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Otago Daily Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Happy hooker's 100th
Wakatipu Prems' Phil Kingsbury, supported by Bradley Cross, pictured during his 100th game for the side last Saturday. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Leading the Wakatipu Prems rugby side on to the field for his 100th game, there was no one prouder at the Queenstown Rec Ground last Saturday than hooker Phil Kingsbury. It was made more special when his side then beat Alexandra to qualify for this Saturday's final against Upper Clutha. "Semifinal I reckon is sometimes the hardest — statistically we normally bail out at the semifinal, so it'll be good to go back over to Wanaka and have another crack at them." After studying architecture in Wellington, before later setting up his own building company, Wyndham-raised Kingsbury came to Queenstown in 2016. After playing that year for the Wanderers, he joined the title-winning Prems the following season. Nicknamed 'Sweet Chilli', he says playing rugby makes up just a third of what he likes about the game. "I enjoy the camaraderie and I enjoy the fitness. "There's something about the camaraderie — anyone can drink in the clubrooms but only a select few can drink in the changing rooms, and you build a bond down there and it's something special." As for a playing highlight, Kingsbury singles out taking the White Horse Cup off Upper Clutha in Wanaka last year. He turns 40 late this year, after teammates Paulie Tuala and injured Josh Aperahama-Paenganui also bring up that milestone. "I give them beans that they are as old as the hills and need to give up." As for his own future, Kingsbury — who didn't even play when he was 23 till 29 — says "my wife maybe has other ideas, but I always said I'd like to play as long as I could until they politely ask me to leave". But he admits he might be tempted to pull the pin if Waka pick up the Central Otago title this Saturday, after which he'd happily play for the Wanderers again. And if he did step aside, he says the Prems would still be in good stead as young Thomas Hulsman is "absolutely fantastic". "Like I said in my speech the other night, I realise I'm the ghost of Wakatipu past, but if all I'm there to do is 20 minutes at the end, I'm happy." Wakatipu no.8 Anton Huisman about to dot down in last Saturday's semifinal win at the Queenstown Rec Ground. Heading to Wanaka for this Saturday's final against Upper Clutha, Wakatipu coach Jordan Manihera's delighted with the position his team's in, despite losing to them both times this season — including a 17-6 loss over there just two weekends ago. "We're actually in the most perfect position we can be. "I'm really excited for us as a squad to go in as the underdogs this week, because the last time we went over to Wanaka as underdogs, we took the White Horse Cup off them. "So I think our mindset is we've got nothing to lose and everything to gain." Manihera says despite that recent loss, "there were still some good nuggets in defence and some attack play but we just couldn't finish off opportunities we created for ourselves". He adds he was happy with last Saturday's 26-7 semifinal win over Alexandra, and says despite being 7-6 down at halftime "that's probably the first time we've actually started really well as well". Meanwhile, the Wakatipu Wanderers also play a final this Saturday in the Southland division 3 comp, against Pirates Old Boys, after winning their semifinal against Waiau Star 26-23 in Tuatapere last weekend.
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Another home semi against Alex
Upper Clutha's Sam Masterton grapples with Wakatipu halfback Xavier Sadler during a White Horse Cup fixture in Wānaka last weekend. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Having lost their semifinals the past two seasons, the Wakatipu Premiers rugby side's amped to go one better this Saturday. And, in a repeat of last year, they'll be home again to Alexandra, who surprisingly tipped them over 24-21 after Waka had beaten them 27-0 in their own backyard the week before. Wakatipu secured their second place on the table this year after losing to top-of-the-table Upper Clutha in a White Horse Cup challenge in Wanaka last weekend. They were down 12-3 at halftime, coach Jordan Manihera suggesting his players didn't adjust to playing 90 minutes earlier than usual. However, for most of the second half they were in the ascendant, needing only a converted try to win, till reserve Paulie Tuala was yellow-carded for not wearing a mouthguard and they conceded a late try. "We had two tries disallowed and we were creating opportunities but we just weren't managing to finish them," Manihera notes. He says they're excited to play Alex again — they thrashed them 31-3 at home to start their season then beat them 31-29 at Molyneux Park after trailing 29-12 with 29 minutes to go. "We proved our resilience when we played them over there in round 2. "We know Alex's game, we know what they do, we know how to shut them down. "I think it's a massive opportunity for us to not only right some wrongs from last year, but if we get through it, it'll be a first final for [co-coach] Kapa [Te Rangi Moeke] and me, and we're wanting to go all the way." Wakatipu welcome back Anton Huisman and Don Lolo who were away last weekend, though that's counter-balanced by season-ending injuries last weekend to Josh Aperahama-Paenganui and Adam Fleming. Meanwhile, Arrowtown defaulted to Maniototo ahead of their last round-robin — the former finish with only two wins this season, while the latter, after finishing fourth, play Upper Clutha in the other semi this Saturday.
