Wanganui fails to win medals
Although the 2018 Butcher Boys missed out on winning any medals for only the second time in the 13 year history of the Mitre 10 Heartland championship, they went through the qualifying rounds unbeaten.
They thus join the 2008 and 2016 squads who were also unbeaten although those two teams carried on to win Meads Cup championship titles with 10 victories each. The 2008 team, under head coach Guy Lennox, holds the local record of scoring 420 points and conceding 108, collecting 63 tries and having only 13 scored by opponents.
Eight years later, under current coach Jason Caskey and assistant Jason Hamlin, Wanganui again managed 10 victories, scoring 440 pts (58 tries) and conceding 154 pts (21 tries) with an average result of 44-15 and six tries to two.
But the big difference was that tries were six points and not five and penalty goals worth two points instead of three that season.
This year the blue and blacks were eliminated 17-7 by eventual champions Thames Valley in the semifinals and managed 338 pts (48 tries) for and 130 pts (18 tries) against — average score of 38-14 and five tries to two — from nine fixtures.
First five Craig Clare scored 117 pts this year to come in behind Mark Davis 129 in 2011 and 118 in 2008.
The other points centurions have been Trinity Spooner-Neera 116 in 2015, Davis 109 in 2010, Denning Tyrell 106 in 2009 and Steelie Koro 100 in 2006.
Top try scorers this year were Clare and Tyler RogersHolden with five each, well behind the Wanganui and NZ Heartland record of 14 scored by Pati Fetuia in 2006.
Johnny Mow scored 13 and Cameron Crowley 12, both in 2008, Fraser Middleton 12 in 2009 and Te Rangatira Waitokia 12 in 2016.
Wanganui’s Heartland record reads —
2018 — 3rd Meads Cup (7-17 v Thames Valley H SF) Head coach: Jason Caskey P 9 W 8 L 1 For 338 pts (48 tries) Ag 130 pts (18) Diff 208 (30) Most pts Craig Clare 117 Most tries Clare & Tyler Roger Holden 5.NZ Heartland reps 4.
2017 — 1st Meads Cup (30-14 v Horowhenua-Kapiti A) Head coach: Jason Caskey P 10 W 7 L 3 For 338 (42) Ag 163 (17) Diff 175 (25) Most pts Craig Clare 97 Most tries Timoci Seruwalu 8 NZH reps 3.
2016 — 1st Meads Cup (20-18 v Buller H) Head coach: Jason Caskey P 10 W 10 For 440 (58), Ag 154 (21) Diff 281 (37) Most pts Te Rangatira Waitokia 72 Most tries Waitokia 12. NZH reps 4
2015 — 1st Meads Cup (28-11 v South Canterbury A) Head coach: Jason Caskey P 10 W 8 D 1 L 1 For 372 (50) Ag 207 (25) Diff 165 (25) Most pts Trinity Spooner-Neera 116 Most tries Samu Kubunavanua 9 NZH reps 6
2014 — 1st Lochore Cup (14-12 v North Otago A) 5th overall head coach: Jason Caskey P 10 W 5 L 5 For 254 (34) Ag 212 (24) Diff 42 (10) Most pts Josh Hamilton 45 Most tries Rhema Sagote 7 NZH reps 3
2013 — 3rd Lochore Cup (30-40 v Buller H SF) 7th overall head coach: Karl Hoskin P 9 W 4 L 5 For 201 (25), Ag 200 (27) Diff 1 (-2).Most pts Zyon Hekenui 78. Most tries Ace Malo 3. NZH reps 4
2012 — 2nd Meads Cup (27-29 v East Coast A) Head coach: Jason Caskey P 10 W 8 L 2 For 287 (35) Ag 182 (22) Diff 106 (13) Most pts Mark Davis 69. Most tries Saul Chase 6. NZH reps 7
2011 — 1st Meads Cup (30-10 v East Coast H) Head coach: Jason Caskey P 10 W 9 L 1 For 426 (57) Ag 163 (21) Diff 263 (36) Most pts Mark Davis 129 Most tries Sam Scown 8. NZH reps 8
2010 — 2nd Meads Cup (18-39 v North Otago A) Head coach: Guy Lennox P 10 W 8 L 2 For 303 (41) Ag 197 (24) Diff 106 (17) Most pts 109 Mark Davis most tries Ace Malo 8. NZH reps 8
2009 — 1st Meads Cup (34-13 v Mid Canterbury A) Head coach: Guy Lennox P 10 W 8 L 2 For 357 (51) Ag 134 (10) Diff 221 (41) Most pts Denning Tyrell 106 Most tries Fraser Middleton 12. NZH reps 8
2008 — 1st Meads Cup (27-12 v Mid Canterbury H) Head coach: Guy Lennox. P 10 W 10 For 420 (63) Ag 108 (13) Diff 312 (50). Most pts Mark Davis 118. Most tries Johnny Mow 13, Cameron Crowley 12. NZH reps 5.
