A group of Wanderers rugby legends inspired the latest generation of the club’s players to produce another championship winning performance when they defeated Kahurangi 21-12 in the Car Company Nelson Bays division one final at Trafalgar Park on Saturday.
Taylors Contracting Wanderers had been beaten finalists in the last two division one finals, but this year it was a case of third time lucky as they secured the Nelson Bays crown on Saturday to go with the Tasman Trophy they won last month. Although Wanderers have developed into a more mature, battle-hardened unit over the last three years, captain Trael Joss says they were fortunate to have a secret weapon for this year’s final.
Five members of the club’s first and, until this year, last champion-winning team handed out the jerseys to the players before Saturday’s final and Trael says their presence proved to be inspirational.
“All the young guys know about them and what they did for the club,” Trael says. “It was very humbling and inspirational having them in the sheds with us – you just wanted to go out and play for them.
“I think the old guys enjoyed it too, just being around rugby again and being in there with the players. They looked pretty happy about it.”
Trael says former players often presented jerseys to the Waimea College First XV when he was playing for the team and he thought it would be a good motivational idea for Wanderers – and he was right. “I saw an article [in Waimea Weekly] about the 1955 Wanderers team and me and my brother [Wanderers fullback Jessie Pitman] thought it would be good if we could get them along. We asked Fraze [team manager Frazer Lochhead] if it was possible to get them together and he did the rest.”
Frazer says Trael’s motivational masterpiece gave their team a massive boost. He says they had been under a lot of pressure to win after losing the last two finals and the presence of some of the champion 1955 team instilled confidence in the young players.
Laurie Reade, who along with his brother Barry, Stan Friend, Alan Bell and Murray Nicholls, were the members of the champion 1955 team who handed out the jerseys on Saturday, modestly down-played their role. “We just said a few words here and there but the players seemed very appreciative,” Laurie says.
For the record, Wanderers scored the game’s only two tries with hooker Dan McLachlan scoring in the 27th minute and centre Sione Holani crossing early in the second half. Morne Van de Berg kicked a penalty and a conversion while Jessie kicked two penalties. Mike Wells kicked four penalties for Kahurangi.
Waimea Old Boys won the division two final 17-12 against Wanderers, while the Town women’s team beat Country 18-0 in the early games at Trafalgar Park.
