Also worthy of mention is my fellow ball-support mechanism and hydration technician (tee and water girl), Jane Gray.
Jane bought glamour to this year’s team and my inside sources tell me that she is first pick of the draft for next year!
Thanks to all the wives, partners and families that supported the team this year. We understand you can’t always be there on the sideline but giving the men time to lace up for those couple of hours each week is much appreciated.
We are proud of this year’s team and are already looking forward to the 2003 season.

THE PRESIDENTS enjoy a couple of quiet ones after another victory at Cobham Park.

Alan McLean Cup a family affair
Presentation of the Alan McLean Memorial Cup at September’s prizegiving held special significance for the family of MSP club secretary Dale Renouf.
The cup honours Alan McLean, a staunch MSP player and supporter in the late 1970s - early 1980s.
In May 1981, Alan was returning home from the Wellington v Wairarapa-Bush match in Masterton when he was killed in a collision with a power pole on the Kaitoke Hill. He was only 24.
Alan had almost completed a law degree, and was working part-time at the old Clarendon Hotel (now Molly Malones).
Patrons and staff of the Clarendon raised a substantial sum in Alan’s memory and gave it to his parents, who purchased the cup and presented it to MSP.
It is currently awarded to the outstanding player in the senior 2nd/3rd grade. Alan’s sister, Mary-Stuart, is married to Dale, and she was at the prizegiving along with Alan’s mother Ada, and another sister Jane McLean.
They were all thrilled to see the trophy presented to Michael Renouf, Alan’s nephew and Ada’s grandson. It is a rare distinction to win a trophy presented in honour of a late family member.
Michael played for the Senior 2nds, having spent the last two years in London playing for London Scottish.

MSP rep players
Congratulations to the following MSP players who have been named in Wellington rep teams:
Wellington Lions
- Kas Lealamanua
- Luke Mahoney
- Tony Coughlan
- Norm Broughton
- Lome Fa’atau
Wellington B
- Bernie Upton
- Apoua Stewart
- Jamie Parkinson
- Reece Poutawera
- Richard Higgs
Wellington Maori
- Clinton Gibson
- Rhys Johnson
- Chad Smith
- Tama Sweetman

Club trophies and awards 2002
Sportsman of the Year............................................................................Luke Mahoney
(Paul Donoghue Trophy)
Mick Horan Memorial Trophy..................................................................Rhys Johnston
Outstanding Club Member......................................................................MaryAnn Spillane
(W.M. O’Connor Memorial Cup)
Outstanding Administrator......................................................................Kevin Allan
(Brother Fabian Cup)
Outstanding Contribution by a Non-Office Bearing Club Member......Michael Sood
(John Rennie Memorial Cup)
Special Merit Award...............................................................................Trent Eagle
Team Scoring Most Championship Points...........................................Senior 1/Premier 2
Most Outstanding Senior 2/3 Player.......................................................Michael Renouf
(Alan McLean Cup)
Most Meritorious Senior 2/3 Club Member............................................Pele Leififi
Most Outstanding Age Grade Player.......................................................Peniasi Tokacece
(Reg Parkin Memorial)
Most Outstanding 80/80 Player.................................................................Kyle Forrester
(P.D.Jacobsen Cup)
Player(s) Scoring Most Tries..............................................................Brendan Watt (18 tries)
(Mons Heavey Cup)
Player Kicking Most Points...................................................................Stephen Murdoch
(St Pats College Old Boys Cup)
Most Consistent Tackler.........................................................................Maselino Leififi
(A.C. O’Conner Cup)
Most Consistent Trainer..........................................................................Tama Sweetman
(Jack McLellan Cup)

Most Valuable Players 2002
Congratulations to the following players, selected by their coaches as their team’s outstanding players for 2002.
Premier.......................Richard Higgs
Senior 1......................Aaron Davies
Senior 2......................Shane Baker
Senior 3 Red............. Michael Schumacher
Senior 3 Green...........Henry Foleni
Senior 4.......................Ene Brown
Colts A.........................Anthony Bradshaw
Colts B.........................Liam O’Brien
80/80 A........................Greg Williams
80/80 Blue...................Daniel Boyle
80/80 Red....................Aaron Love
Presidents.................. Con O’Byrne
Sevens.........................Pio Savali

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Marist St Pat’s AGM will be held on
Thursday 28 November 2002,
at 7.00pm at the MSP clubrooms.

Further notice to follow.

