WEST COAST RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION - 2007
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Acknowledgments
to the NZ Rugby Almanack Franchise: |
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West Coast enjoyed its best season in eight years and can look forward to 2008 with a considerable amount of confidence. Following a heavy loss to Wairarapa Bush in the opening game several changes were made which produced instant success with upset wins over Horowhenua Kapiti and Thames Valley then two further victories over King Country and East Coast. Against Poverty Bay the Coast produced outstanding form and commanded a 21-5 lead at halftime before the visitors rallied to score 31 points during the second half. The Lochore Cup semi final, against South Canterbury, could have produced a different result had the game been played in Greymouth instead of Timaru.
The season’s good fortunes were a result of good coaching by Anthony Lawry and Winston Monk. Former Canterbury B player Corey Simpson was one of the best first five-eighths in the competition, his huge kicks, for position and for goal, kept his team on the front foot. His contribution of 93 points was over half of the team’s total but it would be unfair to say that the team relied heavily on Simpson. Excellent defence made play difficult for opponents. Excluding the opening 46 - 0 loss the team conceded only 19 tries, one more than the Coast compiled.
At lock two veterans in their mid thirties, captain Lomiga Vaaelua and Tony Kerr, provided much experience and 19 year old Dale Burrows showed considerable improvement while partnering with either one of the veterans. One of the strengths of the side was the loose forward trio of Ofa Misa, Mitchell Simcock and Emili Langi. They won much possession, were strong attackers, and solid tacklers. The front row toiled hard against bigger and more experienced opponents, prop Sam Durie excelled while Kilifi Malungahau showed a marked improvement with each game. Andrew Gadsby and Mike Riley shared the hooking position.
Behind the forwards James Ferguson was a good
link with Simpson. Midfielders Dan Keno and Eroni Uluiborotu were
sound on defence. Jacob Stevens was very fast on one wing while on
the other Maleli Tora was in exceptional form later in the season.
Blair Grice showed much promise at
centre or wing. Mike Hende was a reliable fullback.
2007 Squad
D.H.Burrows (South Westland)
A.D.Connors (Marist)
S.D.Durie (Marist)
J.R.B.Ferguson (Blaketown)
A.Gadsby (Wests)
M.Galbraith (Blaketown)
B.D.Grice (South Westland)
M.Hende (South Westland)
G.H.Iafeta (Blaketown)
N.S.Iafeta (Blaketown)
D.T.Keno (Blaketown)
T.J.Kerr (Wests)
E.Langi (Blaketown)
N.M.Linklater (South Westland)
B.McKewen (Wests)
L.McMillan (Wests)
K.T.Malungahau (Blaketown)
O.Misa (Stoke - Tasman RFU)
G.Price (South Westland)
M.J.Riley (South Westland)
T.G.Scadden (South Westland)
C.N.Simpson (Christchurch - Canterbury RFU)
M.Simcock (Belfast - Canterbury RFU)
J.J.Stevens (Belfast - Canterbury RFU)
M.Tora (Blaketown)
E.Uluiborotu (Marist)
L.Va’aelua (Blaketown)
G.R.Watson (Kiwi)
R.M.Wilson (South Westland)
WEST COAST TEAM RECORD 2007
Played 9 , Won 4 , Lost 5 , Points for 178 , Points against 223
* Heartland Match / # Lochore Cup
AA
REWARDS HEARTLAND RUGBY - POOL A |
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| . | P |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
Mid-Canterbury
|
5 |
3 |
- |
2 |
15 |
Wairarapa
Bush  |
5 |
3 |
- |
2 |
15 |
King
Country  |
5 |
3 |
- |
2 |
14 |
West
Coast  |
5 |
3 |
- |
2 |
13 |
Thames
Valley  |
5 |
2 |
- |
3 |
10 |
Horowhenua-Kapiti
|
5 |
1 |
- |
4 |
4 |
AA
REWARDS HEARTLAND RUGBY - LOCHORE CUP |
|||||
| . | P |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
Poverty
Bay  |
8 |
5 |
- |
3 |
24 |
South
Canterbury  |
8 |
4 |
- |
4 |
19 |
West
Coast |
8 |
4 |
- |
4 |
17 |
Thames
Valley |
8 |
2 |
- |
6 |
12 |
East
Coast  |
8 |
2 |
- |
6 |
11 |
Horowhenua-Kapiti
|
8 |
1 |
- |
7 |
6 |
* August 18 v Wairarapa Bush , Masterton
Lost 0 - 46
Referee : B.D.Skeen
* August 25 v Horowhenua-Kapiti , Levin
Won 31 - 17
Gadsby, Stevens, Simpson , tries
Simpson, conversions (2) , penalty goals (4)
Referee: G.R.Newman
* September 1 v Thames Valley , Greymouth
Won 34 - 17
Tora, Misa, Uluiborotu, Ferguson ,N.Iafeta ,Linklater , tries
Simpson , conversions (2)
Referee : S.A.W.Eden-Whaitiri
* September 8 v Mid Canterbury, Ashburton
Lost 12 - 23
Simpson , penalty goals (4)
Referee : S.W.McDermott
* September 15 v King Country , Greymouth
Won 14 - 11
Stevens , try
Simpson , penalty goals (3)
Referee: A.W.Hall
# September 22 v East Coast , Greymouth
Won 29 - 15
Ferguson, Misa, Watson
Simpson , conversion , penalty goals (4)
Referee : G.R.Newman
# September 29 v South Canterbury ,
Timaru Lost 14 - 27
N.Iafeta, Stevens , tries
Simpson conversions (2)
Referee : J.S.C.McPhail
# October 6 v Poverty Bay , Greymouth
Lost 21 - 36
Tora (2) , tries
Simpson , conversion , penalty goals (3)
Referee : K.R.McBride
# October 13 v South Canterbury (Lochore
Cup Semi- Final) , Timaru Lost 23 - 31
Tora , try
Simpson , penalty goals (6)
Referee : K.R.McBride
First Semi-final: at Alpine Energy
Stadium, Timaru. Saturday October 13
South Canterbury 31 (Savieti, Star Tuliakiono, Saena
tries; Tutton 2 conversions and 4 penalty goals)
defeated West Coast 23 (Tora try; Simpson 6 penalty
goals).
Referee: K.R.McBride
Second Semi-final: at Rugby Park, Gisborne.
Saturday October 13
Poverty Bay 65 (Leighton 2, Tarnatea, Ravulo, Gardner, Hutana, Douglas,
McClutchie tries; Leighton 8 conversions and 3 penalty goals)
defeated Thames Valley 3 (Harrison penalty goal).
Referee: C.J.Rooney
Final: at Rugby Park, Gisborne. Saturday
October 20
Poverty Bay 38 (Warren, Logan, penalty, Douglas tries; Leighton 3
conversions and 4 penalty
goals) defeated South Canterbury 35 (Tauelangi, Sione Tuliakiono,
Savieti, Kotua tries; Tutton 3 conversions and 3 penalty goals).
Referee: C.J.Rooney
