Young guns have dreams . . . Tata has memories

THE MAN BEHIND THE SHIELD: Robert Tata, in the centre of the team picture to the left of the Lee Bros Shield, is the only member of the last OBM team to win the shield, in 2004, still playing. OBM reached the final in 2008 but lost 34-23 to Ngatapa. Picture by Paul Rickard

IT’S been a long time between drinks for the OBM premier rugby team . . . 2004 was the last time they won the Lee Bros Shield.

Over the next few days, Enterprise Cars OBM coach Stu Blair’s young guns will be dreaming of becoming the first OBM players in 12 years to lift the coveted shield.

But for one OBM player, hooker Robert Tata, the prospect of Saturday’s final against Woodbank High School Old Boys brings back memories.

“Those were good days, especially 2004 when we equalled the Old Boys record of five shield wins in a row,” the 39-year-old powerline mechanic said.

“We had a good team. Most of us had been together for the five years.

“We’d developed close relationships which have continued.

“You’ll probably see most of that team at the final on Saturday, cheering the boys on.

“The thing that motivated us back then was the fact that we didn’t want to let our teammates, family or the club down.

“We’re developing a similar feeling and I hope the majority of these young guys stay in the district and in the club.

“I’m happy whether I’m starting or coming off the bench,” said Tata, who first played for the OBM Colts in 1996.

“You always want to start the game but for me it’s about where I can contribute best for the team.”

Hard-nosed hookerThe hard-nosed hooker didn’t always wear the No.2 jersey.

“I started playing rugby at Gisborne Intermediate in the backs before we went to Cairns, where I carried on playing rugby.

“When we came back to New Zealand, I played halfback for the Awatapu College first 15 in Palmerston North.”

Blair said that Tata was not only a talented footballer, he was also “a guy who always put his hand up whenever we needed him”.

“You could ask Rob to play anywhere and you know he’d give you 100 percent and never let you down.”

Tata said he had adopted a simple philosophy regarding rugby.

“I determined a long time ago to give everything every time I took the field, and that way you can come off the field with no regrets.”

Passed on to teammatesIt is a motto that he has passed on to his younger teammates.

“That was the call for last week’s semifinal . . . no regrets.”

Tata will be one of three 39-year-olds in the final, along with HSOB front-rower Kolo Fonohema and midfield back Scotty Leighton.

Fonohema, a hard-running winger in his early days, can cover all three front-row positions.

He will be playing his 132nd game in the blue-and-white colours on Saturday.

Leighton is four games short of joining the HSOB 100-club, which should mean he will be back again next year.

OBM go into Saturday’s final having lost all three round-robin games to the defending champions — HSOB winning 18-6, 40-36 and 24-14.

On the basis of their three wins, HSOB will start as favourites on Saturday.

But in Ethine Reeves, Grogan brothers Willy and James, Lance Dickson, James Rutene, Jake Holmes, John Jones, Jacob Cook, Josh Blair, Jamie Barnett, Dayne Williams, Fletcher Scammell, Lynden Manuel, George Halley and skipper Murray Hewson (the second-oldest player in the team, at 33) OBM have a core group who could bring back the glory days . . . and ensure they, like Tata, will have memories as well as dreams.