Albert near playoffs and Joe coming Home.

Albert Bernard is enjoying his stay with the Iowa Barnstormers and they used an intimidating defense to improve to 10-4 on the season with a 69-37 victory over the Milwaukee Iron Saturday night before a crowd of  9,415 fans at Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Field.  The victory combined with Green Bay’s loss at Quad City leaves the Barnstormers just one victory shy of clinching the af2’s Midwest Division Championship. Milwaukee falls to 5-9 on the season with the loss.

Joe QB

In Fresno California as Taula entered his first professional football game as a quarterback, he drew praise, encouragement and admiration from his Coyote teammates. The heavy hearted Taula responded by throwing two touchdown passes in attempt lead a Coyote comeback. However, Taula’s efforts weren’t enough as the Lightning eliminated the Coyotes from playoff contention for the first time since 2005. Jo will be heading home due to unforseen family circumstances.

Jordan Scanlon in All Star Game

Jordan #72

Our very own Jordan Scanlon who has been at CHSM Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary School for the past four years has been selected to play in the 605 All Star Classic game coming up in June.

Jordan under the tuttilage of Coach Pete Smolin has been with the Cardinals playing rugby and Football and has been starting center and lineman with the Varsity team. Jordan has done well while being away from home and by all accounts from Coach Smolin and in speaking with Jordan he has been a champion on and off the field.

We congratulate Jordan in what will be his last year at CSHM and the team, which won the 2008 Camino Real League Championship and wish him all the best for the 605 AllStar Classic Game on June 6th. The All Star game is the best of the best in the Southern California area East playing West.

We would also like to thank the family that have supported and billited Jordan during his time at CSHM as well as the CSHM school Staff and Coaches, Coach Smolin and all of those that have made Jordan’s stay in Southern California a memorable one.

ALBERT doing well in IOWA

#40 BERNARD

Record-Setting Crowd Sees Stormers win 73-68 DES MOINES – Papatoetoe WILDCAT Albert Bernard got to play in the first ever home game for the IOWA BARNSTORMERS 2009 season with a record-breaking crowd of 11,627.A far cry from the few that watch the games at Bay Roskill here in Auckland each and every year. Fans witnessed an offensive explosion as new starting QB Brian Villanueva threw for seven touchdown passes and ran for two more as the Iowa Barnstormers improved to 2-0 on the young season in a 73-68 win over the visiting Tulsa Talons (1-1) as a late Tulsa rally ended four yards short of the endzone as time expired.

According to Barnstormers team officials, tonight’s attendance of 11,627 is the largest crowd to ever witness an arena football game in the state of Iowa. Villanueva (24-39, 244 yards) outdueled Talons QB Justin Allgood (31-42, 406 yards), who threw for nine scores. Albert was playing special teams in #40 and had good game time for the barnstormers. We will keep in touch with Alberts progress through the season.

TEAM PHOTOS 2009

Team photo will be taken

THURSDAY 2nd April – 6:45pm – PAPATOETOE RUGBY CLUB ROOMS (our training grounds)

Please bring Jerseys, pants, and socks please as well as $20 NZD for the photo orders. Details of our prize giving will be given out at the Photo shoot so please let everyone know we need to be there. Cheers Tom

AUCKLAND VULCANS storm the WELLINGTON STORM

Auckland Vulcans 09

The Annual post season Auckland Vulcans games was held in Auckland this year on a mild saturday afternoon. No less then 7 WILDCATS made the team  of 32 players and after just two practises came together on the Saturday and played like never before. Actually they have scored fifty points before but that sounded good. By the half time whistle the VULCANS were only up by 14 – 0. After a short and poigniant speech by ex CAL BERKLEY alumni, Coach  Toa Sagapolutele, the boys turned up the heat and the finl score was 55 – 0. MVP for the day was Tim Hughly who did a great job at QB and all in all it was a great day for American Football. WILDCATS players on the day were

Andrew Tugaga

Clema Vaka

Frank Emani

John Lauifata

Niko Suaesi

Emani Suaesi

Anaru Perenata

OVERSTAYERS down but not OUT

OVERSTAYERS on the HUNT

The New Zealand Overstayers were beaten yesterday  but the name and image of American football played in New Zealand in the USA was definitly a winner. Only 13 players could eventually take the trip with a number hit by the recessions effects and job commitments. Nonetheless the dirty dozen plus one, took to the field and at the end of the first quarter were down only 7 to 0. With fresh legs the Milwaukee IRON were able to monopolise on a tiring Overstayers and the score at the half was only 27 to o. with 13 Overstayers playing a squad of 30 players eventually they got the upper hand and won 60 to 0.

