President's Monday Musings

From the pen of Marist St Pats President, John Spillane...

Energised and still very excited by Billy Proctor's call up to the All Blacks and with the big boys battling Johnsonville, a few of us went up to the Clubrooms on Saturday afternoon to prepare for a very special event.

This weekend, the Club was delighted to host the St Pats Town and St Bernard's college 1st XVs and their families, after their clash.

St Pats Town recorded a solid victory – but all accounts are that it was a classic game of two halves, with St Pats flying out of the blocks and winning the first half and the St Bernard's lads fighting back in the second half.

It was an absolute privilege to host both teams and their coaches and managers and a real treat to see so many parents and supporters also make the trek up the hill to be with the boys.

It is always great to have the St Pats boys in their Club and it was an honor to have the St Bernards boys up at Marist St Pats – many for the first time.

I want to share a few observations about the evening:

1: The support these boys get from their coaches and managers is incredible - super professional

2: The generosity of the many parents who prepared the sweat treats that the lads enjoyed after the meal was amazing and appreciated

3: The St Pats Captain (Emilio Bell) and the St Pats Player of the Day (Max Reynolds) are BOTH former Marist St Pats Juniors, as too were many of the other Town 1st XV players. This confirms the Junior club is doing a great job developing players and preparing them for college rugby

4: The players were an absolute delight to host, being polite, mature and easy to engage with - many of the lads coming up to Club members at the end of the night to express their thanks and appreciation for the meal and the effort that the Club had gone to in hosting them

5: It must be a challenge for all parents to keep these lads fed – there were some impressive appetites on display.

I have watched a few 1st XV games this season, so I know that there is a heap of rugby talent coming through both colleges and hopefully some of that talent is heading our way when it is time for these lads to play club rugby. Saturday evening certainly showed me that these guys are not “just” good rugby players but impressive young men and them pulling on the red jersey would benefit us as much as it would benefit the players themselves.

Overall, it was a great afternoon / evening and I want to thank the “officials” from both colleges for accepting our invitation and encouraging their teams, families, and supporters to attend.

I also want to thank the players from both colleges for coming up and remind them that Marist St Pats is open for business, and we look forward to welcoming them into our Club when they have finished college.

And while I am talking about this even I want to give a shout out to some of MSP's finest.

I was proud to see that many of our Colts and a good representation from the Premier 2s made a big effort to get back to the Clubrooms to be there with the college players – their presence, in good numbers and in their No1s was a big positive and it was great for the college boys to see.

And finally,

Please get along to support the Junior Club at their fundraising Quiz Night tomorrow (Tuesday 2 July) – details on the web.

And, let’s get out to Upper Hutt this Saturday in big numbers to support our boys as they kick off the Jubilee Cup round.




This weekend's action - 6 July 2024

Grade Opposition Location
Premier Men
Upper Hutt Rams
Maidstone Park at 2.45pm
Premier 2 Men
Wainuiomata
Kilbirnie Park 3 at 12.30pm
Colts
Poneke
Kilbirnie Park 2 at 12.30pm
Reserve 'Internationals'
OBU '69ers'
Evans Bay Park at 2.45pm
Under 85kg Red
Petone
Hataitai Park at 2.45pm
Presidents 'MH Law Classics'
Wainuiomata Kilbirnie Park 2 at 2.45pm
Netball 1
Wgtn East 9
12.20pm at Akau Tangi Sports Centre
Netball 2
Kia Ora 7
2.30pm at Akau Tangi Sports Centre
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