The 2004 season, week by week ...


Week Seven 15 May 2004

OBU Snaffle Last Minute Draw: The Old Boys-University Premiers spent 60 minutes digging themselves out of the hole they dug for themselves in the first quarter of their game against Western Suburbs at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. OBU made up a 19-point deficit to tie the fixture at 26-all thanks to a last minute try to athletic wing Vince Curtin after excellent lead-up work from centres Danny Pavihi and Conrad Smith. Despite missing out on a win, OBU picked up three competition points by dint of scoring four tries. The remaining scores went to rookie fly half Patrick McGuire, No. 8 Ben Robertson and skipper Smith. Despite the comeback heroics, OBU will be concerned at their inconsistency. With four rounds remaining, however, the Premiers are well placed to challenge for the Swindale Shield title should they be able to repeat the form shown against Marist St Pats. There were bright points: flanker James Oliver (pictured) continues to grow into the large boots vacated by an injured Michael Barnes, while No.8 Ben Robertson showed great courage and commitment at the foot of the OBU scrum. In the backs, Danny Pavihi turned the tide with some strong confrontational running, while Smith continues to exude class. This week OBU take on early competition front-runners, Hutt Old Boys Marist at the Hutt Recreation Ground.

In other games, the Senior Ones enjoyed a thoroughly convincing 38-19 victory over Stokes Valley at Prince of Wales Park. Irrepressible second-five-eighth Harry Woods nabbed a hat-trick of tries thanks to some hard running and canny support play. Woods has served the club with distinction over several seasons and continues to be one of the club's most strongest and most consistent players. Promising prop Scott Wise and power-house flanker Kenny Helu were OBU's other scorers. The Senior Ones are now fifth on the table and closing in on a top-four, Hardham Cup place. Meanwhile, the Senior Threes had a thoroughly impressive 37-10 win over MSP.

And the Premier Women had a week to remember, notching up two impressive wins. On Wednesday they defeated Western Ontario University from Canada 37-0, while on Saturday they thumped Avalon 38-10. While it's taken a couple of weeks to get up to steam, the expertise of Coach Mike Sisam backed by the experience of captain Erin Rush is starting to shine through


Week Six: 8 May 2004

OBU Bury MSP Hoodoo: The Old Boys-University Premiers' completed their third successive victory over Marist St Pats at the Basin Reserve on Saturday, winning the match 28-18. The win was built on a solid forward effort, with locks Justin Cullen (who showed a clean pair of heels to run in a try from 25 metres) and Sam Green and props Mark Larsen and Rhys Morgan out playing thier opposites around the park and securing a steady stream of possession. In the loose, flanker Matt Aileone (pictured) was in outstanding form on both attack and defence and deservedly took out the player-of-the-day award. Behind the pack, New Zealand Colts trialist flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth turned in another sensational performance which included a try from a deft Tim Molenaar chip. Wing Michael Seabrook scored OBU's other try - a total team effort sparked by a break from skipper Conrad Smith.

In other games, the Senior Ones suffered a loss to MSP, despite the excellent efforts of centre Xavier Forde and flankers Kenny Helu and Richard Currie, while the Premier Women suffered a heartbreaking loss to Johnsonville, going down 14-15.


Week Five: 1 May 2004

Dissapointment at the Valley: The Premiers suffered their second defeat of the season, going down to Upper Hutt 8-10. Not much else to say really.


Week Four: 24 April 2004

Gopperth's Magic Boot Secures Win: A penalty from wide-out near full time from star OBU flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth (pictured) carried the OBU Premiers to a 20-17 win over Oriental Rongotai at the Polo Ground on Saturday. Before then, an injury hit OBU, led by Hurricanes centre Conrad Smith in the absence of an injured Michael Barnes, had shown plenty of character to see of a committed and sometimes fiery Ories side. Smith himself had a fine game, showing an deft touch on attack and defending stoutly when called upon. Elsewhere in the backs, Gopperth was again all class, and his combination with the robust Kip O'Donnell was critical to the game's final outcome. In the pack, loosies Ben Robertson and James Oliver never took a backward step, while lock Brad Wheeler had a storming game both at lineout time and around the park, chasing down a flying Ories winger at one point. Wheeler held together a young and relatively inexperienced pack, inspiring outstanding performances from newcomers lock Sam Green and prop Scott Wise (pictured below).

Green - the latest of the Green clan to adorn an OBU Premier jersey - showed that ticker is a family trait and can be pleased with his debut. Special metion must be made of Scott Wise's first run-on start in Premier rugby. The former Tokoroa Bushman began rugby at the club with the legendary Sixty Niners in the Reserve grades as a blindside flanker. Now converted into a loose head prop, the OBU strongman more than held his own against a Ories front row festooned with international experience. Noted for his outstanding attitude and commitment to the team, Wise is a hero to the club's legion of weekend warriors, especially his Niner mates. OBU remain in the top four following their win and this week take on Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park. Look out for the debut of World Cup Winning Under-19 mid-fielder Seminar Manu and the return of several players from injury for this must win match.


Week Three: 17 April 2004

Premiers Stumble at Avalon: The OBU Premiers crashed to a 7-41 defeat to Avalon at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. Shannon Paku's (pictured) try was the only highlight for OBU. There was better news in the early game, however, with the Senior Ones defeating Avalon 30-13. An observer at the match reports that: "tied 13-all with around 15 minutes to go, the pattern and structure that had been non-existent up till then kicked in resulting in two superbly taken tries and a penalty to first five Tom Wells. There were a few moments of brilliance, such as Harry Woods' solo effort beating at least three players before a 'Jonah Lomu-into-Mike Catt-type' bump-off to finish the movement and score. Kenny Helu worked hard all day and 'angry' Mat Anderson, fellow prop Andrew Welch and hooker Jonathan Broomhall performed brilliantly, so much so that golden oldies scrums were called for to counter OBU's dominance. At the end of the day a positive outcome and some definite signs of a team that could make the Hard-up Cup."

