Poneke Rugby Club
Welcome to the Poneke Rugby Club
You don't just play. You belong!
Bruce Blades - Eulogy with contributions from Peter Blades, Graham (Mort) Butler and Lyle Shanks
Zisis Bruce Avangelos Blades, known to us as Bruce Blades, passed away suddenly as a result of a heart attack while playing golf at the Ohariu Golf Club on Thursday 26 June, 2008. Our Club has lost a wonderful member far too soon.
Bruce was born in Wellington on 8th September 1937 and was the second son of Greek immigrants Evangelos and Fotini Blades
Bruce attended Lyall Bay School where he got to know Mort and eventually told Mort that he was his “first best friend”. They both went on to Wellington Technical High School, where Bruce was outstanding both as a student and a sportsman, and demonstrated considerable leadership qualities, as this short list of his achievements show:
College Dux
Head Prefect
Captain 1st XV Rugby
Captain of 1st XI Cricket
School Tennis Champion and more - including participation in Indoor Basketball & Chess.
Bruce played for Poneke as a schoolboy, and then in an age grade team before going to Canterbury University. He returned to Wellington after completing an engineering degree and played for our senior (now known as the Premier) team for several years, together with his Canterbury University contemporary and good friend David Charlesworth. David now lives in Auckland but joined us for Bruce’s farewell on 2nd July.
Bruce played First Five and captained the team in 1961 and 1962. He was a skilful and good tactician as well as an outstanding, highly respected and popular Captain in a talented back-line. He was also courageous -weighing in at only 60 kilos. No doubt Bruce was really pleased to be reunited with Mort who toiled away at hooker and helped some other notable forwards including John Campbell, Ken Millar, Eddie Te Kahika and Moray Bevan to deliver good possession.
Bruce also played senior cricket for Kilbirnie for a number of years including periods when he was on summer vacation from Canterbury University, and he represented Wellington in that sport as well as in Rugby.
Peter and Charles Blades, who have both contributed much to Poneke, give credit to Bruce for encouraging them to do so, and there are many other club officials who have been beholden to Bruce for his help in achieving success in developments, especially in our player and clubroom facilities.
Bruce was a key person in the planning and design of the major extensions and up-grades of our premises in 1969/70, in 1979/80 and in the further improvements to be carried out shortly. His persuasive charm and negotiation skills were of inestimable value in over-coming official and other planning constraints.
During construction stages Bruce was unstinting in giving his time to oversee the work with ever tactful liaison with others such as Mort Butler, Dennis Wolff, Eric Dyne and Lyle Shanks as well as our outstanding Management teams headed by Duncan Garvie, Robin Dodd and Jamie Delich, and earlier such people Jim Gilbert, Dick Griffith and Marge Gilchrest.
Bruce was a leader in New Zealand’s Greek Community and wrote a book detailing their history in Wellington. He was awarded a Q S M in recognition of his services to the Greek community.
He was also a great family man, devoted to his wife Kathy, son Alex and his wife Christina (New York) and daughter Fiona and husband Michael (Sydney) and grandchildren. Poneke extends deep sympathy to them as well as to his brothers Basil, Charles and Peter and Peter’s wife Margaret and Bruce’s sister Olympia and her husband Brian, and all their families.
There will be further news later about how the Club and the Blades family propose to honour Bruce’s memory within Poneke.
Poneke Player Profiles Is Now Online!
To view the photos and player profiles of our Premiers and Senior First players for 2008 please click on Poneke Profiles or click on this link - http://www.ponekerugby.com/poneke-profiles/
Click on 'Poneke Express' to read the latest half season reports from our Senior teams.
Articles from most of our Senior Teams are available online! Read each team review their first half of the season and their plans for the second round - or click here if you have problems finding it on your toolbar - http://www.ponekerugby.com/poneke-express/
Dominion Post Article - Poneke In Ominous Form
The latest Dominion Post article about the latest Jubilee Cup round is available online. Click here to read more - http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4593037a6033.html. Congratulations to both Dane Coles and Chris Brightwell for earning 3 and 2 points respectively for the Best and Fairest Player.
Club Weekly - The Moananu Brothers
The Club Weekly writes an article about one of our family dynasties - The Moananu Brothers. Click here to find out more: http://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/clubs-teams-people.php?person_id=1689
Saturday Kitchen Is Open!
