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 13 Mar	2:30 pm	A	Representative	Sunshine Coast (Aus)	07 - 19	Match Center
Sat 20 Mar	2:30 pm	A	Representative	Gold Coast (Aus)	00 - 10	Match Center
Sat 27 Mar	2:30 pm	A	Representative	Darling Downs (Aus)	05 - 03	Match Center
Tue 06 Apr	2:30 pm	H	Ranfurly Shield	Auckland	03 - 48	Match Center
Sat 05 Jun	2:30 pm	H	Div3 - NPC	West Coast	33 - 10	Match Center
Sat 24 Jul	2:30 pm	A	Seddon Shield	Nelson Bays	17 - 10	Match Center
Wed 18 Aug	2:30 pm	H	Div3 - NPC	Thames Valley	23 - 09	Match Center
Sat 21 Aug	2:30 pm	A	Div3 - NPC	Marlborough	37 - 22	Match Center
Sat 04 Sep	2:30 pm	H	Div3 - NPC	Whanganui	05 - 15	Match Center
Wed 08 Sep	2:30 pm	H	Div3 - NPC	Horowhenua Kapiti	14 - 39	Match Center
Sat 18 Sep	2:30 pm	A	Div3 - NPC	East Coast	21 - 28	Match Center
Wed 22 Sep	2:30 pm	A	Div3 - NPC	North Otago	05 - 25	Match Center
Sat 25 Sep	2:30 pm	A	Div3 - NPC	Mid Canterbury	13 - 10	Match Center

THE 1993 SEASON:

The 1993 season so far has been a successful one for Buller in terms of prestige, if not in terms of actual win percentages.

For the first time in the history of the Union an overseas trip was organised and Buller played three matches in Queensland, winning two, against Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast and narrowly losing one to a strong Darling Downs XV.

For the players there was the strange experience of playing a game in a tropical cyclone as well as the opportunity of meeting teams from a different country with different social and cultural standards but an equally keen interest in Rugby.

This tour took place pre-season not only as a celebration of Buller’s centennial but also as preparation for a unique event in the history of Buller Rugby, a challenge for the Ranfurly Shield to be played in Buller’s home territory.

In April, shortly after the team returned from Australia, Buller challenged Auckland for the Ranfurly Shield and surprised the mighty Auckland team with the ferocity of their approach which restricted the holders to 10-3 at half time.

Although Auckland finally stretched their margin to 48-3, Buller gained an immense amount of pride and kudos from their never-say-die approach to the game which showed people all over New Zealand that Rugby is indeed, alive and well in Buller.

The quality of Buller’s performance in this game was shown only four days later when 1991 National Champions and 1992 runners-up, Otago, conceded 63 points to Auckland. also on their home ground.

Results this season:

v Sunshine Coast at Noosa Won 19-10
v Gold Coast at Carrara Won 10-0
v Darling Downs at Toowoomba Lost 5-3
v Auckland at Westport Lost 48-3 {Ranfurly Shield}
v West Coast at Westport Won 33-10
v Nelson-Bays at Nelson Lost 17-10 {Seddon Shield}
v Thames Valley at Westport Won 23-9
v Marlborough at Blenheim Lost 37-22
v Wanganui at Westport Lost 5-15
v Horowhenua at Westport Lost 39-14
v East Coast at Tolaga Bay Won 28-21
v North Otago at Oamaru Won 25-5
v Mid Canterbury at Ashburton Lost 13-10

Points scorers :

v Sunshine Coast: Malcolm Lamont, Glenn Elley, Robert Cook (tries), Tony Pratt (2 conversions).
v Gold Coast: Tony O’Dea, Thomas Stuart (tries).
v Darling Downs: Tony Pratt (penalty)
v Auckland: Tony Pratt (penalty)
v West Coast: Cook (2), Masterson , Bess, Patterson (tries) ; Roche (conversion, 2 Penalties)
v Nelson-Bays: Brazil (try) ; A.Pratt (conversion , penalty)
v Thames Valley: Roche, Materson, Neill (tries) ; Neill (conversion , 2 Penalties)
v Marlborough: Patterson , Elley, Bonisch (tries) ; Roche (2 conversions, Penalty)
v Wanganui: Elley (try)
v Horowhenua: Stuart (try) ; A.Pratt (3 penalties)
v East Coast: Stuart, Cook , O’Connor (tries) ; Roche ( 2 conversions, 3 Penalties)
v North Otago: Patterson , Stuart, O’Connor, Alexander (tries) O’Dea (conversion, penalty goal)
v Mid Canterbury: Walsh , Brazil (tries)

excerpt from Rugby Almanac 1994

Buller had another satisfactory season with four championship wins, including a meritorious victory over semi-finalist Thames Valley. There was a reasonable showing in the Ranfurly Shield challenge and a good performance in the Seddon Shield game against Nelson Bays. With two wins and a narrow loss in Queensland early in the season the Buller players acquitted themselves well on this tour.

The strength of the team lay in its very efficient forward pack which was seldom bettered in the championship games. The captain, Glen Elley, who has given monumental service to his union, passed his century of games and again showed outstanding form in the loose. He was well supported by Thomas Stuart and Gerard O’Connor. John Brazil, a big, powerful prop, was a most effective tight forward. Others to excel in this department were Wayne Patterson and Malcolm Lamont.

Veteran Michael Bonisch, playing in the five-eighths line this year, was as usual a great asset to the team. Ken Roche and Chris Alexander combined well and Robert Cook was steady at centre. Newcomers David Masterson and Reece Walsh showed promise on the wings.