Year By Year , Our History ~ 2011 ~
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
2011Season |
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After four rounds undefeated Buller led the Heartland Championship, a remarkable achievement for the tiny union. Then followed three losses in succession, none by more than three points, and Buller dropped to the Lochore Cup playoffs and suffered a two-point loss to Poverty Bay in the home semi-final. In three of the four losses, including the semi-final, the opposition snatched victory only within the final four minutes of play. Not since 1949 has Buller scored a greater number of tries and a larger points differential.The ordering off of outstanding number eight Lee Nelmes, for a dangerous tackle, just 20 minutes into the Mid Canterbury game, and his subsequent suspension for two weeks, affected the team performance late in the season.
Defence was one of Buller’s strengths while on attack there was a dangerous midfield combination with Pene Nabainivalu and William Saukuru. As in the previous year Buller had a settled squad well led by Phil Rossiter, his fellow flanker being the evergreen Luke Brownlee who completed his 13th season without missing a game and set a new NPC record of 105 games in succession.
Former Buller loose forward Thomas Stuart had held the record with 104 games. Lee Nelmes’ efforts at the back of the scrum earned him selection in the Heartland team. Shane Grieve and Bevan Tetai were a strong locking pair while in the front row Logan Mundy, Scott McIlroy and match centurion Phil Beveridge completed a forward pack that was never bettered. Beveridge played for NZ Marist against the Heartland team in October.
Andrew Stephens and Origin player Phil Gibson were a tidy inside back combination, the former also representing NZ Heartland. Nabainivalu and Saukuru were a constant threat on attack and scored 11 tries between them. Nineteen-year-old Reuben Elley, Sam Marris and Tema Faifua were the wings with Matt Bonisch or Scott Neighbours at fullback.
Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland: L.M.Nelmes, A.P.Stephens
2011 Match Record: Played 9 ; Won 5 ; Lost 4
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Points : For 218 ; Against 163
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2011 Fixtures & Results
Sat 06 Aug | 5:00 pm | H | Heartland Championship | Poverty Bay | 18 - 14 | Match Center |
Sat 13 Aug | 5:00 pm | A | Heartland Championship | King Country | 20 - 34 | Match Center |
Sat 20 Aug | 5:00 pm | A | Heartland Championship | Wairarapa Bush | 11 - 26 | Match Center |
Sat 27 Aug | 5:00 pm | H | Heartland Championship | East Coast | 34 - 08 | Match Center |
Sat 03 Sep | 5:00 pm | A | Heartland Championship | Thames Valley | 22 - 20 | Match Center |
Sat 10 Sep | 5:00 pm | H | Heartland Championship | North Otago | 08 - 11 | Match Center |
Sat 17 Sep | 5:00 pm | A | Heartland Championship | Mid Canterbury | 30 - 27 | Match Center |
Sat 24 Sep | 5:00 pm | H | Heartland Championship/Rundle Cup | West Coast | 21 - 15 | Match Center |
Sat 01 Oct | 5:00 pm | H | Heartland Championship/Lochore Cup Semi Final | Poverty Bay | 30 - 32 | Match Center |
2011 Buller REPRESENTATIVES
Position | PL | |||
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Andrew Craig Duncan | Scrumhalf | 6 | ||
Andrew Paul Stephens | Scrumhalf | 9 | ||
Benjamin Francis 'Ben' Coman | Lock | 5 | ||
Bevan Patrick Te Tai | Flanker, Lock | 9 | ||
Blair Stewart McIlroy | Flanker | 2 | ||
Craig Gerard Adams | Fullback, Winger | 3 | ||
Glen Anthony Duncan | Hooker, Prop | 2 | ||
John Robert Noble | Centre | 1 | ||
Lee Martin Nelmes | Flanker, No. 8 | 7 | ||
Logan James Balsom | Hooker | 1 | ||
Logan Matthew Mundy | Lock, Prop | 9 | ||
Luke George Brownlee | Flanker | 9 | ||
Matthew Paul Bonisch | Fullback | 4 | ||
Michael Peter Mumm | Centre | 2 | ||
Penijamini Nabainivalu | Centre | 9 | ||
Philip.J.’Phil’ Beveridge | Hooker, Prop | 8 | ||
Philip John Rossiter | Flanker | 8 | ||
Phillip Roger Gibson | First Five | 8 | ||
Reuben Patrick Elley | Winger | 8 | ||
Samuel Allan 'Sam' Marris | Winger | 7 | ||
Scott John McIlroy | Hooker, Prop | 8 | ||
Scott William Neighbours | Winger | 4 | ||
Shane David Grieve | Flanker, Lock | 9 | ||
Stephen Murray Lowe | Lock | 7 | ||
Temi Faifua | Winger | 9 | ||
Warwick James Knox | Hooker, Prop | 6 | ||
William Ross Saukuru | Centre, Fullback | 9 |