Kiwi Legends serve up great game

As curtain raisers go, this was about as good as it gets.
Graham Lowe, the 1983-86 Kiwi coach, was back in harness bringing together a collection of former Kiwi internationals to face an Invitational team at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night.

The crowd came early as well, several thousand attracted to see the likes of Kurt Sorensen, Fred Ah Kuoi, James Leuluai, Gary Kemble, Tony Iro, Clayton Friend and many more wind back the clock in a match organised by the Invitational team's Noel Wyatt, an Ellerslie stalwart. At the age of 43 he wanted one last match and he had his wish.
What unfolded was a display of some wonderful ball skills from players of yesteryear.

The evening hadn't started well for one of their number. Joe Ropati, a blockbusting winger in his Kiwi days, suffered the embarrassment of straining a calf muscle as he ran - or even walked - onto the field. He went straight off.
It so happened that another Kiwi great was in attendance and willing to step into the breach, none other than the absolute warrior Kevin Tamati. He emerged on the sideline wearing the jersey intended for Ropati but with no shorts!
On the field, the ex-Kiwis settled into their work and everyone there plus a television audience witnessed some great touches all over the field.

Winger Mark Bourneville, a 1985 Kiwi tourist and later a French test player, streaked close to 50 metres for the opening try.

Throughout Ah Kuoi, Friend and Shane Cooper were displaying all their old ball skills.
Duane Mann jinked out of dummy half and paved the way for Sam Panapa to score a nice try.

Then early in the second half Panapa showed he had lost little of his toe despite the advancing years, skipping away for his second try.

The Invitational players, just possibly helped a little by referee Bill Shrimpton, wanted some glory, though, and found it as first Gregory Molloy and then Reece Guy scored converted tries.

They weren't going to go away but the Kiwi legends weren't about to allow a later winner either. The result was never going to be academic for them, not when the competitive juices kicked in.

Match details:

KIWI ALL STARS 14 (Sam Panapa 2, Mark Bourneville tries; Tea Ropati conversion).
INVITATIONAL TEAM 12 (Gregory Molloy, Reece Guy tries; Gregory Molloy conversion; Reece Guy conversion).
Halftime: 8-0 Kiwi All Stars.