Collingwood builder Shawn Begg knows all about woodwork and reckons people started coming out of it when his local rugby club wanted to field a senior side again this year.
“After a lot of phone calls and messaging, we got quite a bit of a roll-on. The first task was to actually assemble a team and some players required a bit of convincing,” says the Collingwood player and co-coach.
Several farmers managed to juggle their milking and football commitments to enable the team to come back this season, 138 years after the club was formed.
The ages ranged from 52-year-old Gareth Scott to 16-year-old Aaron Lockwood.
The reformed side made a triumphant return, beating Marist 15-14 in its opening match at the Collingwood Recreation Ground, and followed that with a 21-all draw with Waimea.
“We have had massive community support. It is pretty cool when you come off the field after a game and it’s like the whole community is clapping you off,” says Shawn, who hadn’t intended to play this season.
But the 40-year-old came off the bench to become a starter at halfback last month.
The side won five of its nine round robin matches, including the derby against Takaka 24-5, and earned a home quarter-final against Marist.
It was close, but Collingwood snaffled the ball from an overthrown Marist lineout throw and No.8 Adam Johnson scored his second try to snatch a 28-24 win.Ironically, Shawn used to coach the Marist Div 1 side before moving to Golden Bay three years ago.
That meant a trip over the Takaka Hill to face Waimea at a cold and wet Jubilee Park.
“I thought those conditions would suit our country-style of rugby, keeping it simple,” declared Shawn before the semi-final.
He and hooker Brett McKay scored tries but Waimea was too strong and won 29-12, bringing Collingwood’s comeback season to an end.
