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

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Results

Sat 05 May	2:30 pm	H	Rundle Cup	West Coast	14 - 17	Match Center
Sat 26 May	2:30 pm	A	Rundle Cup	West Coast	05 - 14	Match Center
Sat 28 Jul	2:30 pm	A	Seddon Shield	Nelson	06 - 14	Match Center
Sat 11 Aug	2:30 pm	H	Seddon Shield	Marlborough	20 - 06	Match Center
Sat 25 Aug	2:30 pm	H	Seddon Shield	Golden Bay-Motueka	12 - 14	Match Center
Tue 18 Sep	2:30 pm	H	Representative Match	Southland	15 - 11	Match Center

THE 1956 SEASON:

Springbok and Buller players were opponents again in 1956, when the third South African side to come to New Zealand met a combined West Coast-Buller XV, as had been the case in 1921 and in 1937, only this time the venue was Westport. Local men to play were George Anderson (Millerton Rangers), J.R.Burrow (Westport Old Boys), P.L.Dent (Westport Old Boys), J.H.Duncan (Westport Old Boys), A.R.Hawes (Westport Old Boys), S.P.Orman (Millerton Rangers), J.B.Shaw (Westport Old Boys) and M.C.White (Westport). Two other matches were contested by the combined team before meeting the Springboks, with Nelson, Marlborough & Golden Bay-Motueka, at Nelson, and with New Zealand Maoris, at Westport, giving practice to the contracting sides, each of whom had fixtures against the visiting team.

Additional players in M.J.Easton (Millerton Rangers), J. H. Hunt (Westport), O.H.Nahr (Westport White Star) and J.E.Cockfield (Waimangaroa United) were given a run in one or other of the “extra” games.

George Anderson, J.E.Cockfield and J.B.Shaw took part in the South Island trial at Christchurch, and George Anderson (as a replacement) appeared for South Island in the Inter-Island game at Wellington, whilst later George Anderson and J.B.Shaw were in the A South Island XV against A New Zealand XV, at Christchurch. These three fixtures were actually trials for selection in the Tests against South Africa.

On the “home front” Buller maintained its improved form to win four matches out of the six played, including one against Southland in the only first-class match ever played with the southern Union, and defeating Nelson for the Seddon Shield, holding it against Marlborough and then losing the trophy to Golden Bay-Motueka in the process:

v. West Coast At Westport Lost 14 to 17
v. West Coast At Hokitika Won 14 to 5
v. Nelson At Nelson Won 14 to 6 {Seddon Shield}
v. Marlborough At Westport Won 20 to 6 {Seddon Shield}
v. Golden Bay-Motueka At Westport Lost 12 to 14 {Seddon Shield}
v. Southland At Westport Won 15 to 11

George Anderson became Buller’s second match-centurion with his playing for South Island “Possibles” in the All Black trial at Christchurch. He finished his career with 134 first-class matches, including 112 for Buller.