The Tomarata RFC senior team have managed to turn around their slow start to the season to now have won their last four competition games in succession – losing only their opening match to Southern RFC of Te Kopuru in the Northland second division competition.  Last weekend’s game on 28 April saw Tomarata run riot over Dargaville Old Boys with a cricket match scoreline at home.   Coach Joe Harding and Technical Advisor Brian Stephens have been able to tighten up defensive lines, and raise the skill level with quick passing maneouvres being one of the features with a feast of tries scored. A week earlier saw Tomarata defeat Kaihu Valley (near the Waipoua Forest) by more than a forty point margin, in what has usually been a tightly contested tussle over the years.  Tomarata now face Ruawai in an away game on Saturday 5th May which again will be a close match between two evenly contested teams. Nevertheless the clash so far for the season seems to be looming on Saturday 12 May with a home game at Tomarata to Brynderwyn rivals Waipu who also have also started the season on a winning roll.  Last time the two sides met, Tomarata triumphed at Caledonia Park by 20points to 7.  This game could well be a weathervane fixture as to how the Tomarata season shapes up at the business end of the season for the club.  New Tomarata President Dave Korach is urging local supporters to get to this next home game against Waipu with a 2pm kickoff, and to get in behind the Tomarata campaign for 2012. With up to twenty-seven players turning up to home fixtures on some occasions competition between the players is intense.  Still this does always translate for the away games, with the coaching staff still having to urge players to step up and travel for the matches away from home. Fixtures for Tomarata RFC over the next six weeks, with all games kicking off at 2pm. May Sat 5th    Ruawai          away Sat 12th  Waipu          home at Tomarata Sat 19th Whangaruru     away Sat 26   Pipiwai             away June Sat 2nd  Kaihu Valley  home at Tomarata Sat 9th   City                 away

This is the updated 2012 draw

Draw 2012

The Tomarata Rugby Club’s senior team have had two pre-season warm up matches recently, losing both games, largely due to a lack of match fitness.  Saturday 10 March saw Tomarata go down 10 – 29 to the Lloyd Moors XV from West Auckland, in a regular pre-season exchange, while a week earlier Tomarata went down to Carlton RFC 2nd XV from Auckland by a similiar margin.

Despite fielding a strong team on paper, plus the use of twelve reserves, and with the game run in quarters, Tomarata’s lack of fitness showed and the Lloyd Moors XV were able to control play for most of the game, opening up a 19 – 0 lead at one stage.  Tomarata managed to come back with two unconverted tries, but at no stage threatened the Moors XV, who were ably marshalled by Lloyd Moors himself – a former State of Hawaii rugby representative in the 1980′s – even managing to run on and play most of second half in the front row.   Nevertheless the fact that Tomarata could select from twenty-seven players, and still not make much impact as far as the final result went, shows that there is still plenty of work to do for the senior side.

Tomarata’s first competition game is Saturday 17 March against Southern RFC from Te Kopuru.   Tomarata RFC are playing in the Northern Wairoa – Northland Second Divison competition, with most of their early competition games being away fixtures, and with their next home game at Tomarata against Ruawai on Easter Saturday  7 April

Draw for next month, and all games kick-off at 2.00pm.

Sat 17  March    v  Southern RFC  (Te Kopuru)   away
Sat 23  March    Bye
Sat 31  March    v  Dargaville Old Boys RFC      away
Sat   7  April       v  Ruawai  RFC                      home
Sat 14 April        v  Kaihu Valley RFC               away

Tomarata RFC seniors have commenced training for the start of the 2012 rugby season and hope to improve on last seasons results.  Despite beating both eventual finalists (Pipiwai and Waipu) in round-robin in last season’s Northland second division competition Tomarata failed to make the top four in the eleven team competition.  The past couple of seasons have seen a gradual improvement by the Tomarata senior side, from where in 2010 they beat Southern RFC (Te Kopuru) for the first time ever, and last year - Waipu for the first time since the 1980′s, proving that on their day, Tomarata can match it with the more fancied clubs.

