Leader of the pack
Stirring Masters clash as Apiata and team meet Defence side raw at loss of comrade.
Willie Apiata and James Maaka are two deeply respected figures within the NZ Defence Force and they were honoured, in very different ways, when the World Masters Games 2017 rugby competition began yesterday.
Apiata’s fame precedes him as the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, for bravery under fire during the war in Afghanistan. He has left full-time service, but remains with the SAS Reserves.
Maaka hit the headlines last week, when he died in a paragliding crash in Christchurch. He had served with distinction in Timor and the Solomon Islands, and was most recently a firefighter, based at Burnham.
When the NZDF team faced Apiata and his Team Barfoot & Thompson side at Pakuranga Rugby Club, the match began with a moment’s silence, with Defence Force assistant manager Richard Hokianga hugging a photo of his fallen comrade.
“He came from a. . . strong military family, like myself,” said Hokianga afterwards. “We decided to show him the honour and pass on our acknowledgement to his family.”
Once the whistle blew, the defence players’ respect for Apiata manifested as they gave it their all and proceeded to overrun their opponents 27-5. Apiata, 44, cut an impressive figure, playing off the back of the scrum for the team made up of Presidents-grade players from several South Auckland clubs.
“Jokingly, the boys wanted to go out there and hurt him just a little bit,” chuckled Hokianga. “There was a bit of friendly banter going around, but we all understand the significance of what he’s done and who he is.”
Afterwards, Apiata, who declined to be interviewed by the Herald on Sunday, showed his heart was still with his former colleagues, hugging them warmly and laying a hand on Maaka’s photo in a touching tribute. Today Team Barfoot & Thompson play Moorabbin Rams from Australia, while NZDF are up against a stacked Ponsonby Eps, who hammered the Rams 72-0 in their tournament opener.
Also in action yesterday was the T-Bags netball team, playing in honour of ex-Silver Fern Tania Dalton. Dalton died last month aged just 45, several days after suffering an aneurysm while playing touch rugby.
HWatch video from the match at nzherald.co.nz