WEST COAST RFU – 2008

. Season 2008	2008 Status: Heartland Championship ....Founded 1890..Affiliated 1893 President: J.W.F.Costello Chairman: P.Millar Chief.Executive.Officer: M.Connors Coach: A.D.Lawry .Main.ground: .Rugby Park, Greymouth Capacity: .8,000 Colours: .Red and white hoops. red shorts. red socks with white tops

In 2007 this tiny union enjoyed its best season in years by reaching the semi final for the Lochore Cup. The challenge for 2008 was to repeat the performance. The result was another semi-final, not for the Lochore Cup, but for the Meads Cup!

From being the lowest ranked union in 2006 West Coast finished the 2008 season ahead of eight other unions. No union had advanced up the Heartland ladder in such spectacular style and this union, along with neighbours Buller, defy the impression that large numbers of club players and heaps of sponsors produce results. These two unions are exhibiting the best qualities of amateur provincial rugby. Sensibly coached and managed, within these rep jerseys are big hearts.

With three away wins the team was flying high and if it had not been for the disappointing one point loss to Buller, West Coast would have finished top of Pool A. However, to finish second was an historic achievement. Wanganui, as every other team also discovered, was to be the only side to dominate the Coasters, yet even in the semi-final Wanganui had to work hard and, for the only time all season, were behind on the scoreboard at halftime. West Coast had given the eventual Heartland champions a big fright.

Coach Anthony Lawry got the best out of his players. Halfback James Ferguson proved a good captain and the big boot of Corey Simpson gained much territory. In midfield 19 year old Josh Cornish excelled and formed a good combination with Eroni Uluiborotu. Maleli Mudu was back in try scoring form on the wing.

At the back of the pack Ofa Misa scored three tries in the opening game and was badly missed, through injury, in the North Otago game. He had a good year. Flanker Lasa Ulukuta fully deserved his Heartland selection along with Simpson and hooker Andrew Gadsby. Flanker Brad Houston and lock Cameron Reed were players of real promise. Lomiga Va’aelua was powerful at lock or number eight. Sam Durie and Gordon Iafeta, along with Gadsby, formed a strong front row. It was a year the whole squad could look back on with immense satisfaction.

Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland XV : Gadsby, Simpson, Ulukuta

WEST COAST TEAM RECORD 2008

played 9 , won 4 , Lost 5, Points for 164 , Points against 208

AA REWARDS HEARTLAND RUGBY – POOL A
.	P	W	D	L	Pts
North Otago	5	4	–	1	18
West Coast	5	3	–	2	16
Buller	5	3	1	1	15
Horowhenua-Kapiti	5	1	2	2	11
Wairarapa Bush	5	1	–	4	10
South Canterbury	5	1	1	3	6
AA REWARDS HEARTLAND RUGBY – MEADS CUP
.	P	W	D	L	Pts
Wanganui	8	8	–	–	39
Mid-Canterbury	8	7	–	1	33
North Otago	5	5	–	3	24
West Coast	8	4	–	4	21
Buller	8	4	1	3	19
King Country	8	3	–	5	16

 

Meads Cup Finals

First Semi-final: at Showgrounds,Ashburton. Saturday October 18
Mid Canterbury 38 (Umaga 3, Connell, Feutz tries; Lindsay 5 conversions and penalty goal)
defeated North Otago 24 (Mavor, Paumau, Tuilagi, Mullins tries; Tuilagi 2 conversions).
Referee: K.R.McBride

Second Semi-final: at Cooks Gardens, Wanganui. Saturday October 18
Wanganui 40 (Mow 2, Gower, Katonivere, Crowley, So’olefai tries; Davis 5 conversions) defeated
West Coast 18 (Cornish, Uluiborotu tries; Simpson conversion, penalty goal, and dropped goal).
Referee: M.I.Fraser

Meads Cup Final: at Cooks Gardens, Wanganui Saturday October 25
Wanganui 27 (Crowley, Mow, Fitzgerald tries; Davis 3 conversions, penalty goal, and dropped
goal) defeated Mid Canterbury 12 (Gill 2 tries; Lindsay conversion).
Referee: K.R.McBride