Wanganui RFU – 2009

We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Wanganui Rugby Union. We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 2015 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin

Back to Year by Year Index click here

2009 Season

2009 Status: Heartland.Championship Founded 1888 – Affiliated 1892 President: M.R.Carroll Chairman: D.R.Hoskin Chief.Executive.Officer: D.S.Cobb Coach: G.R.J.Lennox Assistant Coach: J.M.Caskey Main ground: Cooks Gardens , Wanganui Capacity: 15,000 Colours: Royal Blue, Black and White

---

Wanganui did not dominate the Heartland championship in the manner it had the previous, unbeaten, year. The loss to Wairarapa Bush and later Mid Canterbury reminded the players that victories just do not happen. Poverty Bay felt the reaction following the second loss as Wanganui compiled 104 points in the two clashes on consecutive Saturdays at Cooks Gardens. In the Meads Cup final Mid Canterbury had no answer as Wanganui pulled out all stops in the second half. Guy Lennox proved to be a fine coach and reward for his team’s success was having eight players chosen for the Heartland team.

It was a settled side well led by David Gower. Former West Coast player Lasa Ulukuta, Peter Rowe and Fraser Hammond were excellent loose forwards and John Smyth enjoying a good season at lock. Sheldon O’Hagan, Cole Baldwin and Matt Gilbert were a formidable frontrow. Darren Munro, Nick Cranston, Shaun McDonough and Justin Lock also appeared regularly.

Denning Tyrell and Leon Mason were an experienced inside back pairing. Fraser Middleton, a 22-year-old son of former rep Bruce, was the Origin player and played outstanding rugby, firstly in midfield then at fullback. He scored 12 tries. Asaeli Tikoirotuma was moved from fullback to centre where his speed and skill resulted in eight tries. Cameron Crowley found the tryline more elusive than in 2008. Eighteen year-old schoolboy Waisake Ratunideuba shows promise. Sam Scown, Vance Pereka, Steelie Koro and Ricky Alabaster made regular appearances.

Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland XV: Baldwin, Crowley, Gilbert, Gower, Hammond, Rowe,Tikoirotuma, Ulukuta

Match.Record:	Played 11 ; Won 8 ; Lost 3
Points :	For 363 ; Against 195
1. July 9 vs Wellington at Wanganui
Lost 06 – 61
Wanganui Scorer : Tyrell (2 Penalty Goals)
Referee: B.D.Skeen
2. August 29 vs East Coast, at Wanganui
Won 46 – 06
Wanganui Scorers : Middleton (3),Tikoirotuma (2),Mason, Ratunideuba, Koro tries
Tyrell (3 Conversions)
Referee: G.G.Stuart
3. September 5 vs Wairarapa-Bush, at Masterton
Lost 17– 21
Wanganui Scorers : Ratunideuba, Middleton tries
Tyrell (1 Conversion), Koro (1 Conversion, 1 Penalty Goal)
Referee: N.P.Briant
4. September 12 vs Horowhenua-Kapiti, at Wanganui
Won 37 – 28
Wanganui Scorers : McDonough(2), Scown,Tyrel1,Baldwin, Middleton tries
Tyrell (1 Conversion, 1 Penalty Goal), Koro (1 Conversion)
Referee: S.A.W.Eden-Whaitiri
5. September 19 vs Buller, at Westport
Won 13 – 07
Wanganui Scorers : Middleton try
Tyrell (1 Conversion, 2 Penalty Goals)
Referee: N.P.Briant
6. September 26 vs West Coast, at Wanganui
Won 33 – 09
Wanganui Scorers : Middleton, Crowley, Ratunideuba,McDonough tries
Tyrell (1 Conversion, 3 Penalty Goals), Alabaster (1 Conversion)
Referee: S.M.Elliott
7. October 3 vs South Canterbury, at Wanganui
Won 59 – 14
Wanganui Scorers : Middleton (3), Tikoirotuma (3), Tyrell (2), Crowley tries
Tyrell (7 Conversions)
Referee: G.R.Newman
8. October 10 vs Mid Canterbury, at Wanganui
Lost 14 – 23
Wanganui Scorers : Crowley, Tyrell tries
Tyrell (2 Conversions)
Referee: J.S.C.McPhail
9. October 17 vs Poverty Bay, at Wanganui
Won 56 – 00
Wanganui Scorers : Tikoirotuma (2), Crowley (2),Middleton, Hammond, Rowe, Gower tries
Tyrell (4 Conversions, 2 Penalty Goals), Alabaster (1 Conversion)
Referee: M.I.Fraser
10. October 24 vs Poverty Bay, at Wanganui ( Meads Cup Semi Final )
Won 48 – 13
Wanganui Scorers : Ratunideuba (3), Ulukuta, Middleton, Crowley, Cranston tries
Tyrell (1 Conversion, 3 Penalty Goals), Alabaster (1 Conversion)
Referee: N.P.Briant
11. October 31 vs Mid Canterbury, at Christchurch ( Meads Cup Final )
Won 34 – 13
Wanganui Scorers : Hammond, Tikoirotuma, Ulukuta, Pereka tries
Tyrell (4 Conversions, 1 Penalty Goal), Mason (1 Drop Goal)
Referee: M.I.Fraser
APPEARANCES For Wanganui RFU (2009 – Career) N.Adrole Kaierau 3 – 39 R.A.Alabaster Taihape 8 – 20 C.Baldwin Pirates 11 – 40 N.Cranston Ruapehu 10 – 10 C.J.Crowley Marist 11 – 21 M.Davis Coastal * 1 – 11 J.R.Edwards Ratana 1 – 31 M.J.Fitzgerald College OB *** 1 – 23 M.B.Gilbert Utiku OB 11 – 42 D.B.Gower Ruapehu 10 – 28 A.Hamilton Marist 3 – 3 F.C.Hammond Ruapehu 10 – 24 S.P.Koro Marist 7 – 32 J.D.Lock Marist 10 – 30 S.M.McDonough Ruapehu 11 – 19 S.Madams Marist 1 – 1 L.H.T.Mason Ratana 11 – 62 F.Middleton Petone ** 10 – 10 D.Munro Kaierau 10 – 14 S.P.R.O’Hagan Ruapehu 10 – 45 V.A.Pereka Ratana 9 – 9 S.B.Ratima Hunterville 2 – 17 W.Ratunideuba Wanganui City College 11 – 11 P.G.Rowe Ruapehu 11 – 59 S.Scown Marist 10 – 10 J.Smyth Pirates 11 – 31 F.So’olefai Inglewood * 1 – 10 M.H.Thompson Pirates 1 – 60 A.T.Tikoirotuma Kaierau 11 – 38 D.I.Tyrell Kaierau 11 – 69 L.Ulukutu Kaierau 9 – 9
* = Taranaki RU  / ** = Wellington RU  / *** = Manawatu RU