GYM REFURMISHMENT: A “ground breaking” ceremony marked the start of MSP’s gymnasium refurbishment early in September. Around $370,000 will be spent on upgrading the Evans Bay gym in time for the 2003 season. A number of new features are planned, particularly at the gym’s north end. Pictured from left are St Patrick’s College Trust Board chairman Fr John Walls; MSP chairman Alan Woods; and St Patrick’s College rector Gerard Tully. Seated in the digger is MSP club member Chris Ryan - the club has engaged his company Chris Ryan Builders to build the extensions.

The true story of the fabled no 3 jersey

Porky showcases the lucky jersey

Some of Wellington’s sharpest rugby minds have been trying for years to unlock the secret of Marist St Pats’ success.
Envious clubs have analysed the coaching, the players’ skills, pride in Marist, even the pre-match Hail Marys.
Little do they know, however, that the secret lies in Stephen “Porky” Jensen’s no 3 jersey.
This fabled garment has clothed its wearers in glory ever since Porky wore it in 1988 as a frisky young colt in the under-21s.
“We had just won the championship, but I had to get away early because I was in the New Zealand Marist Colts,” recalls Porky. “So I whipped it, as a memento.”
Despite that dark beginning, when Porky wore it and won a post-season colts tournament, he suspected it might possess something special.
The magic worked again the following year when Porky was part of Tony Meachen’s grade-winning senior B side.
“Meach started to think there was something lucky about the jersey too,” says Porky. Despite whispers about the jersey’s charisma, when Iain Potter led MSP out for the 1993 Jubilee Cup final against Petone, he was not wearing it. The team lost.
“I didn’t get it to him before the losing final,” says Porky, still haunted by the memory. “But the next year I told him he had to wear it.”
Potts was convinced, and Porky delivered it the Thursday night before the victorious 1994 final, and again before the 1995 win.
In later finals, props John Pothan, Nic Giera, Tony Coughlan and Jamie Parkinson all experienced the jersey’s talismanic qualities.
Although it is now securely tucked away in Porky’s drawer, washing the jersey is a major security operation.
“I worry about cleaning it because I know Poneke have heard about it and some street kid might whip it off the line.”
It seems the years and running repairs are finally taking their toll. The jersey is now faded pink instead of bright scarlet.
“A lot of fat sweaty bastards have worn it and that’s eaten away at the colouring,” explains Porky.
Thus, the hallowed jersey could be coming to the end of its days. If it’s worn next year for three straight Cup wins, Porky might retire it, like Michael Jordan’s no 23.
If it loses, he would like to burn it (“because then it won’t be lucky”) and put the ashes in an urn in the club’s trophy cabinet.
There, as part of MSP’s folklore, generations of young club members to come will gaze upon it and ponder the mystery of the no 3 jersey.

80/80’s cunning three-year plan bears fruit
The 80/80 Reds grade-winning effort was the culmination of a three-year strategic plan, says coach Mike Sood.
Two years ago, the team lost a semi-final; last year it lost the final; but this year it went all the way with an 18-10 victory over Avalon in the division-three final.
The result capped off an outstanding season which saw the team win 16 of 18 games. “I might have to retire now,” says Soody. “I can’t really go any further.”
With many students in the team, the squad trained just once a week. Players were mainly ex-St Pats Town and ex-Wellington College which led to a friendly rivalry in the team, says Soody.
Stand-out players included fullback Aaron Love and first-five Matthew Aitken.
In the forwards, prop Junior Purcell and hooker Tim Grigg, son of 80/80 A coach Phil Grigg, were top performers.

The Evans Bay scoreboard tells the story for the 80/80 Reds.

JUNIOR RUGBY

New junior convenors for 2003
John and Penny Holden (below) say they have thoroughly enjoyed being involved with the junior club over the past three years.
However, they feel it is time to encourage a fresh management team to coordinate junior rugby. In 2003, MSP’s juniors will be coordinated by:
- Dan Tait Jamieson....... Ph 475 9909............. U13 tackle grade
- John O’Keefe................ Ph 473 6345............. U9-U12 tackle grades
- John Murfitt and .............Ph 383 8366..............U6-U8 touch rugby grades
- Pat Dunn........................ Ph 388 5780

Penny and John Holden, pictured here with their son and under-12 Hurricanes halfback Patrick, have been MSP’s junior conveners for the past three seasons. They say they have enjoyed meeting so many wonderful junior coaches and managers, and being part of the MSP family. John has been ill this year and at the junior prizegiving he was awarded the Nikolas Bostravus Memorial Cup which is presented for exceptional courage and sportsmanship.

