Pukekura Park’s rugby past remembered
The whiff of a chance that provincial rugby could make a return to New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park has touched the region’s nostalgia nerve, with fans dusting off memorabilia of past matches there.
After reading reports the famous cricket ground had not been ruled out as host of a Taranaki Bulls match, Colin Hawe, 69, immediately retreated to his home office, where he keeps a trove of rugby-related collectables.
The New Plymouth man pulled out an impeccably tidy 117-year-old programme for the Taranaki v Britain match, believed to be the first international at the park.
The news had magnified the programme’s nostalgia value, Hawe said.
‘‘You’re there talking about playing rep games at Pukekura Park and that would have been the first international,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s a genuine programme. And it’s quite interesting when you look at some of the advertising in it.’’
The programme includes adverts for the White Hart Hotel, Criterion Hotel and Egmont Hairdressing Saloon – and features player and team information.
That day, on August 17, 1904, thousands endured driving rain to watch the two sides battle it out for a scoreless draw, as reported on page 2 in the Opunake Times.
A Mr Bedell-Sivright, of the British side, was reported as saying that his team had not expected to win as they had been ‘‘told everywhere of Taranaki’s grand pack of forwards.’’
While Hawes bought his copy of the match programme 30 years ago at auction, another copy is currently for sale on auction website Ebay for NZ$3900.
But Hawe, who can’t recall how much he paid for it, isn’t interested in cashing in.
The programme is one item amongst a collection of worn jerseys, signed balls,
ties, players’ autobiographies and books on the history of New Zealand rugby.
‘‘I’ve got every Ranfurly Shield programme that Taranaki has played in since around 1920.
‘‘I’ve always been keen on rugby.
‘‘I played for Inglewood and played with David Loveridge, of course.’’
With Yarrow Stadium undergoing earthquake strengthening for another year, it had been assumed the Taranaki Bulls would again play home games at Inglewood’s TET Stadium.
But the Taranaki Rugby Union has so far refused to say where the Bulls will play, and has not explicitly ruled out Pukekura Park as an option.
Merv Kivell, 88, is the nephew of Alfred Kivell, who represented Taranaki between 1920 and 1930, and has an extensive collection
of rugby memorabilia, including programmes of matches played at Pukekura Park.
If he can, Kivell will absolutely head to Pukekura Park to watch a match.
‘‘I think it’s a good idea for it to be played there,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s a logical ground.
‘‘It’s North Taranaki virtually, isn’t it,’’ he said.