Taranaki Rugby looks back at some memorable finals in the club competition played at Yarrow Stadium part of the CMK club rugby flashback.

Taranaki is a small place, so small that in 2013 Southern’s Caleb Kahupukoro and Clifton’s Chris Black were flat mates and ended up playing against each other in the premier club final. In fact, both captained their respective sides, and were accountants.

Funnily enough, a similar situation happened to Black’s good friend when he played his flatmate in an Otago final a few years prior.

Like any flat in New Zealand, bragging rights were on the line, but leading up to the finale there was a different feel in the household.

“This week is a little bit different. We’re a but more reluctant to talk about things or give too much information,” Kahupukoro said at the time to the Taranaki Daily News.

Black said he wished Kahupukoro luck but ‘didn’t really mean it’.

July 20, 2013 was a special day for both clubs. Clifton, who was coached by veteran Ian Snook, had not appeared in a final since 1999 and Southern were in their first final since they were formed in 1995. The last Hawera-based win was in 1982 a year before the finals system was introduced.

The southerners were looking for a win as they had been waiting for a Hawera side to win a title in more than three decades.

History was set to be broken in one way or another on a calm afternoon at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth with 3,000 spectators in attendance.

The match was a typical Taranaki derby, won in the end by Southern 15-14.

The highlight of the match was a try by Southern fullback Greg Rowlands who latched onto a Daniel Brooks kick that was watched by the Clifton defence. Southern were behind 14-10 at that stage and were back in it.

Southern’s lineout jumper Daniel McKerrow was the most influential player, snatching the ball where he could, piling on the possession.

A penalty kick, slotted by Brooks in the first half, proved to be the difference in the end.

Seven years on, Rickards said he was proud of the team following the semi-final win over New Plymouth Old Boys at Vogeltown Park.

“I believed if we were able to replicate the physicality that we displayed against NPOB, then I thought we would be a good chance against Clifton.

“We were thrown some luck during the week with Nemia Soqeta being ruled out for Clifton on the even of the final, I thought he was the inform No. 8 in the Taranaki competition that year.”

Clifton were a well-coached side and played some really good rugby, Rickards said.

The highlight for the then 29-year-old, was after the game when he looked into the stands seeing the celebrations from the Southern supporters, from seven full buses from the south, saying it was a ‘moving experience.’

He also said that he was struggling to keep his emotions in check post-game in the changing room due to the pride of the side.

Rickards said he was due to fly out to Sri Lanaka to coach a sevens team the next morning and showed his face briefly in the clubrooms thanking their supporters and Southern community.

He said you need great people to be successful and named Southern Chairman at the time and the late Greg Werder, Brett ‘Rangi’ Johnson, fellow coaches Brendan Haami, Anthony Iwikau, manager Sara Rosser and ‘inspiring leader’ Kahupukoro.

At the time, Werder credited Southern’s on field success to Daryl Lilley with his good work carried on by Rickards.

Southern stalwart Vern Cleaver said a club is known by how the senior team performs which had a mixed bag for many years.

“But the win in 2013 was nothing but fantastic for the club. After two round robins we were sitting in third place going into the semi-finals meeting up with New Plymouth Old Boys.

“You couldn’t ask for a better final game that was on display that day, a true battle,” he said.

The excitement in the clubrooms was just a buzz, according to Cleaver, especially when all the teams arrived home and enjoyed the celebrations.

“For the Southern teams, sponsors, coaches, committee and loyal supporters, there was jubilation in final winning the McMasters Shield.”

Southern were due to celebrate their 25^th anniversary on Easter weekend with over 150 people expected. Hawera-born John Plumtree was going to be the guest speaker on the Saturday, followed by former All Black Ian Jones on Sunday. However, that was called off due to the COVID-19 situation.

At a glance:

Southern 15 (Roger Schrader, Greg Rowlands tries; Daniel Brooks con, pen)
Clifton 14 (Bevan Quigley, Eddie Uele tries; Beaudein Waaka 2 con)

Southern: Greg Rowlands, Caleb Kahupukoro (capt), Jackson Ormond, Brent Landers, Lewis Ormond, Daniel Brooks, Josh Sandford, Jason Skipper, Danny MacDonald, Rhys Parry, John Smyth, Daniel McKerrow, Roger Schrader/Jacob Northcott, Murray Turner, Jason Hooper. Reserves: Ryan Kuklinski, Northcott/Mike Able, Peter Northcott, Kieran Hussey, Alex Mumford, Cameron Koch, Daley Wayne Smith. Coach: Willie Rickards; assistant coaches: Brendan Haami and Anthony Iwikau.

Clifton: Beaudein Waaka, Te Waiti Mareikura, Tama Blackwell, Josh Kendall, Eddie Uele, Brad Cooper, Bevan Quigley, Chris Black (capt), Jake Ward, Mark Shaw, Matt White, Nemia Soqeta, Sione Lea, Abe Haira, Zane Neill. Reserves: Shay Fairhurst, Campbell Huffman, Dan Dreaver, Dane Kendall, Brandon Pokere, Kane Sharrock, Dion Gall. Coach: Ian Snook; assistant coach: Paul Martin.

CMK Chartered Accountants are proud partners of Taranaki club rugby. CMK Chartered Accountants have been providing accounting, taxation and business development support to clients for nearly 70 years. They take pride in working closely with their clients at all stages of growth, to structure their business to maximise both profit and efficiency.

Article added: Wednesday 15 April 2020