Members of the successful U12 Hurricanes team, coached by Jim Gerondis, Mike Greco, and Paul Kerr-Hislop. The nucleus of this team has been with the MSP juniors since their initial days of touch rugby in the U6 grade. That is more than six years and the association is expected to continue in future years!

Junior round-up
End-of-season notes from the juniors include:
- The U9 Vikings were good, nay awesome, when everyone turned up, say coaches Chris Kelly and John Young. The team also learnt that “the biggest room in the house is the room for improvement”.
- Fast backs who scored deft tries were the outstanding feature of the U13 Cougars, a team that also included some Scots College boys. Coaches Richard Goodwin and Matt McRandle thanked John and Penny Holden, and club chairman Alan Woods for their help during some tricky times.
- Coach Mike Purves says the U6 Knights, made up of kids mainly from Island Bay and Berhampore, developed well as a team during the season and all nine players scored tries.
- The U8 Lions are looking forward to tackle rugby next year, says coach John Newell. The team had a good spirit and all the players improved during the season.

Junior award winners for 2002
Junior Rugby trophies for the 2002 season were awarded to the following players:
U6 Knights............... Daniel Higginson, MVP.............................. Brynn Acey, Most Improved
U6 Miramar Flyers..... Laloui Leaupepe, MVP.............................. Corey Smith, Most Improved
U6 Shamrocks.......... Luke Hunter, Most Improved....................... Kerryn-Cole Friday, Most Promising
U6 Western Saints..... Keegan Symons, Most Improved................ Nese Solia, Most Consistent
U7 Pumas................ Joshua Stempa, MVP................................ Solomon Meredith, Most Improved
U7 Flyers.................. J.J. Kauves, MVP...................................... Flynn O’Leary, Most Improved
U7 Hurricanes............ Matthew Horgan, Most Improved
U7 Deep Blue Sharks.. Jacob Pickering, Most Dedicated............... Jackson Baker, MVP
U7 Saints................... Doing Own Awards
U8 Saints................... Tyler Russel,l Most Improved......................Peter Casloga, Good Team Player
U8 Hurricanes............. Felix Guigou, Most Improved..................... Lian Privett, Most Dedicated
U8 Lions.................... Jacob Taituave, MVP................................. Amalamo Alefosio, Most Improved
U8 Pacers.................. Daniel Hunt, Best Player............................Joseph Esposito, Most Improved
U8 Pacers.................. Samantha Telfer, Most Consistent
U9 Cardinals............... Zac Schuster, MVP................................... William Barber, Most Consistent
U9 Panthers................ Laurence Churchman, Player of the Year.....Taumafai Eliu, Most Improved
U9 Panthers................ Leo Fernandez, MVP
U9 Tigers..................... Joshua Thomas, Most Dedicated...............Edward Kerr-Hislop, MVP
U9 Flyers.................... Chayse Conroy, Most Improved..................James Lealofi, MVP
U9 Flyers.................... Tuga Mativa, Most Tries
U10 Knights................ Joseph Burnett, Most Consistent...............Jordan Kunz, Most Improved
U10 Saints.................. Aviata Alofaga, MVP.................................Dylan Lupo, Most Improved
U11 Vikings................ Toby Kelly, Most Consistent......................David Zillwood, Most Improved
U11 Seatoun............... William MacIntyre, Best Team Player.........Jack Howard, Most Improved
U11 St Francis............ Ramon Telfer, MVP..................................Winston Hannaway, Most Consistent
U12 Hurricanes........... Stephen Elvy, Most Improved.................... Siimoa Olamoe, Top Try Scorer
U12 Pumas................ Stephen Carter, MVP............................... Thomas English, Best Team Player
U12 Pumas................ James Philipsen-Yip, Most Improved
U13 Sharks................ Paul Stone, Most Improved........................ Issac O’Connor, Player of the Year
U13Cougars............... Michael Kean Faamau, MVP..................... Jason Geusebroek. Most Consistent

PUMAS IN GOOD HANDS: The MSP U7 Pumas (right) at the 2002 photo shoot. The Pumas coaching staff are Luke Meredith and Pat Dunn, with Neil Sorenson the manager. After their first season together in 2001, the Pumas have continued to develop their catching and passing skills this year, in addition to striving to play well as a team. The team performance overall has certainly improved with some outstanding performances by individuals throughout the season.

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.
The junior club would also like to acknowledge the support of the following team photograph sponsors: Deep Blue Seafoods, Circuit Systems, Portable Fence Hire and Dalton Business Action Planning.

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY