Newsletter - Thurs 22nd June
Welcome to this week’s newsletter!
Congratulations to Will Jordan and the newest All Blacks member Dallas McLeod for being named in the first ABs squad of 2023.
Along with Quintin Strange being named in the All Blacks XV.
The club couldn’t be prouder to have 7 internationals across the All Blacks, All Black XV and Black Ferns!
We have a big weekend coming up for our Women’s side with the Women’s Premier Final being held at CFC this Saturday at 2:45pm.
The club is also proud to announce Kaylee Tavendale’s 100th game which is an incredible achievement!
We wish Kaylee and the team well for the game.
JEN MULLER – OPERATIONS MANAGER
A big hearty welcome to Jen Muller!
Jen joined the CFC team this Monday, replacing Jimmy Frood as our new Operations Manager.
Jen will be responsible for managing our motel, bar, restaurant, functions, and events and will work with the existing CFC team to help promote our onsite facilities.
Jen comes with a wealth of knowledge & experience in the Hospitality & Marketing sectors & she's super excited to get stuck in & make a positive impact.
10 Fun Facts about Jen:
Biggest accomplishments: Convincing her partner to move to Christchurch & purchasing her dream car.
Fur Baby: A lazy Dog called 'Zeus' a 100+kg English Mastiff.
Jen played Rugby throughout High School in Dunedin & her family had a box at the “House of Pain”.
Jen was born into hospitality; her Mum owned a couple of restaurants, and her biological dad once worked as a Chef for Donald Trump.
Fav thing to do in her spare time: Going on Sunday drives in her Ford Mustang & Classic Car shows.
Fav Rugby Players: Ruby Tui & Richie McCaw
Fav Foods: Slow-cooked meat, Red Liquorice & her mum’s cooking.
Fav Drinks: Coconut Milk Coffee, Rum & Coke & Central Otago Pinot Noir
Fav Bands: Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles & L.A.B
Fav Sporting Legends: Muhammad Ali, Dennis Rodman & Usain Bolt.
If you see Jen around, please say hi & welcome her to our CFC family!
BAR OPENING HOURS – Fri 23rd 5pm-9pm
Sat 24th 11am-late
Friday Nights Under Lights – hopefully the weather plays ball and we can host a number of CFC teams Friday night. The club rooms will be open to keep you warm while you support your children, with the bar and Eat Food Truck available to service some delicious kai.
Women’s Final this Saturday!!!
This is a huge day for our CFC club hosting the Women’s Premier final, so we want to see you here in your red and black supporting the team – prizes available for the best dressed, best banner and loudest supporter along with prizes from the Eat Food Truck.
We will also be live screening the final after the final!! So get your team, friends and family together and come and wathc the game at the clubrooms and support our club bar and restaurant at the same time!
Eat Food Truck will be available and coffee van onsite.
CFC WEEKLY DRAWS
Official link to the Junior Draws click here
Official link to the Senior Draws click here
FROM THE SIDELINE
PREMIER MENS REPORT
Sumner 21 v Christchurch 15
What a difference a week can make. After some obvious soul searching and a good practice, a different Christchurch team fronted up at Christchurch Park on Saturday.
Difference in attitude that is.
They welcomed back the young but impressive Saipele Atonio at No 7.
Also a welcome on board to two young Irish players Tom Mulcair at lock and Calum Dowling at No 6. Both having come over to further their rugby education through the Crusaders academy.
What a difference all three made.
Their combined efforts raised the standard, and everyone bought in and followed in with what was a very pleasing performance.
In difficult conditions in the wet, whilst they didn’t quite achieve the result they wanted, they certainly raised the bar from previous weeks.
Sumner currently sit in 7th place on the table and have knocked over a couple of good sides this season.
The forward pack played well and were unlucky not to get over the line a couple of times. We dominated in the loose ball area. Lineouts were not quite so good. Too often good opportunities were lost near the Sumner line when we overthrew to the back.
The scrum was solid until the final 15 minutes when some changes were made.
Dominic Brankin continues to improve at lock and made a couple of good runs.
He was rewarded for his efforts with a good first half try.
Mitch Barry kicked much better than last week at fly half and gained good territory with a number of his kicks. However, there were a number of kicks undertaken by various other players when better options were available.
What we lack at the moment is a game breaker in the backline. Wil Gaulter being pulled on the morning of the match did not help our cause.
However, the reason being that he is required as backup for the Crusaders in the final this week if anyone comes down injured is understandable.
Summary of the action as follows:
Sumner opened the scoring when we lost the ball near the halfway and they put a kick behind our defence which their No 8 scooped on and went over unopposed.
