Dean Mumm delivers the ultimate ‘Don’t Argue’ in the Waratahs match vs Sharks on 24th March.

Man that would hurt.

Varsity leading 6 – 3 almost half time.GoVarsity #club #rugby twitpic.com/90ezd8
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Half time Varsity lead 6 – 3. Tight game. Good turn out at the ground. twitpic.com/90f0qr
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Start of the second half just about to start. Varsity with wind. twitpic.com/90f1lh
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

First try to Varsity from No 5 lock. Under the post. Cut back stepped a fat prop. Conv over. 13 – 3 Varsity twitpic.com/90f742
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Fielding attacking lineup. Held up over line. Varsity ball. twitpic.com/90f8p6
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Varsity scrum dominating Yellows scrub at will. Need to win this and clear the line. twitpic.com/90fa8p
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Holy shit …. Both of our props can run, draw and pass. Unheard of!! #Varsity
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Second try to Varsity. Good wingers try to the right wing. Conversion over. 20 – 3 to Varsity. 15m to go. Oh dear restart out on full!
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Penalty in front. Varsity taking the scrum . And a shift to right and a try to fullback. Conv missed. 25 – 3 #Varsity
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Feilding broke out. Rucks close to the line. Yellows getting smashed from pick and goes.Prop spills bill in the open. Varsity scrum.
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

WINNERS #VARSITY 25 – 3 twitpic.com/90fnap
— MasseyUniRFC (@MasseyUniRFC) March 24, 2012

Willie Tran to play for Kia Toa in 2012

There appear to be more high-quality hookers in Manawatu club rugby this season than in Karangahape Rd.

Many of them are probably chasing one spot in the Manawatu Turbos with Rob Foreman looking secure in the No2 jersey after 69 games.

Kia Toa’s Bryn Templeman was his back-up last year but he has had two knee operations since then and has been advised to stay out of action until late in the club season at the earliest.

So for much of it, Willie Tran will take over that spot at Kias after nine years at Varsity. He and Foreman had been vying for the hooker’s spot there, but with the Turbos available for the entire club competition, the Manawatu coaches did not want Foreman playing half of his games on the side of the scrum.

Another hooking contender is the Canterbury man at Te Kawau, Michael Gardner, who is in camp all week with the New Zealand under-20 squad at Massey University and won’t be playing against Feilding Old Boys-Oroua at Rongotea tomorrow.

A swag of Whanganui players from their Heartland team have migrated to Manawatu, obviously lured by the success of two of their expatriates, Michael FitzGerald and Asaeli Tikoirotuma, who are now Super Rugby players.

Another from Whanganui is Kaierau hooker Willie Harris who has joined College Old Boys. However, he is away for tomorrow’s first game against the redoubtable-looking Kia Toa lineup at Bill Brown Park.

Feilding Yellows have picked up Canterbury colts hooker Richard Taylor although he has a hamstring injury and didn’t play on their Queensland trip. Feilding High School 1st XV hooker Jake Anderson has joined Feilding Old Boys-Oroua as back-up to Tim Bailey.

Usual flanker Elisha Leota is shaping as Old Boys-Marist’s hooker tomorrow against Freyberg who have gathered long-serving Kia Toa hooker Aaron Viles.

Shaping up as the four big guns are defending Hankins Shield champions Varsity, Te Kawau, Kia Toa, and College Old Boys.

Varsity’s big acquisition is Turbo Nehe Milner-Skudder who went in search of a New Zealand Universities place.

Manawatu first-five Isaac Thompson is back from Spain but won’t be cleared to play Feilding tomorrow while fellow Turbo, James Oliver, won’t be home for six weeks.

Feilding has a new former Hurricanes Schools No8, Mua Sala, who is from Hawke’s Bay but has been playing rugby league in Cairns for three years.

Back with Kia Toa, where there are players to burn, is halfback Dan McLean who was playing professionally in England for Scunthorpe. He will carry on from former Springbok Joggie Viljoen who is in “semi-retirement”.

Helping coach Fusi Feaunati is Koli Sewabu who has worked with so many of the union’s clubs.

Kias will be even stronger later when they get Lote Raikabula and Scott Curry back after the New Zealand sevens programme and lock Dan Squire from Portugal in mid-May. Look out too for tall Feilding High School lock, Fijian Inia Rasovo.