Alas the Premier Women went down to Hutt Old Boys Marist 12-27, and the Colts 12-27 to MSP, while the OBU-Onslow 80/80 Greens kicked off their season with a 46-5 win over Tawa. Among the social teams, the Sixty Niners had a thumping 77-0 win over club newcomers the Righteous Brothers, the Pink Ginners defeated the Johnsonville Cripples 46-5 and the DTs saw off the Upper Hutt J8s 21-19.


Week Two: 10 April 2004

Premiers' Plunder at Petone: The Old Boys - University Premier team completed a ten try rout of Johnsonville at the Petone Recreation Ground on Saturday, winning in a canter, 67-22. Hurricanes stars Conrad Smith and Shannon Paku (pictured) were among the action, scoring a hat trick and brace of tries respectively, while sprightly outside back Vince Curtin also snared a triple. However, the performance of the day belonged to debutant flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth, who showed that he may not be far away from joining his illustrious peers. Gopperth turned in a stellar performance on his former home turf, setting his special back line alight with quick hands and a keen tactical eye, ably supported to savvy inside centre John Dams. Inside the brilliant Gopperth, halfback Hayden Roche - in his first run on start for the club - delivered excellent service, while the pack's aggression, fitness and speed proved too much for Johnsonville on the fast Petone Rec track. Among the forwards, prop Rhys Morgan was strong and purposeful, while hooker Hayden Foskett made a good impression after replacing the injured Daryl Gore mid-way through the second half. The outstanding loose-forward trio of Michael Barnes, James Oliver and Chris McLean also picked up from where they left off last week, dominating around the park.

In the early game, Rimutaka gained some revenge for their loss to OBU in the 2003 Ed Chaney Cup final, getting home 26-24 in a thriller.


Week One: 3 April 2004

OBU Kick-off Season with Solid Win: The Old Boys-University Premiers defeated Tawa 27-12 in the opening round of the Swindale Shield at Lyndhurst Park on Saturday. Strapping OBU wing Tim Molenaar scored two impressive tries, while debutant inside-back pairing Danny Pavihi and Patrick McGuire also crossed. McGuire added the remaining points with this boot. It was a promising showing by OBU, who were without Seminar Manu and James Gopperth due to international duties. OBU led 27-0 before letting Tawa come back with two late tries. Up front, locks Justin Cullen and Brad Wheeler (pictured) secured a steady stream of possession, while in the loose newcomer and player-of-the-day James Oliver, cooked up a storm in his flanker-kitchen, ably supported by No.8 Chris McLean. In the backs, scrumhalf Kip O'Donnell was sharp and decisive and McGuire controlled the game well in his first start. OBU was also delighted to have the services of its Hurricane stars Conrad Smith and Shannon Paku. Conrad added penetration and strength at centre, while Shannon was all class in the time he was on the field. The game was also notable for the first run-on appearance from ex-Sixty Niner, Scott Wise, aka Axe.

In the early game, the Senior Ones thumped Tawa 60-5, scoring nine tries. For OBU, loose forwards Michael Te Moana and Nick Skinner were in commanding form. Scorers are still to be advised - Ed.

Meanwhile, the Senior Thirds completed their pre-season with a strong 43-14 win over Paramata-Plimmerton at Ngatitoa Domain. A solid forward performance led by Jono Broomhall, Mike Reid and Andrew Giles, and accurate play by Diarmund Calderwood and Fasa Stowers in the backs, saw the Thirds make the most of their attacking opportunities in the first half. Tries to Rod Ford, Dan Giles, Pake Mounthong, and Warren Bradshaw and a conversion by Paul Robinson saw the Thirds go to the break up 22-0. In a closely contested second half Para-Plim fought back gamely to narrow the deficit to 22-14. However, OBU saved the best for last, with a three-try scoring spree by David Gumbley, Mounthong and Kevin Sierzant in the final five minutes. Dan Giles finished nicely by converting all three tries from the touchline. The highlight of the day, however, was the return of club stalwart Tuna Talamaiva to the playing field after two injury-plagued seasons. The effervescent Talamaiva was at the heart of the Thirds effort, directing the attack and organising the defensive effort. Such was his return to form that when presented with the opportunity to race thirty meters to score in the corner, he unselfishly chose to beat the cover defence with a centering kick option for his chasing support players. Unfortunately they never arrived. Despite this slight miscalculation (of the abilities of his support players) it was great to the big fella back in the Green and White hoops of OBU.

The OBU Premier Women played their first match on Wellington soil in a non-competition match against Poneke. The women have a large squad to choose from and, as such, rotated many players during the match. Playing into the fresh northly in the first two quarters OBU were strong in the lineouts and mauls and retained possession well. A few costly errors in the opposition half allowed Poneke to use the wind to score some points. However, right on half time, Claire Rowat, Lia Ioane and Jackie Marks combined well to score a try from broken play. In the second half, OBU were camped in Poneke's half but some staunch defence meant they were unable to cross the line. The final result was 20-5 to Poneke. Despite the score line, it was a promising start. Plenty of newcomers to the game made an impact; Chanel Starkey on the tight head and Canadian import Shannon Travis on the wing.


Related links: 2003 Weekly Reviews | News Archive