The pride of Pakuranga, its new under-85kg men’s rugby national champions, put their victory down to all aspects of creating a winning team culture.
When the Times caught up with the side on Sunday at the club’s Bell Park headquarters, the players, team management and club members were celebrating the previous day’s historic achievement.
They were also watching a televised replay of the match on the big screen reliving every bone-crunching, lung-sapping moment.
The Pakuranga United Rugby Club’s Panthers defeated Christchurch’s High School Old Boys’ Light Bears 23-22 to lift the U85kg National Club Cup in an exciting nail-biting final at Sky Stadium (the Cake Tin) in Wellington on Saturday.
It was also a special occasion, with the national club final being the curtainraiser game to the All Blacks’ second Bledisloe Cup test match against Australia, won 33-13 by New Zealand.
Panthers’ captain and loose forward Callum Dimond says the final was a very tense tussle with HSOB.
Even though they were playing in a large stadium, on an international stage, they blocked that out and focused only on what was happening on the pitch.
“It wasn’t until after the final whistle that we started to appreciate the atmosphere,” Dimond says.
Adding to the tension for Panthers’ fans, it was close to the end five minutes into overtime that Pakuranga scored their winning converted try.
Dimond says the national championship winning effort was secured by his teammates sticking to their guns.
“From the beginning of the season, we started to build a connection within the group.
“We left it all out on the paddock and dug deep for each other and found a way to win.”
Panthers’ coach Brad Martin, at the end of his first year as head coach after a couple as assistant, put everything into the side’s preparation throughout and is “ready for a break” until next season.
The self-described “obsessed” rugby coach was elated on Sunday.
“It’s pretty hard work. From the beginning of the year, we set goals, first to win the Auckland club competition, and then the National Cup.
“We were committed, trained twice a week, rain, hail or shine, and were focused on building a game plan that involved playing to our strengths around our forwards and scrum.”
Martin says the management’s planning for success in the National Cup was also helped by having the other matches being streamed online, meaning they could assess how future opponents were playing.
Long-serving PURC president Mike Biddick was all smiles when saying “we’re incredibly proud of their achievements”.
“It says a lot about the culture of the club. They’re all local boys, guys that have got their backs.
“The best thing about it is it shows the competition that it’s a club team, and not a composite side.
“Their drive and bond backed them to the end.”
Pakuranga’s achievement was nationally significant enough for the 6pm TV One news bulletin to broadcast the result and victory celebrations during its sports section on Saturday.
Pakuranga Panthers qualified for the national final by beating Karaka, of Counties Manukau, 34-24 on September 21 at Bell Park.
In the other semi-final, Light Bears, of Canterbury, won 30-15 over Auckland University’s Slugs.
