Otamatea Rugby Club marked a quarter century of play with a reunion on April 19 and 20 at the Kaiwaka Sports Complex.
Club president, Kevin Robinson, says the reunion was a great success with players, coaches, managers and committee members coming from all over New Zealand to mark the 25 year anniversary.
The Otamatea club was formed in 1988 after a merger between the Maungaturoto and Eastern United clubs.
First five and fullback for the first Otamatea premier team, Todd Morgan, says the merger caused a bit of a shakeup in local rugby and the new team struggled initially with a string of injuries and several players out playing for North Auckland.
“We took some hammerings in that first round and got rubbished by the media, but the following year we came second in the premiership and in 1990 won Cock of the North.”
Kaiwaka’s Russell Kemp, who had played for both at various times and went on to coach for the new club, remembers “a bit of debate” before the decision was made to unite.
“They were two strong sides, each with a lot of club pride, so some were for and some against. But we got there in the end.”
Seven rugby matches were played throughout the day for reunion guests to enjoy, the huge crowd reminding reunion organiser Cheryl Anderson of the old days when the community used to congregate at the sports complex on a Saturday.
The Cawkie Memorial Trophy, in memory of Maungaturoto identity and Hawks supporter Trevor Cawkwell, was awarded to the Golden Oldies Player of the Day, Christine Crow, by Trevor's daughter Tina Holst.
Sky TV’s Grassroots Rugby covered the day's play and held interviews with key club personalities.
The day of rugby concluded with a Gala Dinner and life memberships were awarded to Willie Phillips, Wuzz Phillips, Kim Phillips and John Keighley.
A highlight for the guests was the showing of the 1989 match when Otamatea won the first division against Old Boys at Whangarei’s Okara Park.
■ See photos from the reunion at www.kaiwakasports.co.nz.
