President's Monday Musings

From the pen of Club President John Spillane...

Apologies to you all for my failure to produce a musing for Monday – but my job got in the way yesterday, which was annoying as it was such an exciting week for the Club.

I am referring of course Billy Proctor’s debut for the All Blacks against the Fijians.

Congratulations Billy Proctor – All Black number: 1215.

Saturday 20 July 2024 will go down in the Club’s history as the day Billy Proctor made his All Black debut, an incredible day for Billy, his family and indeed the wider Marist St Pat’s community.

The entire Club felt immense pride when Billy was named in the All Blacks, but it was doubly so on Saturday as we watched him run onto the field in black - and what a game he played!

I have to say that Billy looked very much at home in that black jersey (which is in many peoples view a natural progression from the royal blue and white of St Pat’s Town and the scarlet of Marist St Pat’s).

And on Saturday we also had Club rugby – with the Premiers and Premier Reserves in their semi-finals.

The Premiers went down to a very determined Wainui while the brave Premiers Reserves fell just a couple of points short of beating Upper Hutt.

Pleasingly the Reserve Internationals continued their winning way with another victory and will play again next week and finally the Presidents had a tough battle with HOBM – with rugby being the winner in that encounter.

So, with the Club season winding up and NPC about to kick off I wanted to highlight the performance of one team in 2024.

I wanted to note that I am really proud of the Premier Reserve side – and I have been all season actually.

They are a team made up of a core of real club men supported each week by players from the Premiers and Colts.

They are a team that never really gets to train as a team and they never really know who they will have in their ranks until they run out on Saturday. Initially they struggled for numbers – as their players were called upon to cover injuries and absences and they have fronted up with very skinny numbers and sometimes even with some specific skills missing from their ranks - but they get together every week and they play bloody good rugby.

In my opinion, these lads are the real heroes of 2024.


They have willingly “shared” their talent with other teams and gratefully accepted the support of anyone who is available to play 40 or 80 minutes on a Saturday.

They have never grizzled when they have had a rough call or been asked to sacrifice for the Club – they have just worked hard, been there for each other and represented the Red Machine with pride every week – no matter who is on or off the field.

They front up to the Clubrooms all the time and I believe that their collective efforts have been the difference in 2024.

I congratulate the Premier Reserves for battling their way to the semi-finals – and thank them all for their efforts over the entire season.

This team epitomizes what the Red Machine is all about.

Thanks to ALL the players who have fronted for this team and to their wonderful coaching and management team – you guys have been selfless in 2024 – and the Club needs more of that as we take on the challenges ahead.


This weekend's action - 27 July 2024

Grade Opposition Location
Premier Men
Season complete

Premier 2 Men
Season complete

Colts
Season complete

Reserve 'Internationals'
OBU '69ers' (Quarter Final)
Kilbirnie Park 2 at 2.45pm
Under 85kg Red
Season complete

Presidents 'MH Law Classics'
Next game on 3 August

Netball 1
WEGC 3
1.25pm at Akau Tangi Sports Centre
Netball 2
Kia Ora 5
2.30pm at Akau Tangi Sports Centre
MoST Content Management V3.0.8886