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
The ‘Steam Train' is stoked
Tom Ria scoring the first of his two tries against Cromwell last Saturday. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Ahead of their White Horse Cup challenge this Saturday, and finals the following two weekends, the Wakatipu Premiers rugby side's longtime no.7's in a confident mood. "We've definitely got the cattle this year, just a good mix of young and old and all sorts," says Tom Ria, who's co-captain for the first time this season. Having left school in Tokoroa, the 28-year-old — nicknamed the 'South Waikato Steam Train'— first played for Wakatipu in 2016 when they finished a disappointing seventh in the Central Otago competition. Under coach Justin Pewhairangi, however, they won the next year. Ria then brought up his 50th game in 2019. A wrist injury took him out the following two years, but he was back in the team, under Brett 'Big Show' Anderson, for their next comp win in 2022, and is now chasing his third. Somewhat of a tackling machine, the veteran of 80-plus games for Wakatipu says he's blessed this season with "big fellas around me so I don't have to carry the ball". However, he was delighted to dot down twice against Cromwell in the Queenstown Rec Ground mud last Saturday. "I just stand on the wing so I just catch the ball and fall over the line. "I probably ran five metres for both combined, and then Anton [Huisman], he got two tries as well and he probably ran 100m for his." He's full of praise for coaches Jordan Manihera and Kapa Te Rangi Moeke. "They're a bit of yin and yang, like Jordan obviously talks a lot, he just keeps the boys ticking over, and Kapa doesn't really talk much — when he does, it's going to be pretty important what he says." As for co-captaining the team, Ria says it's "super-easy" sharing the load with Rube 'Smokey' Peina. "When your best player is also the captain, it makes everybody's job pretty easy." He also praises the selflessness of the club's Wanderers coach, Tom Cunningham. "If we're ever short, he'll just offer up their best players straight away." Ria's certainly got no plans to retire any time soon. "I'll just keep going until I can't any more. "When you see some of the players still playing, and they've got 10, 11 years on me, it's no real excuse not to keep going." Table-topping the main aim Beating Upper Clutha in Wanaka to top the table's even more important than reclaiming the coveted White Horse Cup, Wakatipu co-coach Kapa Te Rangi Moeke says. Wakatipu's three points behind leaders Upper Clutha ahead of Saturday's final round-robin fixture, so, should they win, they'd play fourth-placed Maniototo at home in the semis next Saturday. Upper Clutha would only still stay ahead if they lose by less than seven points and score four tries. Moeke says his team's "grown a lot" since losing 17-10 to Upper Clutha on May 10, and in addition to their attacking threat "it's been our defence that's been doing it for us for the last sort of three weeks". Meanwhile, Arrowtown will be aiming for their third win of the year when they wrap up their season with a home game against Maniototo this Saturday.
Otago Daily Times
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
‘Let's focus on Saturday first'
Arrowtown's Malcolm Sutherland brushes off Wakatipu Prems' Logan Beggs during last Saturday's bruising Battle of the Basin. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A White Horse Cup challenge against Upper Clutha next Saturday, then a likely home semifinal the following Saturday. Mouth-watering prospects, indeed, but the Wakatipu Premiers rugby coach just wants his team to focus first on this Saturday's home game against Cromwell. "We treat each game as if it's our last, that's the mindset we came into at the start of the year," Jordan Manihera says. His side beat Arrowtown 29-5 at Jack Reid Park last weekend, but had to defend their line for 30 to 35 minutes before scoring back-to-back tries. "It was good to see the attitude and the connection on defence working ... afterwards we said to them, 'that's the standard they have now set', it's up to them to be consistent with that, if not better. "The result was awesome, getting max [bonus] points, but the fact we left quite a few opportunities out there just goes to show we're almost ticking. "We're just pushing that last pass, and sort of once that lands I'm pretty excited to see where we head." Thanks to Maniototo upsetting Alexandra, Wakatipu have jumped to second on the table and look likely to host a semi. Manihera: "You can get pretty deep in the rabbit hole with sorting out who goes where and who plays who, but, you know, you sort of lose focus [on your next game] if you're worrying about that too much." Meanwhile, Arrowtown, who lie second last on the points table, one point behind Cromwell, have a bye this weekend. They close out their season with a home game against Maniototo next Saturday.
