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Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz |
Te Puna Rugby Club were forced to play the waiting game last year, as they counted down to the club's centennial year in 2019.
The club, who wear the dark blue and black uniform with absolute pride, will join fellow Western Bay of Plenty rugby clubs in Katikati, Rangiuru, Rangataua, Matakana Island and Judea in celebrating 100 years of playing the great game.
Today, the Te Puna headquarters at Maramatanga Park caters for all rugby aspirations.
The club has been renowned over the years for running a large junior rugby program, that kicks-off with school newbies through to the transition to secondary school rugby.
The premier team has come of age in the last decade and last season led the Baywide competition for most of preliminary rounds, before falling to Te Puke Sports in the Baywide Premier One final.
Te Puna provides a pathway for aspiring players through their Development and Western Bay Reserve sides.
The most popular and enthusiastic team that wears the Blue and Black uniform is the clubs Presidents Grade side.
The Pressie boys claim that they have their rugby priorities in the right order, with socialising after the match the reason for a jog on the rugby field.
Right from the start in 1919, Te Puna has produced a long list of players who have gone on to Bay of Plenty and higher honors.
One of the first Te Puna players to make his mark at first class level was club legend David "Davie" Borrell.
The Maori All Black wrote his name into Bay of Plenty Rugby history, when he scored all the Bay's points against the 1921 Springboks in the Boks 17-9 win at Arawa Park in Rotorua.
Katikati and Rangiuru have unique positions in rugby history in the country in that they were established in the late 1800's, both preceding the formation of the Tauranga Rugby Union.
Katikati Rugby Club was established in a world far removed from today in 1880, and became a foundation club of both the Goldfields (Thames Valley) and Bay of Plenty Rugby Unions.
It's recorded that Katikati played Tauranga Rugby Club team on the 31st July 1880, which was believed to be the first Bay of Plenty inter-club game.
Rangiuru made its debut in 1891 and the club who are extremely proud of their early rugby start - wrapped up a return to premier one rugby when they took out the Baywide Premier Two title last season.
The first time the large band of Te Puna members and supporters, will have the opportunity to celebrate 100 years of rugby in their countryside, will come in February at the hugely popular Te Puna Tens.
The ten-aside rugby tournament attracts teams from throughout the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato to a day of razzle-dazzle rugby.
Te Puna set up the perfect start to their centenary celebrations, going into their home tournament as the defending champions, after defeating Hangarau (Bethlehem) in last year's title decider.