Whangape-born Bronson Murray latest centurion for Taniwha
One of Northland rugby’s favourite sons, Bronson Murray celebrated his 100th game in the Cambridge Blue by leading his team out of the tunnel in round 4 of the ITM Cup national provincial championship against Wellington at Toll Stadium on Sunday.
In an interview with the Advocate’s Cameron Leslie last week, Murray disclosed he refused to allow such milestones to distract him from the main task at hand.
‘‘I’m just focused on my own job and what I have to do, nothing special,’’ the 30-year-old Whangape-born prop said. Murray also admitted he felt he had come a long way since first making his debut for Northland as a 19-year-old in 2002 away in the House of Pain against Otago.
‘‘The captain then was Glen Taylor, so thinking of it like that, it was a while ago . . . it was freezing, and I came off the bench. I could hardly feel my toes and we were sitting there in blankets,’’ laughed Murray, struggling to single out any performance as being his most memorable in the Taniwha jersey.
Murray — who marked the occasion by being presented with an official blazer at the aftermatch on Sunday night — noted the time involved with different Super Rugby franchises had helped him become a more rounded player.
‘‘If you get that chance to make those next teams you’ve got to do it, it’s a big step up and you become fulltime. I hope a few more boys [from this year’s Northland team] do make the step because it has sort of opened the world up for me . . . Any chance to get into any team you can at that level you grab with both hands. If you have to move to Antarctica it doesn’t matter.’’
For the record, Northland rugby has an estimated 17 centurions, with the late Joe Morgan, former All Black from Mid Northern, the most capped player in making an estimated 155 appearances.
A brief match report from Sunday’s game was as follows,
Northland 10 Wellington 30
(ht 10-15): Outstanding Wellington loose forward talent preyed on Northland’s failings in Whangarei on Sunday, with the Taniwha outclassed in this round 4 clash from the ITM Cup at Toll Stadium on Saturday.
Northland paid dearly for an overall inability to control the ball as seen when a lineout throw on Wellington’s 22m went awry. The ball fell into the hands of the outstanding flanker Ardie Savea who poured on the afterburners in the run for the line.
While Murray played his centennial match many were concerned to see Kerikeri’s impressive openside Jack Ram helped from the field with a knee injury in a match described as having a ‘‘significant injury toll’’. He was replaced by BOI rep side stablemate, Owen Pihema from Moerewa.
Few local stars were involved although Ohaeawai’s Andrew Kaveinga was plucked from reserves and got plenty of game time on the wing. On the list of Far North players out of contention for Sunday’s clash included Rupeni Caucau with various ongoing niggles, fellow Fijian Jone Macalai, dislocated elbow, Whiria Meltzer, ankle strain, and Justin Davies knee.
Northland head to Napier to meet Hawke’s Bay this Sunday with a 4.35pm kick off. Both sides will, one expects, be disappointed this is no longer a Ranfurly Shield Challenge after the Bay failed to defend the log o’ Wood against Counties Manukau during the weekend with the visitors winning 27-24 in comefrom-behind fashion.
Elsewhere, results by other Northland sides in their respective provincial campaigns last Saturday were, 2nd XV: Auckland U21 9 Northland Bs 21 in Pakuranga, U20: Counties Manukau 31 Northland 3 in Papakura, U18A: Northland 5 Nth Harb 36 in Hikurangi, U18 B: Thames Valley vs Vikings, Thames Valley no result, SS Girls: Auckland B 27 Northland 12 on Gribblehurst Park; and Blues IMB-styled competition: U16s, Northland Nth 29 Northland Sth 16, and, U14s Northland Nth 0 Northland Sth 61, both played in Kaikohe.