Rugby: Matakana Island hosts memorable match

About 500 supporters watched Te Puna beat Whakarewarewa on Matakana Island on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

There's an hour-and-a-half until kick-off as we line up for the Matakana Island Ferry.

Cars are parked all over The Esplanade near the ferry terminal in Omokoroa, which means people have taken the earlier barges across to witness a little slice of rugby history.

It's a special day as this season's competition leaders Te Puna have moved their home game against Whakarewarewa to the Island.

Karoro (Carlo) Smith has fond memories when he thinks about his rugby days.

In the 1960s he was the vice-captain of Te Puna and remembers some of his teammates travelling from Matakana Island to play for the team.

Karoro (Carlo) Smith. Photo/ Andrew Warner

"They used to row across on their boats. It's just how it was back in those days," he says.

Smith is sitting in the passenger seat of the car as the ferry leaves the mainland, luckily there will be no rowing of boats today.

He moves his blazer across to show me the black and blue Te Puna emblem stitched to the pocket on his left-hand side.

He didn't have the jacket in the 60s but he says he's had it for a long time.

"Today is about acknowledging the ties between the two clubs and the island, about acknowledging Matakana," he says.

"For the older players, it will bring back a lot of memories."

On the other side of the ferry, Terry "Hori BOP" Leaming is sporting colours he normally wouldn't wear on a Saturday.

Terry Leaming, aka Hori BOP. Photo/ Andrew Warner

The Rangataua Club supporter is wearing a black, white and blue polo shirt and matching jandals - the colours of Te Puna.

"The Rangataua boys will give me stick for wearing this, but I'm supporting Te Puna today."

When Leaming heard Te Puna had moved their home match to Matakana Island he was "elated".

He says taking premier grade rugby to areas that "normally wouldn't see it" was important.

"This is a fully-fledged competition game, there's stuff riding on this game."

He likened the match to the Crusaders playing in Greymouth.

"This is what keeps rugby alive.

"It's a special day, just look at all the people heading over, they wouldn't be heading over to the island if it wasn't for the game."

Lance MacDonald couldn't miss the opportunity to see the match either.

The Te Puna assistant coach and player was hesitant to catch the last barge over as his wife Kim is due to have a baby any day now.

"She let me," he laughs as the ferry approaches the Matakana Island wharf.

"It will be a bit of a swim if she does go into labour."

MacDonald says the team is close to being back to full strength and is looking forward to seeing a number of players return from injury.

"It [the game] would be tough to miss, it was really biting at me."

The drive to the Matakana Island Sports Club takes a couple of minutes along the windy Opureora Rd.

About 500 supporters are packed into the grounds, the premier grade match has already started.

Utes, 4WDs, sedans and even a quad bike line one side of the field.

People are sitting on the banks surrounding the field or under the shelter near the club rooms, all eyes glued to the match.

Mate Samuels plays for Te Puna and was born and bred on Matakana Island.

He's wearing his Te Puna number ones, the first time he's not worn a Matakana jersey at his home grounds.

Mate Samuels. Photo/ Andrew Warner

"The population of the island has trebled today," Samuels says.

The history between both Te Puna and Whakarewarewa and Matakana Island goes back to almost a century, so the main reason for today is about giving back to the island, he says.

Samuels recalls when his father played rugby for Te Puna in the late '80s and early '90s.

The club had bought two cars which were left at Omokoroa for the players of Matakana to travel to trainings and games.

"Today is about reconnecting friendships and the strong whakapapa links between our clubs for almost 100 years in Bay of Plenty rugby."

-Read the full match report here.