Five minutes later after a series of rucks on the Sumner line Brankin crashed over 7-7.
Three minutes later Sumner again grabbed the lead, when they went wide from a scrum. The pass to the wing was clearly forward but not picked up. It seemed the Axemen on the balcony were better positioned than the touchie or the referee, and clearly made their feelings known. Fortunately, there was a barrier between them and the field.
Christchurch then responded with a penalty and at half time went in at 14-10 down.
First part of the half was played between 22’s. Then halfway through the half Christchurch pressed strongly near the line and were denied when held up. Credit must be given to Sumner defence during this period as they held off sustained pressure.
At the 27th minute mark, Sumner scored against run of play when Christchurch lost a lineout midway in their half. Sumner lock made a strong run to near the posts and after a couple of phases Sumner went over under the posts for a 21-10 lead
The last 10 minutes belonged to Christchurch as they pressed with a number of forward drives near the Sumner line. Four penalties awarded to Christchurch during this period, and in each occasion they took the tap and go. A Sumner player was sin binned in this period, which could very well have resulted in a penalty try. However, Christchurch were rewarded in the end when they finally got over with the outstanding 6 Dowling being rewarded with his first try in NZ.
The game ended with Christchurch having one last opportunity, but Sumner forced us into touch.
A big ask this week against Marist Albion at their ground. I feel we can match them in the forwards if we are at our best. The difficult part is that they have a class backline, and we will need to be making some good decisions in that area of our game.
Another step up this week boys, but you certainly stepped up from last week. It can be done.
Thought for the week:
Nobody whoever gives his best regrets it, it’s just the perfection of the smallest details on the field that often make the difference.
“Run until you are buggered and then increase the pace”
“Give em the Axe.”
David Stuthridge
Sponge
RUGBY REPORTS
20th May
CFC Premier Reserve Mens v Sumner Tsunami
Christchurch Park 1pm
FT 17-7 Win
This is the game the Prem Reserves have been building towards all season. A clash with the top of the table team, Sumner, who no doubt thrive in the wet weather, living next to the ocean and what not. There was certainly an air of arrogance about this Sumner team, that the Prem Reserves wouldn't be a challenge and we'd just roll over and die after the first big tackle or physical breakdown. Quite the contrary, it was the Prem Reserves who death rolled their way to victory this week.
It would be fair to say that nerves were certainly a factor in the pre-game warm up; the boys felt flat and uninspired. Coach Kyle caught on to this early and thank God he did. The rev up coach gave the Prem Reserves their energy and approach to the warmup, which translated into a high energy 80 minutes of footy from the boys.
The game plan was simple, stay in their half, take advantage of the points when on offer and match their physicality. Despite a few early mistakes, no doubt a consequence of the nerves, the fortitude to bounce back and put 6 early points on the board reassured the Prem Reserves that they could win this game.
It was an early masterclass off the tee from Fish, a cold-blooded killer in these high-pressure moments playing out of position at halfback.
And the great tee kicking continued. The Prem Reserves continued to pin themselves inside the Sumner 22, despite the odd error and or clearance kick. Now 9 - 0 with 13 minutes remaining in the first.
You have to say, having the experience and control of Fish at 9 with a very poised and dangerous Bailey Taylor at 10, the Prem Reserves were sure of themselves. It was only a matter of time until they dotted across the line for 5 points... and wouldn't you know it that 9 points ticked over to 14, with Sumner still sitting scoreless. It was a brilliant try culminating from the constant pressure our forward pack put on theirs at the set piece. In this case, a mistake from Sumner in the lineout on their own 5 meter line, knocking the ball back over the try line only to be plucked by the brilliant Arthur "The Chosen One" Gladstone.
The Fish went and had himself a (he says Dan Carter moment) Mark Richardson moment when attempting the conversion... spot the difference.
But he played on... what a first half!!
Few lollies, chats and waters later, the Prem Reserves were hungry to get back into it! You could tell Sumner still thought they were Steve Irwin, little did they know that these Prem Reserves had evolved into walking, talking, rugby playing machines.
It's about time we mention our Player of the Day, Josh ' Nugzy' Van der Plas. What a game from a guy who was almost certain of his unavailability to play this season. When in fact there are three certainties in this life; taxes, death and Nugzy playing quality code for the Prem Reserves. (Check out our player profile below featuring the great man Nugzy himself!)
Second half was a battle, Sumner put some points on the board and certainly looked dangerous in broken play - highlighting a few work-ons for the Prem Reserves defensively. However, the growth of this team shined in those moments. When the pressure was on in our own 22, we exited, chased hard and pinned the Sumner team back inside their own half.