Te Kawau’s star could be NZ sevens wing-fullback George Tilsley. Coach Bryan Matenga stressed Turbo Frankie Bryant and NZ under-20 trialist TePasu Thomas came to him voluntarily for their own ambitions, and that he only recruits from clubs outside the union.

COB’s Hamish Gosling has returned from training in Hawke’s Bay and is in fine fettle.

It was unusual for Linton Army to release serving soldier Adrian Curry to play beside brother Shaun for Old Boys-Marist. Coach John Fisher’s links with St Peter’s College helped him enlist New Zealand Schools halfback Ben Edwards, who had returned to Feilding High School but for only one week. OBM also have Whanganui’s NZ Heartland XV wing, Rusiate Vukula.

Linton also like the look of new five-eighth, Keelan Poi, an army mechanic who has been playing for Upper Hutt.

That’s because two Manawatu players – lock Fraser Stone and hooker Rob Foreman – were listed in the 22 to play Samoa A at Porirua last night.

It was a shock because until now, Manawatu players have been shunned by the Hurricanes and none had even been picked for their wider training group.

Manawatu fans have long maintained players like Foreman should have been in Super Rugby squads.

He came off the bench for the final 25 minutes last night with Southland’s David Hall the starting hooker.

The Hurricanes won 29-16 in atrocious, wet and windy conditions against a Samoan side which had played five previous games.

When Turbos lock Stone got wind of the Hurricanes interest, he stepped up his training, when his truck-driving work permitted, under the wand of Manawatu trainer Scott Pinfold.

Stone played all of the game last night.

Foreman is reported to be very fit and has been doing his personal development work over the summer and training with the Turbos’ wider training squad.

Other Hurricanes squad members in last night’s game were prop Tristan Moran, Wellington lock Mark Reddish, Hawke’s Bay flanker Karl Lowe and No8 Mike Coman, Tasman first-five James Marshall, midfield back Jayden Hayward, Hawke’s Bay’s former Palmerston North Boys’ High School player Gillies Kaka and Hawke’s Bay fullback Richard Buckman.

It is understood the Hurricanes franchise were also looking at Manawatu fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder who was brought into the Chiefs training squad for a week at the start of the Super Rugby season.

They were also interested in Manawatu flanker Callum Gibbins but he was still recovering from a minor operation to clean up a knee.

Meanwhile, five Manawatu players will be involved in a New Zealand under-20 trial at Massey University at 11.30am on Thursday. They will be 110kg lock-flanker TePasu Thomas, Te Kawau and former NZ Schools hooker Michael Gardner, Varsity utility back Hamish Northcott, last year’s New Zealand Schools centre Jason Emery and College Old Boys’ wing Willie Paia’aua.

Thomas has left Feilding Old Boys-Oroua to join Te Kawau while Varsity’s livewire hooker, Willie Tran, has transferred to Kia Toa rather than be up against Manawatu hooker Foreman as he was last winter.

Turbos player Bryn Templeman is the usual Kia Toa hooker but he won’t be back until late in the club season at best. After recovering from one knee operation at the end of last season, he injured his other knee and that too required surgery.

Kia Toa prop Peni Kaufusi played four games for Manawatu as a sub last year but is now playing for Ponsonby in Auckland where his wife lives. Northland have shown an interest in him.

Scorers: At Porirua Park –
Hurricanes Development XV 29 (Parataiso Silafai-Leanna, James Marshall, Tristan Moran, Kaipati Gaualofa, Dan Turner, tries; Marshall 2 con)
Samoa A 16 (Meki Magele try; Titi Jr Esau 3 pen, con).
HT: Samoa A 16-12.

Varsity’s Geoff Thompson repeatedly stressed his team had been playing for 80 minutes, just as they did last year in the 11-10 final win over Feilding Old Boys-Oroua.

An emotional Bryan Matenga felt his Te Kawau team had been sawn off after referee Mark Long repeatedly penalised his Real Blokes at the wave of rucks in the final seconds. When Long was booed off the field, it was a sour and irrational reaction.

Te Kawau didn’t help themselves during the nail-biting climax when they allowed the students to rip back from 27-19 down with 10 minutes to play. With time almost up and Te Kawau ahead 27-22, Varsity sub Jackson Clince put in a kick to the corner, Te Kawau’s Vili Dakunimata hit the ball into touch and that was an obvious penalty.

