http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,html Canterbury Rugby Football Union, Christchurch, New Zealand http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/img/logo.gif http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,html CRFU 60 en Burnside co-coach Peter Manson knows what it’s like to witness the red and whites win the Hawkins Trophy – from the other side. In 2006 he was part of the Christchurch coaching unit with, ironically, current Sydenham coach John Sherratt which lost the http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4339,html Mark Bacon played his 100th Division 1 match for Sumner late last month. Special as reaching that milestone always is for a player, it is the way that Mark did it that made it a truly remarkable achievement. Mark you see was playing seriously injured http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4308,html Merivale Papanui celebrated 130 years of rugby last weekend on its club day. It is thought the club is the second oldest in the province. The club actually began on 12 May 1882, although the club thought that it was appropriate to celebrate its 130th http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4294,html At a time when student numbers are down, University’s unbeaten run in the Hawkins Trophy this season is providing a welcome tonic according say club officials. The students are unbeaten after three rounds. Last weekend they beat http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4291,html University Division 1 coach Ernie Goodhue is frustrated. After seven competition games his 25-strong squad remains unbeaten although untested. The students started the season with a 37-29 win against Belfast before having the bye http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4190,html Last weekend’s unexpected early winter break gave Belfast an opportunity to take stock and reflect on their season to date of ‘what ifs’. Last season the Cobras steadily improved. Coach Don Fisher (who recently received his blazer for http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4188,html Lincoln University, despite losing last weekend, has shown itself capable of beating any side in the Hawkins Cup this season. With a bevy of young talent in their ranks and a quality coaching team they will not be underestimated by any side http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4162,html Belfast (pictured) toppled Marist-Albion in a mid-table women’s competition match on Saturday, but last season’s finalists University and Sydenham still top the table http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4123,html The Sumner club, which is fielding 18 teams this season, celebrated its 125th anniversary in style last weekend. The story goes that around 1887, on one Saturday morning, a patron at a Sumner hotel said something like: “This rugby is a great game”. His http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4097,html Marist Albion has been the surprise packet of the Metro Division 1 competition this season so far with Christchurch being their latest scalps, although it was Sumner (here pictured) who played in the match of the round, the seasiders drawing 25-25 http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,4093,html At the Metropolitan Rugby Clubs Association Annual General Meeting, Toby Giles, on behalf of the Christchurch Football Club was presented with the Evans Shield, Redpath Shield and http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3975,html A masterful second-half performance into the wind has secured High School Old Boys their second Cup-Trophy double in the past four years, after they beat University 15-10 in the Metro Division One final http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3899,html A single bonus point was the difference between agony and ecstasy for teams vying for the final spot in the Metro Division One Trophy semi finals. New Brighton, despite losing to Christchurch on Saturday http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3877,html Christchurch top the Colts Premier table with Lincoln University, but which teams will join them in the playoffs has become a tight race that will likely be decided in the final week. http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3861,html University and High School Old Boys have opened up a lead at the top of the Metro Trophy division one championship after an unbeaten start to the second round. Cup winners Old Boys hold a one point lead http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3859,html Christchurch had the better of the opening and closing quarters, but that was not enough to hold out a determined University who showed great patience and unleashed some brilliant running rugby http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3839,html First-round winners High School Old Boys have claimed their first Metropolitan Cup since 2008 by beating Cup holders New Brighton on Saturday, with a round to spare http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3822,html Consecutive losses have dropped Belfast out of the top six, after they looked on track with four wins in the middle of the round. Belfast coach Don Fisher says the team have not yet played http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3805,html Sydenham well and truly upset the Metro division one apple cart by toppling High School Old Boys 16-11 at Bob Deans on Saturday. http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3790,html Upset losses suffered by their nearest rivals have gifted High School Old Boys a sizeable lead in the Metro division one standings. Old Boys easily accounted for Lincoln University 47-14 on Saturday http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,641,3776,html