Year By Year , Our History ~ 2013 ~

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

For the second year in a row Buller met South Canterbury in the Lochore Cup final, but was unable to repeat last year’s victory at Westport, this time going down 10-17 at Timaru. In the round robin the Union had a 50/50 record and finished seventh, which meant a semi-final away to Wanganui. Buller then surprised many with an excellent 40-30 win in their best performance of the season, having led 28-0 after just 26 minutes.

The strength of the team was the backline which scored 20 of the 25 tries. William Saukuru was a talented fullback, and with wings Mitieli Kaloudigibeci and Iliesa Ravudra were a threatening back three. The attacking thrust was in midfield where Mike Schmidt-Lealava’a was a class centre in partnership with the pacy Penijamini Nabainivalu. Both were equal top try-scorers with Ravudra. Mathew Golding started as first five but then made way for Jesse Elley, and at halfback ever present Andrew Stephens passed 50 games, was an accurate goalkicker, and again deserved his selection in the NZ Heartland team

The forward pack, on the smaller side, was noticeably outplayed in the Lochore Cup final. Nevertheless, the two centurions, flanker Luke Brownlee and tight-head prop Phil Beveridge, remained proven performers, while Lee Nelmes was a key player at number eight. All three were ever present. The other loose forward Blair Mcllroy had a high work rate. Glen Duncan finished as starting hooker supplanting Iliesa Namua. Five players appeared at lock with Paul Clarkson and Logan Mundy (starting at prop) being the preferred combination for the second half of the campaign.

Of the 26 players used, seven were new, one of whom, Sauqaqa, had previously played for Counties-Manukau in 2005. Nine players re-appeared after absence — Nelmes, the two Mcllroys, Mundy and Duncan after a year gap, while Abel (2010), Kaloudigibeci (2009), Clarkson (2008) and Simmiss (2007) had last appeared earlier than that. A loss was last year’s record points scorer Marty Banks who had gone to Tasman.

Higher honours went to:

New Zealand Heartland: A.P.Stephens

2013 Fixtures & Results

24 Aug, 5:00 pm	A		West Coast	Heartland Championship/Rundle Cup	23 - 17
31 Aug, 5:00 pm	H		Wanganui	Heartland Championship	15 - 11
07 Sep, 5:00 pm	A		Thames Valley	Heartland Championship	23 - 18
14 Sep, 5:00 pm	H		East Coast	Heartland Championship	28 - 12
21 Sep, 5:00 pm	A		Horowhenua Kapiti	Heartland Championship	15 - 19
28 Sep, 5:00 pm	H		Wairarapa Bush	Heartland Championship	03 - 13
05 Oct, 5:00 pm	A		Poverty Bay	Heartland Championship	21 - 34
12 Oct, 5:00 pm	H		Mid Canterbury	Heartland Championship	13 - 31
19 Oct, 5:00 pm	A		Wanganui	Heartland Championship/Lochore Cup Semi Final	30 - 40
27 Oct, 5:00 pm	A		South Canterbury	Heartland Championship/Lochore Cup Final	17 - 10

2013 Buller REPRESENTATIVES

	Name		Position	PL
	Andrew Stephens		Scrumhalf	10
	Blair McIlroy		Flanker	9
	Gene Simmiss		Flanker, No. 8	9
	Glen Duncan		Hooker, Prop	9
	Ilaisa Namua		Hooker	10
	Iliesa Ravudra		Fullback, Winger	10
	Isei Lewaqai		Lock, No. 8	10
	Jareth McKay		Hooker, Prop	1
	Jesse Elley		First Five, Fullback	10
	Lee Nelmes		Flanker, No. 8	10
	Logan Mundy		Prop	10
	Luke Brownlee		Flanker	10
	Mathew Golding		First Five	9
	Mike Lealava’a		Centre	10
	Mitieli Kaloudigibeci		Winger	8
	Paul Clarkson		Flanker, Lock, Winger	10
	Penijamini Nabainivalu		Centre	10
	Philip.J.’Phil’Beveridge		Hooker, Prop	10
	Reyne Volavola		Lock	5
	Sam Marris		Winger	7
	Scott McIlroy		Hooker, Prop	7
	Scott Neighbours		Winger	6
	Setefano Sauqaqa		Centre	2
	Simon Abel		Flanker	7
	Stephen Lowe		Lock	1
	William Saukuru		Centre, Fullback	8