Commentary through the game eluded to the fact that these guys traveled half way across the world and paid out of their own pockets, to play the game they love. American Football. From the starting New Zealand anthem sung by 10 year old Te Aorere Vaka, to the rousing Haka, and combined team huddle and prayer at the end of the game;American Football proved to be the winner.

We salute the boys that went over and played with all they could and managed to reduce the deficit from the last game by more then 30 points. The Overstayers will travel again next year if invited and as always will look to take the best team possible and cause the upset of the century, when a group of guys that play because they love this game, travel to the USA and beat or come very close to beating a US team on US soil.

We wish the boys well, Joseph Taula (Stockton Lightning), Albert Bernard (Iowa Barnstormers) and Andrew Asaua(Central Valley Coyotes) as they go off to their respective Arena2 teams to play another season and thank Mr Jerry Kurz for establishing this working relationship with New Zealand and Jason and Toiana Vaka as AF2 agents for doing the work behind the scenes and making this event happen.

PS: To Coach Perry Giardini – Will see you in July..

OVERSTAYERS vs MILWAUKEE IRON

OVERSTAYERS vs IRON

New Zealand Arena Football agent Jason Vaka, who has played a number of seasons in AF2 has secured a game against the MILWAUKEE IRON AF2 expansion team. Fifteen players have been invited to join the “OVERSTAYERS” as they make their third trip to the USA to play exhibition games. No less then five WILDCATS will be joining the team and making the trip over in the beginning of March.

Samoan NZ hip hop star KING KAPISI, designed a clothing label called Overstayers, and when the team first traveled to the US, he was a big supporter of the team and the name was decided. It was also a way of reclaiming a derogatory term often used by others to describe Pacific people that had migrated to New Zealand. Now its the proud name of an Arena Football team that is and has always been 100% Polynesian and proud of it.

Here are the details of the game and times and place. The OVERSTAYERS are currently in training as well as finishing off the end of a longer regular season of football. The boys ably lead by WILDCATS QB Joseph Toilolo and AF2 Agent Jason Vaka will be looking to give the MILWAUKEE IRON a real taste of Polynesian Football.

New addition to WILDCATS Family.

Ma and Pa Sala

As our loving Father reminds us it is him who gives life and takes it away, we welcome the addition of Veronika Jennifer Sala yesterday at 6.25am. A quick labour Veronika is a healthy 8lbs 6oz and is the absolute joy of mum and dad, Sepa and Kolio Sala. We wish them all the best in their new journey as proud parents.

Sad news for the Wildcats Family

Mr "Bull" Matia and Mrs Matia

It is with much sadnessss that we the Wildcats family join with Tyler and his brother Behlow, and mourn the loss of their  Father, Mr Anthony “Bull” Matia. Mr Matia passed away yesterday after complications whilst in hospital. Tyler is making his way home from England where he has been working hard on his football careeer and will join his brother Behlow who has also been in preparation for his World Cup trip in June.

Mr Matia has been a permanent fixture on the sideline and his sons greatest supporter. Always a smile on his face he supported his sons in their efforts to be good men and good footballers. Having played himself as one of the pioneers of American football in New Zealand for the Stallions and the Metro Lions, his presence will be sadly missed but no more then that of his sons Tyler and Behlow.

There wil be no practise on Thursday, but the team will meet at the field for around 7pm and we will dress in black please, Ie faitaga for those that have them. A koha will be collected for the family and we will make our way to the family whare together. Tyler and Behlow’s  Dad is now with his wife who passed away in 2004 and our thoughts and prayers are for those that are left behind..

Pö atarau
E moea iho nei
E haere ana
Koe ki pämamao

Haere rä
Ka hoki mai anö
Ki i te tau
E tangi atu nei

NEW ZEALAND 12 – AUSTRALIA 7

News at hand…….our boys have done us proud and beaten Australia 12 – 7 and qualify for the World Cup in CAnton Ohio. Well done to all the team and staff and to Jared, Tafa (Pasa – Sioka) ,Ben Anthony and John for their efforts.  More news  from IFAF…