NewsLetter 4 December 2009
SEASONS GREETING TO YOU ALL.
WHAT A YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!

Yes in our first year as an amalgamated club, Old Boys Marist (OBM) has had a very successful year, outstanding points of interest must be -
Silverware in the cupboard includes - Abraham Cup - in our first year as a combined club OBM won the Abraham Cup, something neither Club has done previously for over 25 years ( Marist 1983 HSOB late 70's ). The Abraham Cup, which has been awarded since 1907, is awarded to the Club gaining superiority across all grades of Manawatu Senior Club Rugby, a huge achievement for any club.
OBM had 5 of its 7 teams in either Finals or Semi Finals this year, a great effort - Senior 1st: Semi Finalists in the Hankin Shield, Senior 2nds: Finalists in the Houlihan Cup, Senior Reserve: Finalists in the Senior Reserve Cup, Premier Colts: Semi Finalists in the Gordon Brown Cup, 19's Won the Evans Cup, Colts A and Presidents also had great seasons.
The Senior 1st claimed the last remaining spot in the top 6 to challenge for the Hankin Shield with a hard fought win over Linton Army. Their competition then stepped up a gear with matches against -
College Old Boys (losing 5 v 11), Kia Toa (losing 35 v 10), Varsity (winning 14 v 9), Feilding (20 all draw), and Linton (winning 43 v 12). These results secured them a place in the Semi Final of the Hankin Shield competition where they played Kia Toa, the result being a win to Kia Toa who then went on to win the 2009 Hankin Shield.
Whilst at OBM we acknowledge all our Coaches and Manager, I feel a special mention must go to Brett "Steady" Davis and Kane "KB" Barry who did an outstanding job with the Senior 1st. The pressure on Brett and Kane to bring not only Marist and High School Old Boys players together, but also incorporate some outstanding talent from outside our two great Clubs, was immense and the expectation was huge. Well done lads !!! The Senior 1st also claimed the following Inter-club trophies - Higgins Concrete Shield for victory over Feilding, Douglas Shearman Cup for victory over Te Kawau and Desmond Cup for victory over Linton.
This years major Club Awards were as follow -
OBM 19's had an outstanding year winning the Evans Cup, well done boys this is the second year in a row that our 19's have won their grade.
Senior 1st player Willie Ioane was in Dave Rennie's World Cup winning New Zealand Under 20's team and finalists for 2009 Manawatu Junior Sportsperson of the Year, the award was won by his fellow

U20 World Cup winning prop Ma'afu Fia.
Senior 1st Number 8 Peniasi Tokacece took out the Manawatu Senior Rugby “Best & Fairest " Award. This is the fourth year in a row that a Marist / Old Boys Marist player has won this award.
Best Trainer - Houlihan Cup - Cees Groot
Best Tackler - Brother Aloysius Cup - John Litter
Best and Fairest - Cam Stewart Memorial - Peniasi Tokakece
Most Points Off Boot - Robin O’Neil Cup - Cambell Patterson
Most Tries in Season - O’Callahan Cup - Gerald Bennett-Davies
Best Attacking Player - Brian Finlay Memorial - Jesse Milne

Captain with Most Initiative - John Berry Cup - Alastair Cadzow
Player who contributes the most to the Club - Maurice-Calcott Cup - Reece Robinson
Most Improved Club Player - Ronald McDonald Memorial - Stacy Chaning
Best Winning Team Percentage - Thomas Safey Memorial - Senior 2nds
Best Team Performance - Biss Cup - 19's;
Coach of Year - Senior Cup - Kane Barry & Brett Davis
Most Promising Club Person - Marist Brothers Cup - Bruce Buckley
Exemplary services to the Club - Irvine Roberston Cup - Phil Metcalf

Best Club Spirit - J Oakley Cup - Nathan Iwikau
Tod Seed Cup - Outstanding Service Award - Paul O'Brien
Committee Cup - Loyal Service Award - Sue Curtis
Supporter of Year - DB Trophy - Vince Larsen
Rutherford Cup - Malcolm Burr
Player of Year- Fearon Cup - Chris Long.
Well done to all our Players, Coaches & Managers.
OBM was also pleased to see the following players being selected for higher honours namely:

Willie Ioane - NZ Under 20's World Cup Winner
Johnny Leota - Super 14
Sean O'Connor - Super 14 Development
Lisiate Fa'aoso - Tongan team to tour UK.
Turbos: Johnny Leota, Sean O'Connor, Reece Robinson, Francis Bryant, Lisiate Fa'aoso, Willie Ioane.
Manawatu Development: Peniasi Tokacece, Paul Rodgers, Waisea Qoikata.
We congratulate them and all other players selected for higher honours.
During this years Air New Zealand Cup Johnny Leota played his 50th first class game for Manawatu. I believe that Johnny is the Clubs first player to achieve 50th matches for province a great achievement. Johnny was also recognized at the MRU Annual Awards for having played 43 consecutive matches for Manawatu.
We had two players attend IRANZ development courses, for up and coming OBM rugby players of the future, namely Liam Squires and John Missen.

