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Jaradites
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The Jaradite Rugby Sports Club started in 1989 by Charles Sunnex and Grenville Bell (current member of the New Zealand reggae rock band Katchafire). The club first played Rugby League and was called the Jaradite Rugby League Club. In 1997 the Club Manager Charles Sunnex decided to switch from Rugby League to Rugby Union. The Jaradites are mainly consisted of local members around Hamilton who are of LDS faith, known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aka ‘Mormons’. The Jaradite Rugby Team currently plays in the Waikato Senior Men’s Division One competition, the grade just under the Waikato Premier Grade in which players are selected from to play in provincial and Super 14 teams. Origin of Name The name Jaradites is a derived name from an ancient group called the Jaredites. The Jaredites are mentioned in scriptural texts found in the Book of Mormon used in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teachings. Their name comes as followers and descendants of Jared and his Brother aka brother of Jared who left the city of Babel where people were building a Tower to get to heaven. Everyone’s language was purposely confused by God as punishment for their doings except for Jared, his brother and their friends and families. They travelled across many oceans through unique boats constructed having no open deck and finally landed in a ‘choice land above all other lands’ the Americas, thence having to establish themselves to become a great ancient civilisation. Jaradites Senior A 2008 Preliminary Round Table Game Date Time Versus Venue 1 29 March 02:30pm Lemington Leamington 2 05 April 02:30pm Matangi Swarbrick 3 12 April 02:30pm Pirongia Swarbrick 4 19 April 02:30pm Taupir Taupiri 5 26 April 02:30pm Southern United Swarbrick 6 03 May 02:30pm Putaruru Nola Block 7 10 May 02:30pm Ohaupo Swarbrick 8 17 May 02:30pm Raglan Raglan 9 24 May 02:30pm Frankton Swarbrick There is also a senior B team which is compulsory in this division, all there games are at the same venue against the same team but their games start at 1pm. 2008 Pre-season Games On March 07 2008 the Jaradites played their first pre-season game against Matangi at their home venue in Matangi, Hamilton. Daylight saving was still on their side so a late game starting at 6:30pm was welcomed by all players and supporters. The game was one thirty minute half and two twenty minute quarters. Matangi got the first try from one of their wingers who chased a chip kick over the top of the Jaradites backs in which the Jaradites fullback failed to pick up ball as it was rolling backwards and was pressed down by their winger. In the first of the two twenty minute quarters Jaradites first five ran down blind side from a scrum, drew and pass on their winger and passed it to Jeremy Wikeepa who scored the try under the posts. In the very last minute before full-time, five metres from the Jaradites try line Matangi’s number eight scooped the ball from behind the scrum and scored the wining try followed by a successful conversion to end the first pre season game for both teams. On March 15 2008 the Jaradites played their second pre-season against Frankton at Swarbrick Park in Frankton, Hamilton. This game came about because of a late pull out by Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club. The game was split up into three quarters. Sam Timu, a local qualified referee conducted the game. It was a mid afternoon game starting at 3pm on a very hot, hard soiled ground. In general the game was fairly even the whole way through with early tries from both sides. Nearing the end, one of Frankton’s locks broke the line and scored a try putting Frankton up 10-5. There were no conversion attempts since it was against the WRU’s (Waikato Rugby Union) policy to have any goal posts before the season started on local parks owned by the council. With about 5 minutes there was a little misunderstanding between teams about a quick throw in and a tackle which resulted only in a couple of punches from both sides, nothing too serious. Sam Timu then stopped the game. Both teams traditionally shook hands with congratulations on each other’s performance, even the culprits who had spoiled it for the rest. Team Brothers In 2006 Jaradites first fifteen was a combination of five sets of brothers. Hyrum Sunnex - Second Five-Eight (Coach/Player) Willard Sunnex - Open Side Flanker Lorenzo Sunnex - No.8 Moroni Sunnex - Lock Jeremy Wikeepa - Centre Jason Wikeepa - Halfback Graftan Mark - Winger Antonio Mark - Winger Ezra Heke - Hooker Joseph Heke - Blindside Flanker Anaru Popham - Prop (Captain) Geoff Popham - Lock Jaradites Women Rugby Team In 2001 Jaradites had its first Women’s rugby team. The team only played for one season due to shortage of numbers of teams in the Waikato women’s competition. They played very hard and strong and nearly half of the team were mothers of more than two children. Controversial Game In 2006 Jaradites were in Senior Men’s Division 2. In the last round Jaradites played Fraser Tech Division 2 Team. Before the game had even started there were a good number of recognisable players in the opposing team that had been playing for their club’s premier grades, two grades higher than the grade Jaradites were currently in. These players were looking for games because their premier teams hadn’t qualified for any finals in there own perspective competitions. It was known amongst their/other clubs that Jaradites were undefeated all season. Protests had already been mentioned to their coach about those players. The game still continued and Jaradites were beaten 18-10. The issue of players playing from higher clubs was mentioned to the Waikato Rugby Union (WRU), the union then penalised Fraser Tech for their actions and awarded the win to Jaradites. The following week Jaradites played the same Fraser Tech team that beat them the following week in the semi-final of the division. This time the WRU actually sanctioned players from the Premier Reserve Division (the same top grade, but the B side) to play for Fraser Tech against Jaradites. The game commenced and again Jaradites were defeated 19-7 to Fraser Tech. The Jaradites played very hard and fairly and couldn’t be bothered with all the politics surrounding the game. In the final of the said division, Fraser Tech lost to Te Akau, a country team near Ngaruawahia, apparently they had approached the WRU beforehand about playing top grade players in the final also. Fraser Tech won the final that day and became the champions of Senior Men’s Division 2 for 2006. Reason for change of Home Venue For ten years the Jaradites home venue for Saturday games was held in Temple view at the Church College of New Zealand rugby grounds. Due to an inconsiderate and unfortunate mishap the club’s home games are now at Frankton Rugby Club (Swarbrick Park). The reason being that last year in 2007 Jaradites played Pirongia, and the away team was told beforehand many times to never smoke or bring alcohol onto the schools campus. Unfortunately they never listened and had brought beer into their changing room and did not clean up their mess or dispose of their scattered bottles. The school then politely told the manger of Jaradites that because of this mishap the Saturday games were no longer to be held at Church College. Jaradites rugby training is still held at the grounds. Latest News Clippings “Meanwhile, the Jaradites team is still undefeated in Division 2A. Coached by Hyrum Sunnex, who also plays in the team alongside three brothers Willard, Lorenzo and Moroni, the team won all matches in the first round, continued unbeaten through the top four playoffs, and is still winning after the grade was revamped to include four of the reserve teams from premiere clubs. Last Saturday Jaradites beat Hamilton Old Boys 24-17. The side has scored 402 points while conceding just 138 in 13 matches. Loose forwards Willard Sunnex and Joseph Heke have wreaked havoc on opposing teams with their dynamic running and bruising defence” (Holt, 2006, p.31). 
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