With big thanks again to Helen Moananu and the PIPC Newtown Sunday School Teachers - we have the kitchen open offering - Hot Chips - $2.50, Hot Dogs - $2.50 - Chop Suey and rice - $5.00. More to come as the season progresses.
Weekend Results for 28th June 2008
Premiers vs MSP, 15-11 to MSP, Senior 1 vs MSP, 18-3 to Poneke, Ruffnuts vs Wests, 34-6 to Wests, The Dogs of War vs Petone, 47-7 to The Dogs of War, The Cavs vs Waikanae, Game Cancelled, Colts vs MSP, 37-6 to MSP, Rebels vs Wellington, 24-7 to Wellington, Hammers vs OBU - 10-5 to The Hammers, Hislanders vs Tawa, 43-8 to The Hislanders, Presidents vs Wellington, Game Cancelled.
*The Establishment Man of the Match prizes are allocated to each Poneke senior team playing a home game at Kilbirnie Park. The Establishment Man of the Match wins a $40 Food and Beverage voucher. Congratulations to those nominated and thank you to 'The Establishment' for sponsoring our 'Man of the Match'.
Drinks Specials This Saturday 5th July
This Saturday the drinks specials during 7pm-8pm are -
Heineken - 3 x $10
RTD - $4 each
Jugs of tap beer - 2 x $10
Pints of tap beer - $3 each
Glasses of wine - $3 each
So play a game of Jenga/do a headstand/pop a beer to find out who'll be your sober driver on the night and we'll see you at the clubrooms!
Don't forget!
If you pick the correct full time score this Saturday between the ABs and the South Africans you could win a prize pack that includes $100 cash and a $100 bar tab. The All Blacks Game will be played live with SKY commentary.
If you can't watch the game at the clubrooms, watch Jedi 'live' at the Loaded Hog with his 'Alternative Rugby Commentary'.
Poneke FC wishes you a happy birthday week!
A big happy birthday on the 30th of June to Hannon Brighouse, on the 1st July to Doug Jones, Brad Faulkner and Lauchie Johns, on the 2nd July to Simon Tolai and Emma Edwards, on the 3rd July to Iafeta Laulau and Watene Campbell, on the 4th July to Te-Mai-Ra-Tahi Hohipa-Collins, Lewis Clareburt, Pomale Poka, Brad and Kent Hutchison, on the 5th July to David Lau-Young and Whitu-Waiariki Ake and on the 6th July to Jon-Paul Vitale, Elijah Faletolu and Elijah Siaosi.
Club Weekly - For all your club rugby information
For information on your teams competition, draws and results please visit: www.clubweekly.co.nz.
Club Information
Poneke Football Club Inc - established in 1883 - it maintains a long and proud history within the Wellington and New Zealand Rugby community.
The Poneke clubrooms are situated on Kilbirnie Park in the Eastern Suburbs of Wellington. The Club fields up to 25 Junior School Teams and 11 Senior adult Teams, including Under 21s, 2 80/80 weight restricted teams, Presidents, 3 Reserve Grade teams, Senior Three, Two, One and Premier Grade Teams. Each Poneke team positively represents our proud club both on and off the field with the aim to be successful in all of our nominated grades.
Useful Links
For information on draws and results please visit the Wellington Rugby Union site: www.wrfu.co.nz
For information about the All Blacks please visit: www.allblacks.com or for information about community rugby please visit :www.nzrugby.co.nz
For the Alternative Rugby Commentary hosted by Jed Thian - Coach of the Senior First - please visit: www.arcrugby.co.nz
For information about our Poneke representatives playing for the Vodafone Wellington Lions please visit: www.wellingtonlions.co.nz
Poneke Clubrooms - available for hire!
If you would like to hire Poneke Clubrooms for your special event - please contact Chanelle Masters via email on: chanellemasters@hotmail.com or please ring 021-607-564.
Contact Details
You can contact Poneke Rugby by e-mailing to: ponekerugby@xtra.co.nz
Or write to:
The Secretary
Poneke Football Club Inc.
Kilbirnie Crescent
Kilbirnie Park
P.O. Box 14258
Kilbirnie
WELLINGTON
Telephone +644 387-2535
Facsimile +644 387-2830 for