This requires a special mention of manager/ fill- in-backs coach/ overall backbone of this year's Prem Reserves team - Grayson Mitchell. Grayson is at the club early every Saturday morning making sure the gear is good whether we are home or away. He preps the jerseys, keeps the boys honest and has done an incredible job transforming Connor Mahan's left boot into Dan Carter's. Legend and great man who we hope to see back on the field in 2024!
We ran hard in the pods, set our shape and worked hard to build phases - shout out to Cole for his ticker on Saturday!
This was the game of our season... so far. As the late, great Kobe Bryant once said, up 2 - 0 in the NBA Finals, "“What's there to be happy about? Jobs not finished. Job finished? No, I don't think so.”
This weekend is our last game of this round against Ōtautahi at Lancaster Park, 1pm kick off! Hope to see you there!
Player of the Day: Nugzy - Josh Van der Plas
Defender of the Day: The Chosen One - Arthur Gladstone
Connor Kitto
Co-Manager, Premier Reserves
17th June 2023
CFC Choppers v High School Old Boys Keiths
Christchurch Park
FT 5-48
This week saw the Choppers up against an HSOB team that have just come off a loss.
It was going to be a tough game regardless of form going into the game. HSOB have been a top team for a long time.
Some would call the weather perfect rugby weather; others weren't so keen on the incessant rain and tricky conditions.
HSOB started the game well and got on the board pretty early after kick off. Not the start we were after. It also got worse for us straight after their opening try, we received a yellow card 5 minutes into the game. Our Hugo Boss French Connection forgot to put his mouthguard in!
2 minutes later we received a second yellow for a "no arms" challenge. Which, upon reflection was a bit harsh. If anything it looked like Melman was trying to avoid contact but ended up shouldering their little winger.
7 minutes in, 14-0 and 13 vs 15. It was going to be a tough gig without all of that! But we carried on.
The game didn't really improve too much for us over the 80 minutes. It wasn't even a case of not doing the basics right, it was a case that HSOB were so good at disrupting our game, attacking the ruck and winning turnovers. Hard to make a difference when you can't get hold of the ball.
Overall HSOB had a game plan and executed it perfectly.
While disheartened by the loss, we know that we needed to play out of our skin to get the upset but we never gave up, especially our player of the day Shady. We showed character and determination up u til the final whistle and that will take us a long way as a team.
WHO ARE WE
Jez
CFC/MARIST ALBION COLTS REPORT
17th June 2023
CFC/Marist Albion v University of Canterbury Colts
Christchurch Park
FT 0-26
CLUB MEMBER PROFILES
For those that watch Television news on TV 3 at night you may have recognised a familiar face. Mitch McCann a journalist and now TV correspondent in the United States of America for the National News.
We see him delivering his reports from outside the White House and Trump’s Florida home. In the middle of hurricane ravaged towns. Big sporting events. You name it, Mitch gets to cover the field.What some of you may not be aware of Mitch was a half back in our Colts teams of 2013 and 2014.We look forward to seeing a bit of him on his current journey and wish him well.One day we may be able to get him back to the club for a few stories.
JUNIOR CORNER
We’re nearly at the school holiday break, which means a couple of weeks off from rugby. Really hoping the weather is good enough for games this weekend!
All teams from U13 and below should have their ‘Keep it Positive’ bibs, an incentive from the CRFU with the idea that those who facilitate our junior game will stand together to stamp out poor sideline behaviour, wearing a common bib, rather than their own club colours, whilst delivering a positive reminder that we’re all there for kids to have fun and enjoy their game.
We are also so stoked to have been able to provide all of our registered junior coaches with jackets this season, thanks to the awesome sponsorship from Cassidy Davie Electrical! Both Dylan and Tim coach our U10 Kiwi team and are pictured below with some of our lucky CFC Junior Coaches.
Thanks for having our backs Cassidy Davies. Remember, supporting our sponsors is a great way to thank our local businesses who support our club! If you or your business has any electrical work that needs attending to, please contact the Cassidy Davies team. A link to their website can be accessed here.
Friday Nights Under Lights will run again this week with two U8 teams and two U12 teams going head-to-head with the kids experiencing running out of the tunnels to a guard of honour.
Saturday we’d love to have heaps of our junior families down to support the Premier Women’s team in their final, prizes for the best dressed, best banner, loudest supporter and also for those that can answer the questions from Eat Food Truck.
See you there!!
GILBERT APPAREL – ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN!
Our online store can be accessed here
Article added: Thursday 22 June 2023