WEST COAST RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION - 2002
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Acknowledgments
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West Coast showed some improvement on their 200l winless record, and although there was just the solitary victory, against Buller, there were very close contests against Poverty Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti and Wanganui. With a little more luck West Coast could have lifted itself from the bottom ofthe ladder. The Coasters were perhaps fortunate to defeat their neighbours considering Buller had a week earlier beaten Wanganui.
While the team lacks depth in experience it does not lack spirit and a keen willingness to compete. In recent years it has upset stronger unions at national seven’s tournaments and has won the Shield Championship the past two years. During the transfer period late in 2001, West Coast signed four players from Canterbury - Steve Heemi, Luke O`Donnell, Hayden Rasmussen and Jason Ryan. Coaches Thomas Stuart and Rob Maitland also borrowed several forwards from Christchurch, Peter Nicholls from Marlborough and attracted some pacy Fijians for the club and NPC season.
The team’s best player was the captain, flanker and goal kicker Regan Dixon, He had good support from number eight Peter Nicholls who had previously represented Nelson Bays and Marlborough. An injury to prop Hayden Rasmussen reduced the experience in the front row but his replacement, Kevern Thomson, impressed with the effort he put in.
The Fijians provided some flair with Pene Suluaqalo being the most effective. Daniel Tauwhare made an impact during his appearances off the bench and gained a start at second five-eighth for the final three games. The regular centre, James Ward, shows promise and was chosen for the end of year Youth Team to tour Europe.
2002 Squad
J.D.Aitken (Kiwi)
W.Bola (Marist)
P.Cahill (Lincoln - Canterbury RFU)
W.De Gruchy (Sydenham - Canterbury RFU)
R.C.Dixon (Burnside - Canterbury RFU)
B.A.Fahey (Marist)
J.Fraas (South Westland)
T.Hutchison (Marist)
A.J.Kemp (Marist-Albion - Canterbury RFU)
J.N.McLean (Blaketown)
J.Nasalo (Kiwi)
E.Nauwa (Blaketown)
P.T.Nicholls (Harlequins - Marlborough RFU)
G.Nissen (Marist)
L.W.O’Donnell (Marist-Albion - Canterbury RFU)
A.J.Oliver (Blaketown)
K.G.Parker (Kiwi)
H.K.Rasmussen (Shirley - Canterbury RFU)
M.Richards (Marist-Albion - Canterbury RFU)
J.B.Ryan (Sydenham - Canterbury RFU)
l.S.Seru (Blaketown)
A.J.Simpson (South Westland)
P.S.Suluaqalo (Kokotahi)
D.J.Tauwhare (Kiwi)
K.B.Thomson (Marist)
J.W.Ward (Blaketown)
J.L.Whitcombe (Blaketown)
WEST COAST TEAM RECORD 2002
Played 8 , Won 1 , Lost 7 , Points for 118 , Points against 305
* National Championship Games
| THIRD DIVISION | P |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
| North Otago | 8 |
8 |
- |
- |
39 |
| Horowhenua-Kapiti | 8 |
6 |
- |
2 |
29 |
| King Country | 8 |
6 |
- |
2 |
29 |
| South Canterbury | 8 |
5 |
- |
3 |
25 |
| Wanganui | 8 |
3 |
- |
5 |
18 |
| Buller | 8 |
3 |
- |
5 |
13 |
| Poverty Bay | 8 |
2 |
- |
6 |
11 |
| Wairarapa Bush | 8 |
2 |
- |
6 |
10 |
| West Coast | 8 |
1 |
- |
7 |
6 |
* August 17 v North Otago , Oamaru
Lost 6 - 60
Dixon , penalty goals (2)
Referee : Mr.K.W.Brown (Southland)
* August 24 v Poverty Bay , Greymouth
Lost 15 - 19
Bola , tries (2)
Dixon , conversion , penalty goal
Referee : Mr.D.J.Herbier (Taranaki)
* August 31 v Buller , Westport Won
25 - 20
McLean, Kemp , tries
Dixon , penalty goals (5)
Referee : Mr.J.B.Noonan (Canterbury)
* September 7 v King Country , Greymouth
Lost 0 - 53
Referee : Mr.V.G.Munro (Canterbury)
* September 21 v Wairarapa Bush , Masterton
Lost 5 - 37
Richards , try
Referee : Mr.J.B.Noonan (Canterbury)
* September 28 v Horowhenua-Kapiti
, Greymouth Lost 20 - 29
Tauwhare, Nissen , tries
Dixon, conversions (2) , penalty goals (2)
Referee : Mr.K.W.Brown (Southland)
* October 5 v Wanganui , Wanganui Lost
25 - 33
Nissen (2), Seru , tries
Dixon , conversions (2) , penalty goals (2)
Referee : Mr.G.M.Watson (North Harbour)
* October 12 v South Canterbury , Greymouth
Lost 22 - 54
Dixon (2), De Gruchy, Suluaqalo , tries
Dixon , conversion
Referee : Mr.C.J.R.Morgan (Auckland)
