~ 1991 ~ NPC

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

Back to Year by Year Index click here

1991

SEASON

Founded 1894 – (affiliated NZRU 1894)
President:
W.B.Townrow
Chairman:
M.J.Woollett
Selector:
Mr A.Ireland
Main ground:
Victoria Square, Westport
Capacity:
5,000
Colours:
Cardinal and Blue

Results

Mon 03 Jun 2:30 pm H Div3 - NPC West Coast 13 - 12
Sat 22 Jun 2:30 pm A Seddon Shield Marlborough 18 - 10
Sat 29 Jun 2:30 pm H Div3 - NPC Nelson Bays 21 - 06
Sat 20 Jul 2:30 pm A Div3 - NPC East Coast 15 - 19
Sat 17 Aug 2:30 pm A Div3 - NPC North Otago 10 - 26
Tue 20 Aug 2:30 pm A Div3 - NPC Mid Canterbury 24 - 03
Sat 31 Aug 2:30 pm H Div3 - NPC South Canterbury 21 - 32
Wed 11 Sep 2:30 pm H Div3 - NPC Horowhenua Kapiti 10 - 23

THE 1991 SEASON:

1991 was a season in which the influence of the White Star team became more pronounced in the Buller Representative team, this team providing nine members of the Buller squad.

The other major influence was the arrival of 6 ft 8 inch English lock, Danny Pratt. Although Pratt may initially have lacked some of the skills expected of a New Zealand lock, he proved a quick learner and his sheer size meant that for the first time Buller could be genuinely competitive at line-outs against many of their opponents. The back line had speed to burn and the loose forward trio of Gerard O’Connor, Glenn Elley and Thomas Stuart was one which opposing teams looked at with genuine concern.

Points began to be scored more freely and a 50 per cent record was achieved in terms of wins and losses.

The team developed an eagerness for victory and they sensed not only that they could win but that they would win and anything less would be a disappointment rather than the expected thing.

This team aimed to be good winners rather than good losers.

Marlborough hung on to the Seddon Shield but there were many at Landsdowne Park that day who believe that the old boxing cry of “We wuz robbed!” was never more true. Certainly it was a portent of things to come.

Buller was able to face its opponents with a new confidence and was always likely to finish well up the Division III points table.

Matches played were:

v West Coast at Westport Won 13-12
v Marlborough at Blenheim Lost 10-18 {Seddon Shield}
v Nelson-Bays at Westport Won 21-6
v East Coast at Tokomaru Bay Won 19-15
v North Otago at Oamaru Won 26-10
v Mid-Canterbury at Ashburton Lost 24-3
v South Canterbury at Westport Lost 21-32
v Horowhenua at Westport Lost 10-23

Scorers were:

v West Coast: Thomas Stuart (try), John McHerron (try), Craig Neill (penalty, conversion)
v Marlborough: Craig Neill (try, 2 penalties)
v Nelson-Bays: Graeme O’Dea (try), Thomas Stuart (try), Kerry Roche (drop goal), Craig Neill (try, 2 penalties)
v East Coast: Thomas Stuart (try), Craig Neill (2 tries, 2 conversions, penalty)
v North Otago: Thomas Stuart (try), Glenn Elley (try), Tony O’Dea (2 tries), Gerard O’Connor (try), Craig Neill (3 conversions)
v Mid-Canterbury: Craig Neill (penalty)
v South Canterbury: Tony O’Dea (try), David Baird (5 penalties, conversion)
v Horowhenua: Chris Alexander (try), David Baird (2 penalties)

1991 Players

    Position PL TR CON PEN DG
Placeholder Anthony Patrick 'Tony' O’Dea 8 3 0 0 0
Placeholder Anthony Philip 'Tony' Warren Prop/Lock 1 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Christopher Martin 'Chris' Alexander Scrumhalf 8 1 0 0 0
Craig William Neill Centre, Winger 8 4 6 7 0
Placeholder Danny M. Pratt Lock 8 0 0 0 0
Placeholder David Charles Hix Hooker 8 0 0 0 0
Placeholder David John Baird First Five/Fullback 4 0 3 5 0
Placeholder Dean Robert Lamplough Scrumhalf 2 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Eric J. Thomson Lock 1 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Gerard Joseph O'Connor Flanker 8 1 0 0 0
Placeholder Glenn James Pratt 3 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Glenn Percival Elley Flanker 8 1 0 0 0
Placeholder Graeme William O’Dea Centre 8 1 0 0 0
Placeholder John McHerron Prop 7 1 0 0 0
Placeholder John Patrick Brazil Prop 6 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Julian Kevin Slee First Five 1 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Kerry Peter Roche First Five 8 0 0 0 1
Placeholder Liva Tinoi Lock 8 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Michael Francis Bonisch First Five/Fullback 8 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Paul J. Marris Winger 1 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Robert Francis Cook Centre 6 0 0 0 0
Placeholder Thomas John Stuart Loose Forward 8 4 0 0 0
Placeholder Wayne Thomas Patterson Prop 5 0 0 0 0