Is it just me, or is the Off-Rugby Season getting shorter?? The Club competition gets underway in just over two weeks. If you wish to get a feel for the Tawa RFC Juggernaught, then be at Ngati-Toa this Saturday or Petone the following weekend for the last two pre-season “hit outs!”

Last weekend I took our Teams to Palmerston North for a pre-season game against College Old Boys and then Massey University. To be quite honest, College OB’s looked like they had finished their competition a week before our game – organised, culture, team cohesion and the will to win. The second 20 minutes was played against Massey. While they were waiting to go on the field, I found the Hit Shields and arranged them against the concrete wall. The next thing I knew was Peter Mellon asking me if I enjoyed my sleep. Who knows what happened, but I was there for the “New Boys” initiation. I think the Sportsman Bar did not know what had hit them. The first time I have ever been to a Sportsman Bar with no Rugby on the screen (Banksy??). That aside, it was a great afternoon with the new Boys being welcomed into the Club with genuine feelings. Apparently there was not much Wasabi or Red Chillies left in Manawatu at the end of the day – not to mention the Red, Blue and Gold colours stolen from some Kindy in Tawa.

Sunday was a day spent “Walking for Mental Health” along the Petone Esplanade. An initiative by Wellington Tenths Trust, Eastern Rotary, Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust. A cracker day weather-wise, for a Mike King Foundation cause (a subject close to my heart).

The announcement of General Motors retiring the HOLDEN name came as a bit of a bombshell, but realistically not a total surprise. A lot of people have asked how I feel about this announcement, but quite frankly, having Four Holdens, I don’t think I am affected. And besides, Holden have won Bathurst so many times that it will take the Blue Badges about 30 years to even equal what Holden have done.

The Hurricanes have had 1 loss, 2 wins and one annihilation!! Pretty good start to their Season. This weekend it is the Blues at home.

Our first competition game is against Oriental-Rongotai on 21^st March. I am not sure if this is appropriate or not, but the Committee I know would like to welcome Trent Renata on board as our GDO for 2020 – and beyond for sure.

If we don’t connect before, we shall no doubt meet at Lyndhurst at our first game. Jun, Amy and David had a practice run at Palmy and are “ready to rock” on Tawa TV. If you can’t be there, you can catch the game here http://www.tawarugby.co.nz/tawa-rugby-tv.html. It is awesome. A couple of years ago I was sitting at the Melbourne Grand Prix watching our Boys – totally unreal!

Here’s to Tawa RFC.

Upcoming Preseason Game