A tense and thrilling affair

Ryan Abbott, Andrew Boyd, Homes of Hope CEO Hilary Price, Matthew Abbott and Marcus Hughes. Photo: Nikki South.

They're friends off the rugby pitch, but foes on the field. Greerton Marist will take on its closest rivals Rangataua in a special charity rugby match on Saturday, May 27.

Hosted by Greerton Marist Recreation and Community Sports Club, next Saturday's game is the first of a proposed two-yearly charity rugby match and auction with proceeds going to a chosen charity.

Proceeds from next Saturday's game between Greerton Marist and Rangataua will go towards Homes of Hope, which provides foster care to children in need.

'Greerton Marist has always held Rangataua as our closest rival, but they're also our ‘brothers' due to the closeness to each other,” says Greerton Marist club president David Small.

'There are players/whanau from both clubs who have played junior and senior rugby for each club.”

Other than the excitement of a new concept for the club, David says supporters can expect a good game.

'The game itself will likely be a tense and thrilling affair with plenty of open rugby and a number of BOP Steamers players on show.”

David says for many players, the game will be a unique experience for all taking part in the charity event.

'It's not always about the rugby. The match represents an opportunity to give to an amazing organisation through vicariously contributing a donation.”

Homes of Hope receives some government funding through one contract, however this is not guaranteed and only partly covers their on-going operating costs.

They rely heavily on the public's good will, which David says makes Homes of Hope a perfect charity to support.

'It is also a good event to make people aware in the Greerton community that this amazing organisation has a profound effect on the children they have in care and to be able to support this in a small way has benefits for a large amount of people.”

The Greerton Marist charity match is at Greerton Park, Oropi Rd on Saturday, May 27, 2017. Games are scheduled from 11.45am culminating with the charity match kicking off at 2.45pm.

Greerton Under-13 Black will take on Greerton Under-13 Gold on field one at 11.45am. The first President's Day game will kick off on field three at 12.30pm, followed by Greerton Development v Rangataua Development at 1pm and the second President's Day game at 1.30pm.

The charity match between Greerton Premier and Rangataua Premier will kick off at 2.45pm, followed by after-match speeches at 5.30pm and the game day jersey auction at 7pm.

There will be 15 specifically designed playing jerseys auctioned off after the match, along with a raffle for one lucky person to win a rugby jersey.

A donation at the gate is encouraged, with all proceeds going to Homes of Hope.

Readers can make a contribution to Homes for Hope at

https://givealittle.co.nz/donate/fundraiser/greertonmaristhomesofhopechairtymatch

You may also like....