2007 — 2nd Meads Cup (8-25 v North Otago A) Head coach; Milton Haig. P 10 W 6 L 4 For 232 (30) Ag 172 (17) Diff 60 (13) Most points Daniel Hooper 46 Most tries Logan Vaughan 6 NZH reps 3
2006 — 2nd Meads Cup (14-16 Wairarapa-Bush H) Head coach: Milton Haig. P 10 W 8 D 1 L 1. For 353 (50) Ag 179 (19) Diff 174 (31). Most pts Steelie Koro 100 Most tries Pati Fetuia 14 NZH reps 6.
NZ Heartland Reps
When he played for New Zealand Heartland in Taupo last weekend winger Cameron Crowley joined hooker Cole Baldwin as the second most capped local player to rep for the national team. They have each been selected five times in NZ Heartland squads — Cameron in 2008 (to the US), 2010 (Australia) and 2009, 2017 and now 2018 for matches in New Zealand.
Baldwin went to Australia in 2010 and to the Cook Islands in 2014 and played in internal fixtures in 2009-11-15.
Wanganui’s Peter Rowe holds the NZ Heartland selection record, being chosen nine times (2006-07-08-10-12-13-14-15-16) including as captain since 2010.
The Ruapehu pair of lockloosie Fraser Hammond (2009-10-12-15) and prop Shaun McDonough (2010-11-12-13) have each been selected four times and Marist’s Steelie Koro (2007-10-11) three times.
Wanganui’s 34 NZ Heartland reps are —
2006 To Argentina (6) — Dan Aldworth, Leon Mason, Sheldon O’Hagan, Peter Rowe, Mike Thompson, Logan Vaughan.
2007 Team named — No games (3) — Steelie Koro, Peter Rowe, Mike Thompson.
2008 To America (5) — Cameron Crowley. Mike Fitzgerald, Matt Gilbert, Leon Mason, Asaeli Tikoirotuma. Asst coach: Guy Lenox.
2009 Domestic game (8) — Cole Baldwin, Cameron Crowley, Matt Gilbert, David Gower, Fraser Hammond, Peter Rowe, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Lasa Ulukuta. Coach: Guy Lennox. Manager: Chris Back.
2010 To Australia ((8) — Cole Baldwin, Cameron Crowley, Mark Davis, Fraser Hammond, Steelie Koro, Shaun McDonough, Peter Rowe, Jon Smyth. Coach: Guy Lennox. Manager: Chris Back.
2011 Local Game (8) — Cole Baldwin, Simon Dibben, Steelie Koro, Darren Munro, Shaun McDonough, Jon Smyth, Sam Scown, Rusiate Vukula. Manager: Chris Back.
2012 To Samoa (7) — Mark Davis, Nick Cranston, Fraser Hammond, Matt Koubaridis (named but inured), Shaun McDonough, Darren Munro, Peter Rowe. Manager: Chris Back.
2013 Internal Games (4) — Nick Cranston, Shaun McDonough, Peter Rowe, Lasa Ulukuta. Manager: Chris Back.
2014 To Cook Islands (3) — Cole Baldwin, Peter Rowe, Lasa Ulukuta. Manager: Chris Back.
2015 Internal Games (6) — Cole Baldwin, Fraser Hammond, Lindsay Horrocks, Bryn Hudson, Stephen Perofeta, Peter Rowe. Manager: Chris Back.
2016 To Fiji (4) — Lindsay Horrocks, Peter Rowe, Viki Tofa, Te Rangatira Waitokia.
2017 Internal Game (3) — Craig Clare, Cameron Crowley, Bryn Hudson.
2018 Internal Games (4) — Cameron Crowley, Craig Clare, Campbell Hart, Peni Nabainivalu.
Sevens Rugby remaining
The 2018 Wanganui rugby season winds up with the annual 7-a-side tournaments.
The Settlers Honey Wanganui club sevens will be played at Marton Park on Saturday, November 17.
The regional provincial sevens are at Levin on Saturday, December 1 with the national sevens in Tauranga on the weekend of December 15-16. Coach of the Wanganui Sevens is Ace Malo.
The offices of the Wanganui RFU are temporarily moving to 57 Maria Place Extension from Monday, November 12 until the end of March. All other contact details remain the same.
The 2018 Wanganui Rugby Awards function is at The Barracks Club (old RSA Club) this Saturday at 5.30pm.
This is the final Talking Rugby column for 2018.