RUGBY: Just jubilant over jubilee

SHANE HURNDELL
Eskview Rugby Club president Pete Winter is rather excited about his club's 75th jubilee scheduled for Labour Weekend.
"Excited about everything but my speech," he laughed.
Winter, 39, who has played for the Bay View club since 1995, is one of those old fashioned grass roots club players who prefers to do his talking with his on-field actions. This could be with the club's senior twos or fours side depending on which team is short of players the most on any given Saturday.
"Yes I'll play for either side and in any position apart from front row or halfback," said the engineer.
While Winter is a reluctant speaker and poser for photographs, particularly when SportToday visits his club, like club patron Brian Bates and club captain Jeremy Bateman he realises the importance of promoting the club as much as possible in its quest to retain players and attract more younger ones. It also helps to spread the word about the club's jubilee.
"I've had some great times here. Helping the club win the Hawke's Bay division three championship with an unbeaten run last year and playing in the annual Waikare Cup games have been my highlights," he said.
The Waikare Cup is an annual fixture between the Eskview and Waikare clubs. Teams for the games which have been staged since 1949 are selected by the respective club patrons and Eskview has won the cup for the last six years.
"I wouldn't say we're confident about making it seven-in-a-row this season because neither patron know what sort of team the other is going to come up with and that's part of the fun," said Eskview patron Brian Bates.
A Bay View contractor Bates, 69, has been with the club since 1958. He can recall when Eskview teams played on a paddock belonging to market gardener Ron Le Quesne before the club shifted to its base to its current Petane Domain site in the late 1950s.
"We showered in the produce shed and Mrs Le Quesne would always put on some food for us and the opposition," Bates said.
Like Bateman and Winter, Bates, is rapt their small club can field three senior teams and seven junior grade sides. "Our colts are one of the youngest and smaller teams in their grade. They have taken some hidings but if they stick together they will be a force next year or the following season," he said.
A "utility" in the fours side Bateman, 26, played all his junior rugby with the club but lost interest in the code after his secondary school days. Following a stint with the Napier Technical club he returned to Eskview four years ago. "Our colts and fours were a bit slow initially with their numbers but they're starting to pick up. Those teams are all about being there and having a good time but it's crucial our twos retain division two status and this weekend's game is a biggie," Bateman said referring to today's clash against Aotea in Dannevirke.
He is proud of the way club's colts team was formed as it includes players from last year's division three and four teams. A manager with Inmetals Trading in Napier, Bateman, is keen to promote the family aspect of the club.
"If we look after the youngsters up to 12th grade they will be keen to return and play at colts level when they are eligible," he said.
Bateman is thrilled with the response from former members and players keen to attend the jubilee and several from the South Island are already confirmed.
All jubilee activities will be based at the club where a marquee will be erected in the carpark.
An informal meet and greet will be staged on the Friday night.
On the Saturday a past players versus present players game will be played.
After the match the one-off edition of jubilee jerseys used for the game will be raffled before the jubilee's formal dance and dinner, including Winter's speech, is staged.
The jubilee will end with farewells on the Sunday.