Year By Year , Our History ~ 2009 ~

We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Buller Rugby Union.
We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series since 1934 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin

Buller did not reproduce the results of the previous two years when competing in the Meads Cup division. The sole Win in the pool rounds was a record score against lowly East Coast. The 47-9 scoreline could have been 20 points higher had the team played with more efficiency. In the Lochore Cup rounds wins were gained over King Country and Thames Valley but the union will remember the season most for its losses to rival neighbours West Coast.The loss of the Rundle Cup in the 20-26 defeat hurt the team’s pride but then to concede a record 53 points to the Coast in the semi-final was a humiliating hammering. But, as they usually have in past seasons, Buller will shake themselves and return with renewed enthusiasm.

The scrum was again anchored by the evergreen frontrow veterans Clark Nelson, Who led the team yet again, Phillip Beveridge, Ryan Hughes and Glen Atkin. These four players have totalled 280 appearances for the union. Flanker Luke Brownlee, with 95 appearances, just keeps on keeping on. For ten seasons Brownlee has run onto the field with every Buller team — a tremendous record for a provincial player of any union.

The number eight Scott Higginson, a loan player from Glenmark in Canterbury, exhibited some of the skills and determination that his All Black father, Graeme, had produced during the early 1980s. Brownlee, Higginson and Nelson player Shane Christie were the regular loose trio. Also from Nelson was lock Craig Moore, the union’s Player of Origin, and a cousin of midfield back Kevin Moore. Ben Coman, another Nelson player, was Moore’s locking partner.

Matt Bonisch, just 23 years of age but with 41 appearances, was the most experienced member of the regular backline. Nick Makea and Nathan Thompson were the regular inside backs with Kevin Moore and Marcus Taylor in midfield. Wing Tema Taifua kicked a long-range dropped goal to secure a narrow victory over King Country. Fijians Mitieli Kaloudigibeci and Penijamini Nabainivalu were regular threequarters.

Higher honours went to:

New Zealand Heartland XV: K.M.Moore

2009 Fixtures & Results

Sat 29 Aug	5:00 pm	H	Heartland Championship	Horowhenua Kapiti	13 - 17	Match Center
Sat 05 Sep	5:00 pm	H	Heartland Championship	East Coast	47 - 09	Match Center
Sat 12 Sep	5:00 pm	A	Heartland Championship/Rundle Cup	West Coast	26 - 20	Match Center
Sat 19 Sep	5:00 pm	H	Heartland Championship	Whanganui	07 - 13	Match Center
Sat 26 Sep	5:00 pm	A	Heartland Championship	Wairarapa Bush	28 - 13	Match Center
Sat 03 Oct	5:00 pm	A	Heartland Championship	King Country	17 - 20	Match Center
Sat 10 Oct	5:00 pm	A	Heartland Championship	North Otago	29 - 14	Match Center
Sat 17 Oct	5:00 pm	H	Heartland Championship	Thames Valley	29 - 17	Match Center
Sat 24 Oct	5:00 pm	A	Heartland Championship/Lochore Cup Semi Final	West Coast	53 - 22	Match Center

2009 Buller REPRESENTATIVES

			Position	PL
	Benjamin Francis 'Ben' Coman		Lock	9
	Bradley John Walters		Lock	6
	Clark Raymond Nelson		Prop	9
	Craig Michael Moore		Lock, Prop	7
	Daniel F.P. Hooper		Fullback, Winger	7
	Glen Michael Atkin		Hooker	5
	Hein Gerber		Prop	1
	Jamie Robert Paul		Lock	5
	Jay Smith		Flanker	5
	Kevin Malcolm Moore		First Five, Winger	9
	Louis Roach		No. 8	3
	Luke George Brownlee		Flanker	9
	Marcus James Taylor		Centre	9
	Matthew Paul Bonisch		Fullback	7
	Michael Peter Mumm		Centre	4
	Mitieli Kaloudigibeci		Winger	9
	Nathan James Thompson		First Five	9
	Nicholas Jeremy Makea		Scrumhalf	9
	Penijamini Nabainivalu		Centre	9
	Philip.J.’Phil’ Beveridge		Hooker, Prop	9
	Ryan John Hughes		Hooker	9
	Samuel Allan 'Sam' Marris		Winger	1
	Scott Graeme Higginson		No. 8	9
	Shane Alan Christie		Flanker	9
	Stephen Robert Crackett		Hooker, Prop	1
	Temi Faifua		Winger	9