Fifty years on, Greytown junior side is reunited

''A very close-knit team and a good bond'' is what one player from the 1959-61 Greytown junior rugby team said made them a success.
The team gathered at Greytown Rugby Club on Saturday for a 50-year reunion.
The day started off with Junior Advisory Board rugby, which is usually played elsewhere but was co-ordinated to be played in Greytown because of old timers day.
Later there was a lunch before the ''old timers'' and the JAB team joined for a guard of honour.
This was not the team's first reunion, they had one in 1981 and another in 1991 but players said reunions were important because they brought everyone together.
''There's only five of us left in the [Wairarapa] district, the rest have moved away so it's good to get back together.''
In 1960 the team won the Wairarapa championship, the Playle Cup, Balfour Cup, Jeffreys Cup and Brough Cup, winning 12 of 16 games, drawing two and losing two.
''We developed an understanding, we knew what someone would do and when they would do it but having good coaches also helped to develop the strong bond.''
Drinking was a big part of sport at that time and not much has changed with most of the team saying their favourite thing about playing was the after-match functions, most of which were celebrations after their numerous victories.
Most of the team at the time were friends so knew each other well on and off the field.
''We did everything together ... Rugby was the game young fellas played at the time but then after that there was cricket as well.''
The men do not have much advice for young rugby players who aspire to be like them, only that they need to enjoy the game and their mates. ''That's where it all comes from.''