“It’s not the ref’s fault,” Thompson said. “We kicked the ball and they slapped it out.”

Varsity’s forwards were a match for Te Kawau’s and they drove and drove as desperate Te Kawau defenders flopped and Long pinged them. Finally Varsity flanker Marty Stevenson dived over and Scott Davidson converted.

Jubilee Cup winners Te Kawau were shattered while the vocal Varsity supporters invaded the field in front of the crowd of more than 2000. It was jubilation for the students who were missing 10 men to the Turbos and injuries while Te Kawau were down four.

Te Kawau folk claimed the game went six minutes over time but the Arena Manawatu scoreboard does not stop for time off. Time was lost when their livewire hooker, Mike Gardner, rolled his ankle when offloading for what seemed the winning try to lock Kenny Stewart 15 minutes from time. Gardner and Varsity hooker Willie Tran were the two best players in the final.

Thompson felt sorry for Matenga who had done well with Te Kawau, but that’s sport.

“Finals football is totally different to playing a Saturday game,” Thompson said. “A ref has got to see purely what’s in front of him.”

Varsity were heavily penalised late in the first half and it saw their 13-0 lead become 13-6 at halftime.

“It’s 80 minutes; that’s what we were playing for,” Thompson said. Varsity’s forwards owned the first half, big men like JJ Carberry, Brad Kilgour, Mitchell Crosswell, Tran and Stevenson, and props Chris Prentice and Damian Horgan. Rob Thompson and Dan Waldon made breaks but the backlines snuffed each other out.

Te Kawau reverted to forward driving of old and a Taylor grubber put captain Daniel FitzGerald over. When Varsity messed up a scrum and Ben Corston scored, Varsity looked goners. But they refused to kick, even turned down penalty shots until Scott Davidson slotted two gifts to haul them back.

Matenga said he could handle a loss but he never expected something like that, and now it’s part of Manawatu history.

“That was the most gut-wrenching loss I’ve had in my career,” he said. “It was a very hard one to swallow.

“It’s our season over; everything’s gone.

“The ref killed us. We got crucified off the park in the tackle-ball area and we will make a formal complaint to the union.

“I can handle losing to a better team but I thought we were the better team.”

He said he and all the players will be back because they have unfinished business.

“They’re young fellas and they will learn from this.”

Bush scored their only try to hooker Jacob Tipene to win the senior second title when they beat Old Boys-Marist 16-9 at Arena Manawatu on Saturday.

Tipene is now off to play for Wairarapa-Bush. Bush coach Andrew Rankin said his club might be able to sustain another team but he started this year on January 10 with seven players.

Hankins Shield final: Varsity 29 (Owen Karati, Marty Stevenson, tries; Scott Davidson 5 pen, 2 con) Te Kawau 27 (Daniel FitzGerald, Ben Corston, Kenny Stewart, tries; Logan Taylor 2 pen, 3 con) HT 13-6.

Val Holland Cup final: Linton Army 20, Dannevirke 14.

Senior second final: Bush 16 (Jacob Tipene try; Dylan Bennett 3 pen, con) Old Boys-Marist 9 (Campbell Paterson 2, Kurt McNamara, tries) HT 6-all.

Senior 2 Cup final: Kia Toa 28 Linton Army 14.

Premier colts final: OB-Marist 7 Feilding 3.

Colts A final: OB-Marist 1920s 42 Foxton 8.

Senior reserve final: College Old Boys 12 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 0.

Varsity A with Hankins Shield

Varsity’s win in the Hankins Shield final was the 16th for the Massey University club.

It was their first in six seasons, the most recent in 2004 when Varsity beat High School Old Boys in what was the students’ 75th jubilee year.

The 2004 team was captained by flanker Josh Bradnock, who was helping the team on Saturday, and was coached by Steve Morris.

Morris, as the Manawatu Rugby Union chairman, happily handed over the Hankins Shield to captain Scott Lewis on Saturday.

Morris also coached Varsity to a Manawatu championship in his first year as coach, in 1982. The club also won in 1988-89 when Manawatu halfback Murray Kendrick was the player-coach.

Varsity lost last year’s final to Kia Toa and that was crucial as far as coach Geoff Thompson was concerned.

“This was good after last year’s disappointment,” he said. “I think you’ve got to lose one to win one.”

