Match kicks off celebration of 100-year history

It was a game 100 years in the making, which will kick-start another 12 months of celebrating.
Judea beat Matapihi 33-10 on Saturday,  playing for the Jimmy Kohu Taonga Shield, but the match was more about recognising a long and proud history.
The two teams first played each other on August 21 1909, a match Judea won 16-0. Saturday's match was the first stop in a year of centenary events which will culminate with a festival weekend in August, 2010.
Researcher Paul Waller has spent the past 12 years sifting through old newspapers in his quest to write a commemorative book on the Judea club, though he also has some handy family links to call upon.
"My son Rua - who is out there playing today - had a great-grandfather in both teams that played in 1909 and he's got a son who plays for Judea now," Waller said.
 "You could go through the team and pick out family history on both sides.
"Back in 1909, the two teams played in a Tauranga competition that was the start of the Tauranga sub-union and the teams involved were Judea, Matakana, Matapihi, Rangataua and a team called Star."
Judea's Ngai Tamarawaho marae has strong links with Matapihi's three hapu, Ngati Tapu, Ngai Tukairangi and Ngati Kuku.
Matapihi Sports club captain and educationalist Reweti Te Mete is the perfect example - as well as coaching the Matapihi side, he spent the Baywide club rugby season managing Judea.
"Both teams have really close family ties and we share the same genealogy," Te Mete said.  
Matapihi has never had a team in local club rugby competitions - star players tend to migrate to Arataki, Rangataua or Mount Maunganui before heading back for trophy matches at the end of the season.
Matapihi's fleet-footed backs made early inroads in Saturday's game but the bulkier Judea pack wore them down and eventually ran away with the match.
First-five Tyrone Heke opened the scoring with a slick chip-and-chase try, while midfielder Darren Gates finished things with a 60m break and kick.
The game did degenerate into a brawl at one stage of the second half but stern words from Judea kaumatua Morehu Ngatoko soothed fraying tempers.
Judea 33 (Tamehana Heke, Tyrone Heke, Marsh Tawa, Nick Smith, Darren Gates tries; Jacob Matthews 2pens, Nick Connal con) Matapihi 10 (Peri Kohu try; Chad Jacobs con pen).
For more information on the Judea Rugby Club's centenary, or to help with the club's history, contact Jason Seeling j.seeling@hotmail.com.