Flashback Friday: Tigers surge to 1992 title
Papanui Tigers’ return campaign in the CRL Whitehead Plumbing and Gas Men’s Premiership wraps up this Saturday with a crucial home clash against Hornby Panthers, with both clubs aiming to avoid finishing in bottom place on the Massetti Cup ladder.
This edition of Flashback Friday revisits the Tigers’ 1992 premiership triumph.
The ’92 grand final pitted two fairytale sides against one another. Papanui had finished last the previous season, while Sydenham collected the wooden spoon in 1990.
The resurgent clubs finished in the top two positions on the 1992 ladder, the Tigers crafting a 12-2 regular-season record and the Swans losing just three of their 14 games.
Papanui, captained by John Cannell and coached by Lex Clarke, downed Sydenham 22-6 in the major semi and repeated the dose in the grand final, claiming their first premiership in 14 years with a resounding 28-12 victory.
Fullback Jason Cameron, who was named man of the match, and winger Evan Ross bagged doubles in the six-tries-to-two result, while Swans winger Rick Kara and five-eighth Shane Endacott crossed for the losing side.
The Tigers had been boosted by the arrival of West Coast utility Patrick Kiely and former Junior Kiwis centre Blair Harding (who would tour with the Kiwis in 1993), but coach Clarke was regarded as perhaps the most vital ingredient after taking the reins of the 1991 cellar dwellers.
For Sydenham, it was as close as the club would come to ending a title drought stretching back to 1956, while Papanui would go on to claim the Pat Smith Trophy again in 1994 and 1998.
Linwood’s Justin Wallace topped the 1992 premiership’s tryscoring stakes, while Hornby’s Albert Atkinson was the competition’s top point-scorer. Veteran Keas prop Moko Rangiaho was a popular winner of the D.V. Syme Rosebowl as Canterbury Rugby League’s Sportsman of the Year.
1992 CRL GRAND FINAL
Papanui Tigers 28 (Jason Cameron 2, Evan Ross 2, John Blazey, Rudy David tries; Cameron 2 goals) defeated Sydenham Swans 12 (Rick Kara, Shane Endacott tries; Craig Thompson 2 goals). Referee: Gary Baxter.
PAPUNUI TIGERS: 1 Jason Cameron, 2 Mike Black, 3 Blair Harding, 4 Mike Kerrigan, 5 Evan Ross, 6 Malcolm Taylor, 7 John Blazey, 8 Rudy David, 9 Patrick Kiely, 10 Paul Johnson, 11 John Cannell, 12 Stu Simcott, 13 Roy David. Reserves: 14 Grant Downing, 15 Jason Robb, 16 James West, 17 Mike Flanagan. Coach: Lex Clarke.
SYDENHAM SWANS: 1 Tony Tasse, 2 Vince McCue, 3 Peter Kaisa, 4 Vii Mulipola, 5 Rick Kara, 6 Shane Endacott, 7 Craig Thompson, 8 Ron Simanu, 9 Troy Sweetman, 10 Paul Kaisa, 11 Nick Tacon, 12 Lance Setu, 13 Mark Frame. Reserves: 14 Paul Zuppicich, 15 Jackson Arps, 16 Steve Hickling, 17 Taalili Mulipola. Coach: Mark Vincent.