John Mission was awarded the Michael Higgins Memorial Scholarship for 2009. We also hope to have Brett Davis and Kane Barry attend IRANZ Coaching Courses shortly.
Our Club was recognized in the annual Manawatu Sports Clubs of the Year Awards being winners in the following categories -
Manawatu Sports Clubs Operational Development Excellence Award - for OBM's ground breaking move with the amalgamation of our two great Clubs.
Manawatu Sports Volunteer of the Year Award Winner - Malcolm Burr for input into Marist and Old Boys Marist.
I also believe that we had three of our Coaches nominated in the New Zealand Volunteer Coach of the Year Awards - Brett Davis, Kane Barry and Paul O'Brien - well done.
A debrief of all our 2009 Coaches and Managers was undertaken in September / October and we are proud to announce that Brett Davis and Kane Barry have been re-appointed Senior 1st Coaches for 2010. Other coaching appointments will be announced in the new year with an early indication that most, if not all, our 2009 Coaches and Managers will be back in 2010.
Our Website is now live and being enhanced regularly. OBM's Website is administered by Bruce and Debra Buckley and we thank them for a great job! Should you have any input into the Website, please contact Bruce or Debra at thebuckleys@xtra.co.nz We encourage you to visit this website: www.pnobmaristrugby.co.nz.

Melbourne Cup Function, at the Silks Lounge Awapuni Racecourse, was once again a great success this year, as was the Marist Sports Chairman's and St Paddy's Day functions.
NZ Marist Colts Tour 2009 this year's touring squad assembled in Wellington on the 28th August, playing four games in Masterton, Palmerston North, Wanganui and New Plymouth. The squad is made up of under 23 year players and this year's successful OBM Player was Boey Pearce. NZ Marist played a night match against an OBM selection and took out the match 23 v 5.
NZ Marist also organised a Heartlands XV rugby match, in association with the NZRU, this match brought together the best Marist players and the best of the Heartlands players, those involved in the Meads and Lochore Cup competition, in a match in Masterton on 14th November. Our OBM players involved in this match were our NZ U20's World Cup winning player Willie Ioane and our MRU Development player Waisea Qoikata, the score being NZ Marist 23 Heartlands XV 11, the match featured on Sky Sport 1. Willie Ioane was named the most promising player of the match, he has also been nominated for NZ Marist Player of the Year which shall be decided in February 2010.
NZ Marist Spillane Tournament 2009 also went well for OBM with our Senior 2nd team winning the Liston Cup, and our Senior 1st getting to the final of the Division 2 Ham Cumming Cup where they were beaten 13 v 10 by Napier Old Boys Marist. Reece Robinson was named in the NZ 2009 Spillane Tournament Team. 2010 Spillane is in Hastings on 13th / 14th March 2010.
OBM AGM was held in November and the following members were elected to the Management Committee for 2010 - Howard Heap, Peter Clark, Jim Lyons, Mark Gleeson, Bruce Buckley, Sue Curtis, Paul O'Brien, Bill Anderson, Phil Monk, Malcolm Burr. Others appointed to support were Kevin Tod, Phil Metcalf, Peter Loveridge, Martin Brady, Glynis Lye.
OBM is looking for a Secretary for 2010 this role can be as varied as you desire the primary role being Minute taking at our monthly board meetings.
Personally I would like to thank everyone who was involved with OBM Rugby during 2009. Without all of your support, our great Club would not have enjoyed the success it has in its first year of operation. So many thanks and we look forward to your continued involvement in 2010 and beyond. Also a reminder if you are not already on the MRU database as a volunteer get yourself on this list it does offer benefits, feel free to contact Martin Brady in this regard.
Also a big thank you to all our 2009 Sponsors, without your support we would not be able to continue, we look forward to your continued involvement in 2010. Come on everybody support our Sponsors!
Higgins Group

Tui / DB
NZ Teamwear / Canterbury
Manawatu Toyota
Malbas Bar & Nightclub
Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers
Peter Clark - Silvester Clark
Shamrock Club Members
Marist Sports Club

New Zealand Community Trust
Infinity Foundation
Perry Foundation
Kia Toa RFC Gaming
Paul O'Brien - Asteron
Chester's Plumbing & Bathroom
Humphries Construction
MediaWorks Radio Manawatu

Rangitikei Meat Distributors - Gleeson Family
Ezibuy - Gillespie Family
The Empty Vessel
Ag Design
AMP Insurance
Barstow Insurance Brokers
Blackmore & Associates
Brushstrokes

CLM Lido Aquatic Centre
Contel
Duncan Campbell
Fraser Brothers
Gunn & Cotton Auditors & Accountants
M R Curd Chartered Accountant
McCartney Woolford Insurances

NZCU Baywide
New Balance New Body Fitness Centre
NewBuild Home Finance
Ora 3
Phil Metcalf
Powa Products
Signify Limited
Stephen Parsons House of Travel
Twin Agencies

Tod Seeds
Tom Chisholm
Wenham Grain & Seed.
Finally should you wish to be placed on the OBM mailing list, or know of anybody who might, please contact us at P O Box 4093 PN or at burr.family@xtra.co.nz We currently have over 250 on this database but need your help to continue to grow our membership.
2010 will undoubtedly be another demanding rugby year, we need you support, see you all in 2010. To all our Coaches, Managers, Committee Members etc etc a BIG thank you for all your help, long hours and outstanding support, Merry Xmas to you and your families have a great break see you all back on deck in February.
Regards Malcolm