We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby Union. We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 2019 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin – Information Sourced from the NZ Rugby Almanack 1959

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1958

(Founded, 1921; Affiliated, 1922)
Headquarters: Ruatoria.
COLOURS: SKY BLUE

Selectors: Messrs. C.P.Shea, D.McClutchie and W.Rickard

Losing only two of its nine matches, to Wellington and Wairarapa, and including two victories over Poverty Bay, East Coast experienced a most satisfying season. One contributing factor was the availability of previous representatives of experience , only six of the 25 players required being without earlier representation. The forwards were lively and enterprising and the backs ever eager to attack. The outstanding players were B.A.Watson, one of the two “white men” in the team,, a very useful centre, fierce tackler and fast-running and versatile attacker as he proved when given a run in the North Island Trials, the other was a newcomer, J.L.Karaka, a very fast but light loose forward of considerable ability, tireless in his covering of the field. Another player of more than average ability was Kururangi, a good handling, neat and lively second five-eighth.

Moeke and Reedy were two very able and speedy wingers. Whatarau added vim at first five-eighth, Knox Karaka performed some amazing things at full-back, and Awarau, another new rep., was a reliable half-back. Paea, now a more solid forward, had returned from Poverty Bay; he last played for the Coast in 1954.

Other old representatives to reappear were Morrison and Peachey, 1956 players, and Shelford and Moeke, whose last appearance was in 1955. Hiha had previously represented Hawkes Bay and Ihaka was a Counties player in 1956. Whatarau, who late in the season returned to Counties, was a member of the New Zealand Maori side. Knox Karaka, Hovell, T.M.Reedy and Whatarau played in the New Zealand Maori Trials, and Knox, and J.L.Karaka, Reedy, and Hiha represented Tai Rawhiti.

Players 1958

				Position	PL
0221		Walter Materite Peachey		Prop	1
0250		Hemara ‘Bo' Kururangi		First Five, Winger	8
0256		H.M. 'John' Paea		Flanker, Lock	9
0258		Tuta Wanui Taare		Scrumhalf	1
0264		Thomas Tamati		Lock	8
0269		Walter Walker		Forward	1 (1)
0272		E.R.'Knox' Karaka		Centre, Fullback	6
0276		Thomas Shelford		Prop	1
0280		Albert Ngatai		Forward	2
0282		Bruce Allan Watson		Centre	9
0287		George Kiwa Walker		Lock, Prop	8
0292		John Jacob Moeke		Centre	9
0298		Rangituatini 'Tene’ Henare		Prop	8
0305		Euan Trafford Hovell		Loose Forward	6
0307		Tamati Muturangi Reedy		Fullback, Winger	9
0308		David John Hooper		First Five, Fullback	8 (2)
0309		James Morrison		Prop	3 (1)
0315		Edward Hone Whatarau		First Five, Fullback	5
0316		Pia Ihaka		Scrumhalf	3
0317		J.L. Karaka		Flanker	8
0318		Ruruarau Heitia Hiha		Lock	3
0319		Mauheru Kokiri		Hooker	8
0320		Victor Claude Rickard		Loose Forward	4
0321		Mokena Pahoe Awarau		Scrumhalf	7
0322		John Maxwell		No.8	4