Otago Daily Times
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Obituary: teacher and rugby pied piper
TUPPY DIACK There is a story told by long-serving Otago rugby manager and union president Des Smith that sums up rather well the magnetic pull of Tuppy Diack. The two elder statesmen of Otago rugby had been on a road trip to Queenstown and stayed for the aftermatch at a White Horse Cup game, so the hour was late when they headed home via the Pigroot. When they reached Omakau, Smith phoned the Dunback pub to be told, sorry, there was no chance of a quick drink and a bit of tucker if they called in at 11pm. "I've got Tuppy Diack, the former All Black with me." To which the publican replied: "Tuppy Diack. I've never met him and would love to have a beer with him." That is how two stalwarts found themselves having a feed of fish and chips and a yarn with yet another person who thrilled to the prospect of an audience with one of the great figures of Otago rugby. It illustrates how Diack, the first player to earn 100 caps for Otago and a one-test All Black, was something of a Pied Piper figure — in the most positive manner possible — in the rugby community. People sought him out for a chat, either to tap into his immense rugby knowledge or simply to soak up the mana of a man who gave back much more than he took from the sport. He was a wonderful player but he was also a coach, a mentor, a sounding board, an administrator and a near-constant presence on the sidelines of Otago University, Otago and Highlanders rugby. "Tup was a wonderful man and a true friend," Smith recalled. "He was an amazing rugby player but he was far, far more than that. He was kind, modest — a real gentleman. "He was so well respected wherever he went and gave his time to everyone he came in contact with." Smith recalls watching Diack "weave his magic on the wing" at Carisbrook before getting a taste of Diack's generosity. After scoring a couple of tries for Kaikorai and converting them himself, Smith was selected in an Otago second grade team and unexpectedly advised he would be handling the goal-kicking duties. He called "Mr Diack", who was teaching at John McGlashan College, and the former All Black promptly gave Smith an hour-long session on the intricacies of kicking rugby goals. Smith later served as Otago and Highlanders manager for eight years and recalls Diack barely missing a training session as an interested observer. "The players loved him being there, and he became part of our teams. His understanding of the technical side of back play was incredible." Diack served as Otago Rugby Football Union president in 2005, and he and Smith spent many an enjoyable Saturday heading around the region. "The people in the country just loved to see Tuppy. He was like a magnet in the clubrooms after the game. "Many of those people used to stand on the terrace or sit in the stand at Carisbrook and watch him playing for Otago." Diack, who died in Dunedin on May 16, aged 94, played six games for Southland in 1954 but was otherwise exclusively seen in Otago blue in provincial rugby. He played 101 games for Otago between 1951 and 1964 as a goal-kicking, strong-running winger who was described by late ODT sports editor Brent Edwards as the "pin-up boy" of the province. There were highlights aplenty, including a Ranfurly Shield victory over Wellington in 1957, helping Otago tame the Lions in 1959, three consecutive selections for the South Island, and 18 appearances for New Zealand Universities, including a famous victory over the 1956 Springboks. In 1959, Diack scored two tries and kicked two conversions and a penalty for the Universities side against the Lions, and when he kicked four penalties and a conversion in Otago's 26-8 win over the Lions, he finally heard his name read out in the All Blacks over the radio. Fate played a cruel hand when he was ruled out of the first test at his beloved Carisbrook with an ankle injury sustained in Otago's game against the tourists. "I was usually able to run off an injury but this one got worse," Diack recalled years later. "The pain was excruciating. It was the only major injury of my career, and it was a bit of a sad end to what had been a wonderful week." Diack got an All Black jersey and a framed photograph for being selected, but had to watch from the Carisbrook grandstand as the All Blacks beat the Lions 18-17 thanks to the boot of Don Clarke. He had intensive treatment on his ankle ligaments and was named in the team for the second test in Wellington, only to find another complication as he and Ralph Caulton were both specialist left wings. Diack drew the short straw to play on the right, Caulton scored two tries in an 11-8 win, and the Otago man did not play in the third and fourth tests as the ankle was still not right. He