Year by Year , Our History ~ 2013 ~

We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Thames Valley Rugby Union.We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 2016 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin

Thames Valley had their best ever start to a Heartland campaign by winning their opening three matches and finding themselves in second position on the table Then the next four games were all lost. The last round robin match was against high fliers Wairarapa Bush, but the Swampfoxes prevailed 23 – 15 with a dominant second half in dreadful weather, and had a Lochore Cup semi-final to play In that semi-final Thames Valley led 5 – 3 at halftime, but eventually went down 8 – 14 to South Canterbury.

The two props Kieran Ramage and 41-year old Alan McLean impressed and anchored a solid scrum. Captain Blake Hill was a reliable hooker who ended the season at blindside flanker due to injuries. Lock Kent McFarlane stood out, and at number eight Brett Ranga seldom put a foot wrong. Impressive flanker Bruce Jones succumbed to injury before the end, while Adrian Holmes got better as the season progressed.

Halfback David Bason was the standout back, the former Waikato, Counties Manukau and Chiefs player being an invaluable loan player. At first five-eighth Kane Adams controlled play well and was a good goalkicker. Record points scorer David Harrison spent most of the season on the bench, but when Adams was out injured for the Wairarapa Bush match his boot in the second half, either for goal or position, was instrumental in the win. Centre Bryce Cowley was another very good loan player. Fullback Lance Easton had his season end with injury.

During the course of the season 32 players were used, 12 for the first time. Those who reappeared after at least a year’s absence were Manaia Taotala, Alan McLean, Mike Smith, Barton Thompson, Daniel Hitchcock and Jamie Gifkins. Kieran Ramage was the Player of Origin. Last year’s captain Jackson Achilles was in England.