Brian Stephens, a former New Lynn Stags rugby league coach with six Auckland championships at various levels to his credit, has been brought on board by the Tomarata RFC coaching team as the technical advisor. Brian was also an assistant coach in years gone by, for the Marist-Richmond Bartercard Cup league team. His strengths lie in advancing a players skill level, and replicating those skills on the playing field.  He was also an ex Auckland Warriors talent scout.  Brian will be assisting current coach Joe Harding in the Tomarata RFC coaching set-up, and will also be involved offering his knowledge with the junior teams, once their season gets underway in April.  The Tomarata senior team will be managed again by Ray Grindlay.  The first compeition game, though not confirmed, is expected to be Saturday 17 March.

Pre-season practices are Tuesday nights from 6.30pm at the clubrooms.  Player enquiries to Joe Harding  021  0697-186, or Brian Stephens  4314-224.

The next monthly club meeting is on Tuesday 7 February from 7.30pm at the clubrooms.

Tomarata beating Waipu, July 2011 for the first time since the 1980's, something the senior team want to replicate again in 2012

Patron – Paddy Atkins

President – Dave Korach

Vice Pres – Jel Atkins

Secretary – Dave Donnelly

Treasurer – Robert Scott

Club Capt – Joe Harding

Senior Coach – Joe Harding

Technical Advisor – Brian Stephens

Senior Manager – Ray Grindlay

Bar Manager – Gordon Fox

Rodney RFU Delegate – Alec McQuarrie

Junior Rugby – Mike Eagle, Mike Hutton, Andrew Dunlop & Grant Marwick

Groundsman – Tony  Lenssen

This game just had to be won. The wind was blowing a gale
across the field but otherwise conditions were near perfect
for a big game.

A flash back to the week before, Ten red devils including a
few crusty supporters stood on a sodden rain swept field in
Whangarei and faced off against a full City team. Tomarata
played a truly determined game and believe it or not walked
away with a win.  Tomarata 8   City  5 . City  were gracious
in defeat and the welcome was still as good as ever at their
club rooms.

The next week and Waipu are a tempting prospect. Second on
the table and still thinking about their  narrow one point
victory last time they played T rata at home they were going
to be a real good fight. This was a sort of cross roads for
the T rata side. Lose this game and there would be no chance
of a spot in the semi finals, win and…. the games on.

The Red Devils came out firing, the running and tackling was
fierce and no quarter was given on either side. It was still
tight as a snappers when the first half ground try-less to a
close. Tomarata   3  -  Waipu   0

It was expected in the second half that Waipu would try to
turn the game with thier own brand of determination plus a
whole lot of forward pick and go. The red defence was up to
it and not only first but second points were theirs. Waipu
fought back hard and scored then converted to put a win only
one more converted try away. A few fists flew as emotions
ran high and tempers frayed. Supporters enjoyed a great
contest.

Then cue the Flying Fijian putting in his normal
contribution and the game was won convincingly.

Full Time Score:  Tomarata 20  -  Waipu 7

Next game is home against Whangarei Old Boys, kick off 2.00
pm.
Be there to support your team.

Here are some pictures from the Tomarata v Pipiwai game,
Tomarata 26 Pipiwai 20.  A runaway intercept try to Richie Lockington late in the game sealed it for Tomarata.

Onerahi narrowly edged out the Red Devils in a tough first
round encounter and this game on their home turf promised to
be another hard one.

In that respect nobody was disappointed.

The Tomarata team started with an intensity that seemed to
catch Onerahi off guard. In a flash the boys had scored
their first try and looked like they were going to dominate.

Despite a Tomarata scrum pushing their opponents off the
ball and looking every bit like one of the best forward
packs for a while, Onerahi woke up and made steady  progress
with a bunch of pick and goes. Only sheer grit and
determination halted Onerahi on the try line.

Two penalty kicks were gratefully taken and scored by
Tomarata before Onerahi pushed over for a try to end the
first half.

Half Time Score:  Tomarata   11  -  Onerahi   5

The boys were warned about resting but the second half had
only just got underway when Onerahi battered their way to
two more tries. Then an extended series of penalties against
the Red Devils and a sin binning created an agonising watch
for spectators with the home side ahead by 3 points.

Then against the general run of play the flying Fijian
scored to seemingly seal the game.

With just minutes to go and a win almost in the bag Onerahi
scored an easy try and defeat was stolen from the jaws of
victory.

Full Time Score:  Tomarata 23  -  Onerahi 25

Next game is at home against Pipiwai, kick off 2.00 pm. Be
there to support your team.