trained like a man possessed over the summer and regained his top-line pace, and it was a blow when he missed selection for the All Blacks' 1960 tour of South Africa. "I was really disappointed to miss out. I thought I could have made a difference on that tour." Diack, All Black No 602, bowed out of top rugby aged 34 in 1964, having scored 53 tries and 706 points in 146 first-class games. Ernest Sinclair Diack was born in Invercargill on July 22, 1930. He was the eldest of four children to teachers Ernest (known as Charlie) and Molly Diack. The nickname emerged at the age of 10 months. Ernest junior had no pet name to distinguish himself from his father and grandfather (also Ernest). His father came home one day, looked in the baby's crib and said, "Poor little Tuppence hasn't got a name." And Tup, or Tuppy, stuck. When he was a toddler, his father — who played rugby for Southland, New Zealand Universities and Marlborough, and coached Southland to Ranfurly Shield success — was seconded to Havelock then Wellington then Koromiko, where he started school. At 7, the family shifted back to Invercargill for his father to teach at North School. Two years later, the family shifted to Napier, where Diack started at Napier Boys' High School, playing for the First XI cricket team as a third former. When Diack was 15, the family moved to Pukerau, near Gore, where Ernest sen was headmaster at Pukerau School. There were not enough bedrooms in the house, so Diack's bedroom was a tent with a wooden floor and wooden sides in the back yard. He finished his schooling at Gore High School, where he was head prefect, captain of the cricket team, vice-captain of the rugby team, athletics champion and regimental sergeant-major of the cadets. Diack stayed at Knox College to begin a teaching degree in Dunedin, but returned to Pukerau every holidays to work as a hay contractor and farmer's hand. The story goes that, while tossing bales of hay on to a trailer, he counted each one because he was paid a halfpenny for two bales. His total when he finished was over a million bales — a record which Southlanders say stands to this day. After graduating in 1954, he started a masters in history so he could continue playing rugby for his beloved Otago University club. He later played for Zingari-Richmond, and played his last game at the age of 39. While the legacy of his rugby career included four hip replacement operations and two knee replacements, the sport remained a great love. Diack was a New Zealand Universities selector for 13 years and coached an NZU team to Japan, he coached the Otago University Gold colts into his late 70s, and he continued to mentor student goal kickers at a club where he was more than just a life member — he was an institution. "I've always been involved with the University club, and working with 18 to 20-year-olds keeps you on your toes. You get all the bad publicity about students but I don't buy it." Diack was nearing the end of his school days when he met Margaret Potter, a farmer's daughter from Pukerau, whom he married in Gore on December 11, 1954. They bought their first home in Dunedin that same year, and both initially taught at primary schools, Diack at Caversham and his wife at Kaikorai, before sons Kim (1963) and Shane (1965) and daughter Philippa (1968) were born. The family settled in Forbury Rd, which was to remain their home for over 50 years. A passion project was Margaret's garden full of fuschias — some 150 different varieties, regularly shown off to gardening groups and passers-by — while many happy holidays and summers were spent at a crib in Otematata. His daughter said Diack found a perfect partner in Margaret. "They absolutely loved one another. Everybody tells me they were just such a team," Philippa said. "They had intellectual conversations. Dad read the paper, cover to cover, and they'd have good conversations about politics and about sport. Mum loved her rugby too. She understood the game. "He was a great dad. He was always keen to see us get ahead and do well, and he encouraged us academically and, particularly, with sport." Diack taught at John McGlashan from 1961 to 1988. He taught geography, social studies and physical education, spent 13 years as deputy principal, and coached both the cricket and rugby teams. Deerstalking and shooting — both black powder and smallbore — were interests outside rugby, and he also became a keen golfer. "You always hear about top sportspeople and their top two inches, and Dad was like that," his daughter said. "He had that mentality. He gave it everything he had." The Diacks had been happily married for 68 years when Margaret died in 2023. Tuppy Diack is survived by children Kim, Shane and Philippa, and grandchildren Libby, Morgan, Madison, Ruby and Charlotte. — Hayden Meikle