That should be the incentive for Feilding Old Boys-Oroua, who lost the final 11-10 in only their second season as a united club. They drew surprisingly large numbers of supporters decked out in red, white and blue.

Their president Gary Nesdale said at least his team had the consolation of losing to the team which had been the best throughout the season.

In the other matchups this year, Varsity had beaten the Stags by 47-17 and 51-42.

The final was evened up by the absence of all the Turbos players. FOB-Oroua were without prop Karl Haitana and Varsity minus the injured Isaac Thompson, James Oliver and Callum Gibbins, as well as Casey Stone, Rob Foreman and Grant Polson.

They all emerged wearing winners’ medals afterwards.

While the final was affected by light rain, the match was of a poor standard for the Grassroots Rugby cameras, only made interesting by the closeness of the scores.

Varsity also took the Centennial Shield for winning the second round.

They did lose the Wallace Cup challenge trophy to Linton Army, after the loss at the army camp on July 17. The soldiers will hold it until next year.

HANKINS SHIELD FINALS

1987 Varsity 28 COB 9

1988 Varsity (no final played)

1989 HSOB 27 Varsity 19

1990 COB 22 HSOB 10

1991 COB 12 Marist 4

1992 Marist 6 Kia Toa 5

1993 Kia Toa 21 FOB 15

1994 FOB 36 Te Kawau 10

1995 Marist 24FOB 17

1996 Oroua 21 Marist 18

1997 Te Kawau 37 FOB 27

1998 Marist 36 FOB 27

1999 Te Kawau 12 HSOB 3

2000 Te Kawau 20 Marist 17

2001 HSOB 21 COB 9

2002 Te Kawau 16 Marist11

2003 Te Kawau 23 Marist 16

2004 Varsity 26 HSOB 8

2005 College OB 27FOB 16

2006 College OB 13 Varsity 0

2007 College OB 33 Feilding 18

2008 Kia Toa 11 Te Kawau 6

2009 Kia Toa 29 Varsity 23

2010 Varsity 11 FOB-Oroua 10

Isaac Thompson breaks the line

Turbos first five-eighth Isaac Thompson spelt the difference when the students knocked out College Old Boys from the Hankins Shield race at Arena Manawatu on Saturday.

With his forwards steaming, Thompson, son of Varsity coach Geoff, knocked over two penalties and a dropped goal in the last quarter to shut out the 2005, 2006 and 2007 champions.

But his low punting to the corners was the critical part of the semifinal, while hooker Bryn Templeman was the outstanding figure in Kia Toa’s more predictable, 35-17 win over Old Boys-Marist on FMG Stadium.

Ironically, had COB reached the final, they would’ve had star five-eighth Aaron Cruden. Had he played on Saturday, it might have been different. But to Varsity’s credit, their big forwards were on a rampage, clamped COB in their half for much of the second spell and tackled desperately.

The man who had the winning of the game was Turbos’ threequarter Andre Taylor who often cut through the Varsity line and, as time ticked by, a certain try beckoned, which would have won the semifinal.

The pass was slightly high, Taylor grassed it and that was it. But COB coach John Cruden said it probably wouldn’t have been justice because Varsity deserved the win. “At least we had an opportunity this year,” he said. “The better team won on the day.”

Again COB dipped out with the best record, just two losses all year. Varsity have lost six and Kia Toa three. For Geoff Thompson, Varsity’s game plan worked a treat. “The plan was to put the ball in behind and to play percentage rugby. It was who made the most errors.”

Varsity over-kicked in the first half after a try from a Steve Barron grubber when COB’s Aaron Good and Karl Bryson clashed heads, Good was taken off with concussion.

Taylor might have missed two penalty shots, but scored a scorching try and when two Varsity men went for the intercept, Jason Harvey sailed over for COB. Turbos Talau Hala and Casey Stone came on near halftime, but prop Jeremy McKenzie, with his calf injury, didn’t last long for COB.

Dan Waldon, Brent Stephenson, Rob Foreman, Callum Gibbins and Louis Booth starred for Varsity, but they lost wing Max Pearson (broken arm). Also stout-hearted for COB were Bryson and Mike Fitzgerald.

Hankins Shield semifinals At Arena Manawatu:

Varsity 22 (Cameron Hayton try; Isaac Thompson con, 4 pen, dg) COB 13 (Jason Harvey, Andre Taylor tries; Taylor pen)

HT 10-8.