Wildcats Colts start well..

Qb Vince Richard Mehana

With Qb Vince Richard Mehana at the helm the WILDCATS Colts started the season well with a convincing win over the Spartans 10 to 2. With the likes of “Big Country” and Ken back from the Juniors , Colts was definitly taking it up another level.

Week two saw the Colts face a seasoned Metro team who played a hard D against our offence but were unable to stop Ken nd Vince and the O Line from scoring 14 points to 8. Two wins on the hop and the confidence levels were high as we faced a defeated Lightning the following week who were yet to win a game.

O on the run again

And as the ole adage goes, never underestimate your enemy, theWildcats colts soon found out why. Though up beat the Wildcats O struggled to complete downs with continued fumbles and dropped balls. Mean while a besieged Lightning were ready to prove themselves on their home ground and found our defensive backs wanting time and time again. Frustrated and scoreless it would be our D that scored any points forcing a safety, while the Lightning put on a healthy 28 points. Much humble pie was left on the ground and the wildcats would go away with much to do and plan for the coming week. Though down we were definitley not out and this week we will reclaim our pride of place at the top of the table.

Kiwi Bowl replay vs Metro Lions

D fence intercepts

The Red Army,   The Mumu Aiga, the Camaraderie de Rouge were ready to take on the Lions and prove themselves yet again as worthy of the title”Champions” though we prefer the title “family” because thats what we are at the Wildcats.

Now getting back to all things football, the Wildcats O was finding difficult to find momentum. Ten holding flags plus numerous others by the refs didnt help. And yet though there  was nothing on offense at all, defence was a different story with both teams blitzing thru. Offensively, the only excitement really came from a couple of Peter Jackson extras trying out for the Hobbit pushing each other around in the 4^th quarter of the game.

Despite Metro scoring first the Wildcats D scored three times with intercepts a saftey and a return. Metro went down 18-6 to the current Kiwibowl Champions with both Teams needing to get themselves organised as the Hawks having Coach Hall back , looking to get their program back on track.

2010 Season begins

The Red Wall of Meat

The defending Kiwi Bowl Champions season 2010 finally kicked off at Bay Roskill and apart from one or two glitches along the way the day at Bay Roskill was a real good one with Teams performing very well, considering it is the very first game of the season.

The Spartan Seniors played the Wildcats, with the Red Army going away with the win at 69-0. The Spartans had a lot of Lineman and it looked as though their “Skilled Players” must of missed the bus to Blockhouse Bay. The Wildcats relied a lot on their Running Back Jerry Key who scored something like 5 Touchdowns against a very tired Spartans Defense.

All and all it was a good first outing by the Wildcats with plenty of rookies getting a chance to cut their teeth in what will be another hard played season.

PRIZE GIVING SAT 1st MAY 2010

Hi GUYS after a long wait and a few hiccups we finally have prize giving set for the following date and time

WHERE: PAPATOETOE TUI CLUBROOM -183 Great South Road Manukau City

WHEN: Papatoetoe 7pm till late

TIME: Saturday 1st may 2010

COST: $20 per player – food to be provided by team

We are going to need everyone to bring a hot plate for our meal this year guys. So NO chips or biscuits please unless thats all you want to eat. there will be a TAB on the bar so be early before its all gone..Prizes include

O LINEMAN of the year

O BACK FIELD of the year

MVP of the year

Most Improved of the Year

D LINEMAN of the year

D BACK FIELD of the year

SUPPORTER of the year

To name a few of what we have in store. So let everyone know when and where and see you saturday.

Team photos will be available for 24 Dollars on the night as a well as a few CHEIFS photos. Thanks to those that have ordered already and paid.

Like a tree..Like a family…Like a champion

Prayer after the game

We set about to win a championship..and win a championship we did. We made WILDCATS history by going the whole season, regular, semis and final without being beaten and did it like we have done everything else..like a family.

Meeting game day morning the boys were all in good spirits, confident we could do the job and humble enough to know the show aint over till the final whistle. Dressed in lavalava we made our way to the grounds with a line of cars fifteen deep making its way to the stadium.

Settled in we got into the changing rooms and prepared for the game ahead. Warm ups on the field then each of us were called out by the announcer..taking just a 5 yard step then waiting till the whole team was called out then we walked as a team together to the 50 yard line.

Offence strike

Wildcats won the toss and we chose to get our Offence on the field first. With an awesome first drive we managed to get down to the goal line..and then touchdown…it was a battle in the trenches and despite a concerted effort from the METRO defence keeping it to 6-0 at the half…we were able to keep pounding the running game and finish winning 22-0. Defence for the WILDCATS was on fire and Metro’s run and pass were ably shut down by an on fire D Line and back field.

D Fence on the attack

Again and agin our defence were able to stop the Lions from making a first down, and their return gave us good field position time and time again.

In the end the WILDCATS achieved what they set out to do. To overturn a semi final defeat last year and go back to the basics. To play together with a real sense of team pride and family like never before. To stamp out “superstars” mentality and to do what we do with a real sense of humility. Knowing that we stand on others shoulders and wouldn’t have what we have without those that have gone before us.

