Old faces flock to Rangataua's 100th

The menace of Abe Heta was inflicted upon opposition props one more time at Rangataua but this time the intentions were mostly honourable.
Heta, one of the niggliest members of the front-row club to grace Bay of Plenty paddocks, started against a Bay Invitation XV on Saturday as Rangataua celebrated 100 years of existence with a series of festival matches.
And the 49-year-old Heta showed he'd lost none of his cunning, mixing it up for 40 minutes as the home side won an entertaining match 31-22.
"Rugby is rugby _ I just loved getting on that paddock," Heta said.
"It was just a privilege to get into the centennial team _ it was a real big buzz. I was even more rapt to start _ usually I come on as a sub."
Heta's longevity is almost as impressive as his tenacity _ when he finished fulltime senior rugby two seasons ago, he'd been playing for nearly a quarter of the club's existence.
"[Teammate] Timoti Gardiner wasn't born when I started playing and he's about 23 now. I finished in the reserves a couple of years ago so I suppose it was about 21 or so years of senior rugby."
There were some familiar faces in the opposition for Heta _ such as Rangiuru fullback Damon Kaui with his ageless skills and the rugged class of Mount Maunganui stalwart Willy Mellow.
Troy Jennings, Michael George and Dave Gorrie _ all on the wrong side of 30 _ emphasised why they were still hugely effective club players this season.
Not for Heta the frivolity of the backs or loose-forwards, however _ he's still happiest deep in the heart of the pack battling it out.
"When you're short of brains, they chucked you in there because you didn't know what you were getting into. I've met a few old-timers who have given me a lesson or two at prop _ the more I played against them, the more I learnt. I just made sure I passed on those lessons to the young guys coming through."
Playing alongside Heta was someone 32 years his junior _ and first-five John Ririnui, 17, showed silky skills, scoring a try and a couple of conversions.
Steamers wing Jason Hona scored a try and a conversion. Earlier games saw Steamers coaches Kevin Schuler and Steve Miln trot out, while Rangataua's only All Black, 1970s midfield giant Eddie Stokes, linked up with his old teammate Chris Jacobs in a golden oldies clash.
A crowd of more than 600 was on hand to watch the games.
Festival match: Rangataua 31 (Paul Pou, Nathaniel Walker, Matua Parkinson, John Ririnui, Jason Hona tries; Ririnui 2, Hona cons) BOP Invitation XV 22 (Jason Robinson, Ross Nicolaas, Tyrone Heke, Tamehana Heke tries; Tyrone Heke con). HT: 12-5.