Jaradites Rugby Sports Club

11.06.1998: Jaradites Threat to Otorohanga

Otorohanga's expected progression through the grades of Waikato rugby has hit a new barrier.

The former King Country club champions were expected to breeze through the Waikato senior reserve A grade when they made their controversial switch of unions this year.

But they did not reckon on a former rugby league club trying their hand at rugby union for the first time.

Jaradites came from behind to beat Otorohanga 19-17 at their Weka St, Frankton, headquarters on Saturday to take a one-point lead in the competition.

The teams start again with a top-eight competition after this round, but at the end of that it will only be the top-placed club that has a B side and does not already have a team in the senior first or second divisions that will earn the right to challenge the bottom second division side for senior status.

Jaradites club president Charles Sunnex said they had two senior teams and five junior sides, all of which switched from league.

"We've lost a few players because of the move, but some of them are trickling back," Sunnex said.

"Not all of our players have come from rugby league. Since we switched we've attracted a lot of rugby players."

Jaradites had to score three tries in the last 15 minutes to win Saturday's game after trailing 17-0. They previously had a draw with Hamilton Marist, while Otorohanga Gold had run up a series of big scores.

09.05.1998: Five Join Northern Zone Maori

Five Waikato players have joined the Northe rn Zone Maori mgby team playing two matches in Melbourne.

The team, who departed yesterday, include Hamilton Old Boys players Kramer Ronaki and Jamie Mum, Hamilton Marist's Dave Dillon, Adrian Wharawhara of United Matamata Sports, and Tapua Gudgeon, who plays for senior reserve club Jaradites.

Mum came in as a late replacement for injured Nicky Little.
Northern Zone Maori are to play Victoria and a Melbourne Invitation side and were hoping on their return to play a North Harbour team in the curtain-raiser to next Friday night's Super 12 match at Albany.