Without the support we have had by the following people none of this would have been possible:

• Mrs Gailen Thew and Pastor Bob
• Coach Tyler, Coach Scanlon, Coach Behlow
• “Big Country” and Family
• The Scanlan Family
• Papatoetoe Rugby
• The Players Wives and Partners (and friends)
• Coach Danny Tixier
• and the 2010 WILDCATS

Now for our post season and preparing for that. Thank you to everyone that

KIWI BOWL XIX CHAMPIONS

journeyed with us and made this year a possibility. It is often said it is the journey and never the destination that is the goal…for us this has been true. Winning Kiwi Bowl XIX has been fantastic for the club..playing alongside our brothers this year..Coach Boons speeches…Radios flag Flying and each weeks games and trainings have forged for us the real reward and memories that will last a lifetime.

WE ARE……..WILDCATS

WE ARE.. CHAMPIONS

WE ARE…FAMILY

Come join with us…

The 2010 Papatoetoe WILDCATS would like to invite all and everyone who has been involved or supported the Club over the past 25 years to join with us as we take on the METRO LIONS  tommorow. Without those that have gone before us we would never have the opportunity we have to day and to make club history by completeing a whole season undefeated.

WAITAKERE TRUST STADIUM

4.00PM SATURDAY

13TH FEBRUARY

Field of Dreams

WILDCATS – Hey Hey..Ho Ho..Make Like a tree………..

Kiwi Bowl XXIX here we come…

The WILDCATS Family..41 to 7 win

After a conscerted first quater rally from the Tamaki Lighning scoring on a nice fake field goal and pulling every trick out of the book…the WILDCATS Family stuck to the game plan and ground down the Lightning to win 41 to 7. once again the power back field of Gus and Mike ran more yards then one could count supported by the O Line “Wall of Meat”, Lewy at the helm and Danny Tixier calling the shots.

D Fence let in only one touch down and once again showed the steel and determination that have made for an undefeated regular season and semi finals. Ably lead by “tiger” Tugaga and Niko Suaesi, D fence have shown that they do win games..

Once again our support crew of the Scanlan Family doing the water as well as

O LINE block for the run

some of our Juniors and Parents were welcome noise on our sideline. We have nearly done what we set out to do with only one game in the way of our goal ..to win Kiwi Bowl XXIX and get our trophy back. Now its just two trainings and one game away from our goal and once again..as a family we will do the simple things well and with a sense of humility get what belongs to us.

PAPATOETOE WILDCATS vs METRO LIONS

Waitakere  Stadium

Saturday 13th February

3.o0pm kick off

Two games away…from Our Goal..

RadiO..Our Number 1 supporter

The WILDCATS set out to make good things happen this year. We had a good look at ourselves and decided to celebrate again some of the values that make us a team. SO with that in mind, we got about the task of taking our opponents with a sense of humility each week and to play like a family. These were two things that made us what we are. We are WILDCATS..We are family. We play for each other and none is more or less. What other team in the comp has the “Coach Boon” speeches at half time from our very own “Coach Boon”! We don’t have superstars in our team, just brothers and friends that play for each other. This is what it means to be a WILDCAT.

SO with that in mind, we have stepped through each week and each game and have managed to go a season undefeated. Not that that means anything now because now it is do or die. We face a determined Tamaki Lightning, who were one of the few teams able to score twice on us. We will not take them lightly and have trained well this week and hard to ensure that we approach the game this week with the right attitude. After last years debacle at the Semis we are determined to take our place next week at Waitakere Stadium for KiwBowl XXIX.

PAPATOETOE WILDCATS vs TAMAKI LIGHTNING

2.00pm  SAT 6TH February – Harvey Wright Park Northcote

WILDCATS make the semis..undefeated

WALL of MEAT..

For the second time in three years the WILDCATS have managed to go undefeated and this time topping the table with not a loss and a clean season record. In 2008 the WILDCATS managed all wins and a draw and this year have gone for the first time in club history a perfect regular season, all wins no draws or losses.

With 209 points scored during the regular season and an average of nearly 30 points scored per game and 34 or an average of 5 points scored against us its been a good year on both sides of the ball.

This puts the WILDCATS top of the regular season table and straight through to the Semis on 6 March with the other teams playing off for a semi spot on the week before. The WILDCATS have no time to rest and will be training Tues, Thurs and Saturdays for the next three weeks with a good training and turnout on Tuesday.

Now every win counts for nothing as we prepare to take on either the Raiders or the Lightning in the semi finals as we prepare for our goal which has always been to win Kiwi Bowl this year.

Pride play with Pride..

WILDCATS O huddles for next play

On an overcast Saturday Morning the WILDCATS approached the last game for them in 2009 with maybe a little less urgency then they should. With QB Lewis Sinclair unavailable for the game, Niko Suaesi took the helm and familiarised himself once again with the many pressures of the QB position.

With the a near rocket start and near first pick from the first play of the day from Stanly Moala, the WILDCATS  were faced with a determined opposition that were determined to unsettle first seed in the AFA competition. With a few teething problems and the end of the first half a courageous Pride kept the WILDCATS to just one touchdown and the score being 7 to 0. A huddle at the half and a clear and determined talk by Head Coach Danny Tixier explained what we needed to do to change the second half.

The kick off ensued and after two quarters the WILDCATS had moved the score to 52 to 0. Once again DL Basil Boom Boom was in the right place at the right time and scored on an intercept taking his scoring tally in 2009 to two touchdowns. Not only that Anton “soccer”Van De Weele scored on an intercept adding to his growing tally of points scored by field goals. In the end the WILDCATS came to play and put themselves out of reach in the AFA ladder table.

We would like to thank all our supporters this year young and old and wish everyone a happy Christmas and New Year. Heres to the semis in 2010. WILDCATS hey hey…ho ho.