A special win on club’s 100th anniversary
The Paraparaumu Rugby Club premier team’s 31-18 win over Rahui recently was extra special as it was Paraparaumu’s 100th anniversary, and players donned replica kit from its inaugural 1921 side.
“The side played in white shorts and a plain navy lace-up jersey so we’ve gone back to that for the oneoff centenary game,” club chairman Tony Bailey said.
The 15 replica jerseys were auctioned off at a gala dinner by guest speakers and veteran broadcasters Keith Quinn and John McBeth.
Rahui presented Paraparaumu with a carved trophy for the clash.
Paraparaumu Rugby Club has a rich and proud history.
It won a premier three-peat from 1967 to 1969 and a five-peat from 2012 to 2016.
A number of players have gone on to All Blacks level including Dane Coles, Christian Cullen, Paul
Steinmetz, Mark Shaw, Gary Knight and Joe Karam.
Paraparaumu started the game well, building a solid lead, but Rahui struck back at the end of the first half and start of the second half with two tries before taking the lead.
But in the final quarter some extra resolve by Paraparaumu saw them score two tries to easily win the game. In the senior reserves curtain-raiser game, Paraparaumu B won against
the previously unbeaten Athletic 27-24.
Reflecting back over the years, some games stay in the mind more than others, with club patron Ray Dennison vividly recalling a tight game against Levin Old Boys in the late 1960s.
“It was 3-nil to Levin. Back in those days a try was worth three points. I got the ball from the back of the scrum and went towards the line.
Peter Siversen, our prop, yelled at me to pass the ball to him. So I did and he dived and scored. I was doing the kicking. So I had to stand in front of the posts and get it over. Everyone was watching. Thankfully I got it over for the win.”
The club’s oldest playing member is Hari Jackson who is also a life member.
“I first played here when I was a 10-year-old school boy in 1946 and
continued on until I was 75, which was 10 years ago,” he said.
Dennison was quick off the mark when asked about what made the club so special.
“The atmosphere has always been great from when I started playing in 1953. Ever since that day it has been my life.
“I have pretty much done everything in the club including building work in my spare time.”
Jackson concurs, saying the atmosphere was friendly and inviting.
“It’s always good meeting the present players and shaking hands with them after a game even if they won or lost. It is a family club. There’s almost up to fifth generations playing here.”
Having a strong and dedicated committee was important too.
“They have carried it on quite brilliantly,” said Dennison giving a nod to the present committee. “The club is roaring.”
But like any rugby club, forward thinking was important.
“We’ve only got one ground but have too many junior teams to be able to play here [Paraparaumu Domain],” Bailey said. “We’ve been looking at some long-term plans to potentially move to Mazengarb Park to play junior and senior rugby so we can be at one place together and build those connections.