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A WEEK OF ACHIEVEMENTS FOR ARMY RUGBY LEAGUE
The inter-service RNZN vs NZ Army Men’s rugby league match took place at Trentham last month, with respective teams squaring off for a one-off game to determine who would claim the Waaka Otene Cup and Mad Butcher Inter-Service Trophy, which had previously been played for and won by NZ Army in 2018.
The match was a very competitive, hard-fought affair, as you would expect from Service rivalry, played on a heavy track at Trentham Camp’s Davis Field.
A game which could have gone either way was epitomised by the result going down to the dying stages of the game. The final result in a see-sawing match was an 18–12 win to Navy. Point scorers for NZ Army were inspirational captain SGT Darcy Cook and PTE Daniel Vaivela with a try apiece. SPR Hosea Taripo converted both tries with his smooth goal kicking style.
The evening function was hosted by NZ Army Code Rep CAPT Barrie Law which included the reading of the ode in Te Reo Māori (delivered by CPL Tane Robertson-Raupita) followed by a minute’s silence to recognise the fallen ADF soldiers from EX Talisman Sabre’s helicopter incident.
NZDF Code Chairman CPO Pete
Furjes RNZN shared his vision for forthcoming events in the NZDF rugby league space which includes pathways for women’s rugby league. Code Champion COL Ant
Blythen acknowledged Army’s Player of the Day SGT Darcy Cook and also presented pockets and ties to new players: PTE Jayton Lawrie; CPL Julius Faualii; LCPL
Paula Havea; SGT Joe Lole; CPL Tane Robertson-Raupita; LBDR Shea Te Hae-Duncan; SSGT Marshell Oldehaver; PTE EdwardJames Olsen; BDR Gus Nove; SPR Charles Schumann; and PTE Daniel Vaivela.
At the conclusion of formalities the tournament squad was named.
LCPL Paula Havea; SPR Hosea Taripo; SGT Darcy Cook; LCPL Timoti Nicholls; SGT Solomua Falemai; SGT Sonny Watson; and PTE Daniel Vaivela all featuring in the combined paper team selection. Although the squad were feeling disappointed having to accede to their Navy counterparts, it was a week of achievements for NZ Army Men’s Rugby League with eleven rookie players being blooded; NZ Army Coach SSGT Johnny Pritchard taking over the reins as NZDF Services Coach (SGT Malua Tupa’i assumes his new role of NZ Army Coach); a good mix of NZ Army personnel selected in the tournament squad; and more over the reinvigoration of NZ Army and Services Rugby League.
