Eastern Tornadoes

Eastern Tornadoes
Club information
Full name Eastern Manukau Tornadoes RLFC
Founded 1999
Departed 2006
Former details
Ground(s)
Competition Bartercard Cup
Records
Runners-up 2001

The Eastern Tornadoes were a New Zealand rugby league franchise that competed in the New Zealand Rugby League's Bartercard Cup and Auckland Rugby League's Super 12 competitions. They were formed to represent the rugby league clubs of East Auckland.

History

The Eastern Tornadoes were formed in 1999 to compete in the Auckland Rugby League's Super 12 competition. They were a merger of the Mt Wellington, Otara and Pakuranga senior sides.[1]

In 2000 they joined the new national Bartercard Cup competition. The team originally included players from the Ellerslie Eagles but in 2004 they joined the Otahuhu Leopards to form the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards, being replaced by the Manurewa Marlins.[2] In 2006 the competition was revamped and they were merged with the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards to form the Tamaki Leopards.

Notable players

Notable players included: Jeremiah Pai, Gary Tupou, Herewini Rangi, Zebastian Lucky Luisi, David and Paul Fisiiahi and Hare Te Rangi.[3]

They were coached by James Leuluai.[4]

Bartercard Cup

The team was always a force in the early years, losing the Grand Final in 2001. However, in 2004 and 2005 the club was a shadow of its former self and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position (Teams) Finals
2000 2215075845166830Third (Twelve)Lost Elimination Semifinal
2001 21133564149015131*Second (Twelve)Lost Grand Final
2002 1610065124654720Fourth (Twelve)Lost Elimination Play-off
2003 16111467538129423Fifth (Twelve)Lost Elimination Semifinal
2004 16619378584-20613Eighth (Twelve)N/A
2005 163112339558-2197Eleventh (Twelve)N/A

*Two points for a bye awarded as the Ngongotaha Chiefs left the competition.

References

  1. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.319.
  2. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
  3. Twin Tornadoes cause chaos as they blow past opponents Sunday Star-Times, 16 September 2001
  4. Bulls brace for potent tornado The Press, 5 May 2001
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, September 11, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.