This Saturday sees 2024 CMK Chartered Accountants Club Rugby kick off with clubs from all over Taranaki battling for bragging rights across five grades.
CMK Premier, Division 1, Colts and Division 2 grades kick off this weekend with the Women’s grade kicking off on Saturday April 27.
2024 sees CMK Chartered Accountants celebrate a decade of support for grassroots rugby in Taranaki.
CMK have been in Taranaki for over 70 years providing accounting, taxation, and business development support to clients. They have three offices situated across Taranaki in New Plymouth, Stratford and Hawera.
CMK’s support of Taranaki Rugby will again extend to the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls with their brand to be displayed on the upper back of the eight replacement player jerseys.
38 senior teams will take to the pitch around Taranaki Maunga across the five adult grades with a highlight being the reintroduction of a Tukapa women’s team known as the Toa. It is 24 years since Sanders Park last featured a women’s side.
2024 will again see CMK Club Finals Day played at the spiritual home of Taranaki Rugby, Yarrow Stadium with the showpiece the showpiece event of the grassroots calendar scheduled for Saturday July 13 across all five grades.
Round 1 of the CMK Premiership sees a grand final rematch with Stratford Eltham hosting defending champions New Plymouth Old Boys, Tukapa and Coastal go head-to-head for the Craig Eaton Cup at Sanders Park, Inglewood travel to Yarrow Stadium #1 to tackle Spotswood United and Southern head up State Highway 3 to play Clifton at Tikorangi.
There are several big Round 1 match ups in Division 2, including last year’s beaten semi-finalists, the Bell Block Gladiators travelling to Corbett Park to take on 2023 champions, the Kaitake Kinas.
Kaitake will be looking to launch the opening of their new Kaitake Community Sports Hub clubrooms with a victory.
CMK Principal John Dazley shares a few of his personal highlights from CMK Club Rugby.
- Best after match feed? Has to be the kai at Joll Park in Okaiawa.
- Most memorable match? Hard to go past the opening women’s game of the 2023 season between Southern and Coastal – played with plenty of spirit and support for one another.
- Favorite club venue? Victoria Park, Stratford. It is home…
- Best individual try? Would have to be Kini Naholo’s effort for Clifton against Stratford Eltham back in 2019 when he came off the bench wearing the #23 jersey.
- Early memories from your club rugby partnership? Heading to club games all over Taranaki for a beer with former TRFU Community Rugby Manager Glenn Noble.
- What do you love about club rugby? Being able to go around the Taranaki province and see the people that make Taranaki club rugby so good.
- Hardest hitter you have seen in club rugby? Former Stratford/Eltham midfielder Quintin Oakes a few moons ago…
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Other notable club rugby highlights?
- The crowds back at Yarrow Stadium for CMK Finals Day last year and the festival atmosphere at the 2022 CMK Club Finals Day held at Vogeltown Park.
- 2021 CMK Club Finals Day at the TET Stadium & Events Centre, atrocious weather and driving rain but the sidelines were full of spectators.
For all CMK Club Rugby fixtures and results please click HERE.
For more information on CMK Chartered Accountants or to discuss your business needs please click HERE.
