Rather Stupid? Opunake Cup

[mikeynz]

3 minutes ago, The Centaur said:

H'mm.... got to admit this wasn't the Ranfurly Shield event I relate to. I went to the first challenge Taranaki had in 1957 against Golden Bay-Motueka which Taranaki won about 57 nil. Even for game like that there would have been almost 30,000 present with all the hoopla etc associated with it. In fact crowds up to in excess of 40,000 for other shield games were common.

Looking at the Manaia event on youtube was a bit depressing compared to the 1957-61 era. Of interest a lot of the players from that era ended up being keen racing owners e.g. Neil Wolfe, Ross Brown etc.

Wasn't that long ago shield matches, major shield matches drew big crowds, spose 20 years ain't that long ago and hasn't amalgamation done wonders for Rugby in the top of the South Island, maybe some others unions could consider it.

[PeterLambFan]

56 minutes ago, The Centaur said:

H'mm.... got to admit this wasn't the Ranfurly Shield event I relate to. I went to the first challenge Taranaki had in 1957 against Golden Bay-Motueka which Taranaki won about 57 nil. Even for game like that there would have been almost 30,000 present with all the hoopla etc associated with it. In fact crowds up to in excess of 40,000 for other shield games were common.

Looking at the Manaia event on youtube was a bit depressing compared to the 1957-61 era. Of interest a lot of the players from that era ended up being keen racing owners e.g. Neil Wolfe, Ross Brown etc.

I was there today, the ground sold out. I’m not sure what more you want them to do? They put an event on and people turned up. 

The game on the field was a little bit disappointing due to Thames not firing a shot and it pretty quickly turning into an opposed training run. 
 

I’m not having a crack at you but the days of crowds anything like that for a shield or NPC match are long long gone, life gets busy and technology makes it easier to not go to events. 
 

 

[Bloke]

On 19/07/2025 at 11:01 PM, PeterLambFan said:

I was there today, the ground sold out. I’m not sure what more you want them to do? They put an event on and people turned up. 

The game on the field was a little bit disappointing due to Thames not firing a shot and it pretty quickly turning into an opposed training run. 
 

I’m not having a crack at you but the days of crowds anything like that for a shield or NPC match are long long gone, life gets busy and technology makes it easier to not go to events. 
 

 

I have told this story before but just in case, I will repeat it. A couple of years ago i went to my local at the Belle Vue in Lower Hutt and looked across at Hutt Rec where there was a Rugby game on with maybe 200 watching. It turned out to be Wellington V Southland, Ranfurly Shield Game.

Wellington Rugby's home ground for their NPC games is at Porirua Park where they play in front of miniscule crowds. 

[mikeynz]

36 minutes ago, Bloke said:

I have told this story before but just in case, I will repeat it. A couple of years ago i went to my local at the Belle Vue in Lower Hutt and looked across at Hutt Rec where there was a Rugby game on with maybe 200 watching. It turned out to be Wellington V Southland, Ranfurly Shield Game.

Wellington Rugby's home ground for their NPC games is at Porirua Park where they play in front of miniscule crowds. 

Wellington and Auckland more than any town/city seem to be slipping in terms of Rugbys place in the wider community, Auckland last year in NPC finished 11th of 14, have they ever finished further down the pecking order. Horse racings no different in Auckland, the numbers they get af Ellerslie tell the story.

Wellington won last year, that's a rarity as well but looking at the team this year I would hate o be the radio commentator, hardly a pakeha name amongst them, there lies the issue, pakehas now move on to other sports, so does the fan base.

Edited 4 hours ago by mikeynz

[PeterLambFan]

4 hours ago, Bloke said:

I have told this story before but just in case, I will repeat it. A couple of years ago i went to my local at the Belle Vue in Lower Hutt and looked across at Hutt Rec where there was a Rugby game on with maybe 200 watching. It turned out to be Wellington V Southland, Ranfurly Shield Game.

Wellington Rugby's home ground for their NPC games is at Porirua Park where they play in front of miniscule crowds. 

Yeah Wellington NPC crowds are rubbish aren’t they. If you are a HOBM supporter you are going down on Saturday.