Page 20 - Ed2 League Lens Draft 3
P. 20
OTAHUHU RETURNS TO FOX
Looking down from the hills The ‘Tuhoe Train’ days John Ackland’s
where pre-season fatigue appointment
lives, sits a two-story Freddie Turuwhenua, also
building in its own concave, known as the ‘Tuhoe Train’, Down in the second division
on fields soaked with prideful is considered a legend at for the first time in 2016,
history. Bert Henham Park. Otahuhu were desperate for
a quick return.
The Otahuhu Leopards are Acknowledged for his loyalty
one of New Zealand’s most to the club, he has racked up Ironically, the man charged
successful clubs. Among the over 190 premier games with getting them back was
graduates are 49 Kiwis, five through the grades between an old time foe who spent
New Zealand captains and a the Fox Memorial and the decades with the Leopards’
vast selection of NRL Bartercard Cup. fierce rivals, the Mt Albert
graduates. Lions.
Turuwhenua was also the last
The Leopards have possessed man to captain Otahuhu to “There was no choice, we
the Rukutai Shield 16 times, the Fox title. could not afford to be in the
the Roope Rooster, Stormont Sharman for more than a
Shield and the Fox Memorial Coinciding with the year,” Dumper said.
Shield 12 times, dating back departure of Richard
to 1964 when they earned Blackmore as coach in 2011, “People thought this was
their first Fox title. the Leopards started losing Otahuhu being arrogant
players at an alarming rate. again, but if you look at
But after winning their most where we are, our catchment
recent first division title in “It’s probably the hardest area is very small.
2010, the club had been on a thing for a club supporter to
steady decline, narrowly watch their player move, but “You can’t be swayed by
avoiding relegation on a it’s even harder to see them emotion when picking
number of occasions before share the same passion they coaches, we had to look for
it finally caught up with did for Otahuhu,” Otahuhu’s the best coach to help with
them in 2016. office manager, Pauline what we needed to do.”
Dumper said.
