Throwback: When Hautapu Sports carried off the Breweries Shield in 1999

By Ryan Yelavich

A collection of Hautapu Sports rugby photographs has been uncovered from random games and events dating back to 1984.

In this special feature, we’ve delved into the collection to remind us of the 1999 Breweries Shield final in which Hautapu overcame Fraser Tech 25-20.

Having won the Breweries Shield the year before as the underdogs coming into the play-offs, the ’99 boys were faced with a tougher challenge.

They were no longer underestimated by the rest of the competition. This time, they were the favourites.

Originally known as Rugby Park in Hamilton, the old Waikato Stadium hosted the match in front of a packed crowd.

In the 55th minute, head coach Craig Stevenson and the Hautapu faithful would not have been alone in thinking the game may have already been over.

With a 17-0 deficit, the outcome was not looking good for securing back-to-back titles.

Despite this, the ’99 team’s resilience to claw their way back into the final was nothing short of inspirational.

After the ball was turned over, Matt Phillips scored a morale-boosting try, Hautapu’s first points of the game.

Damien Karauna made two jinking runs, and good support play set him up.

A familiar face to current club members and a future Hautapu coach, the then 20-year-old Fraser Tech lock Sean Hohneck was causing all sorts of problems at line-out time for our boys.

Kerry Williams, Hautapu’s first-five and goal kicker, closed the gap with two quick penalties to make the score 17-13.

Euegene Martin from Fraser Tech responded with a penalty goal of his own, pushing the margin to seven points. Heading into the final 15 minutes, Tech led 20-13

Williams then broke through the defence, chipped ahead, and Keith Lowen won the race to score, Williams converted, tying the game at 20-20 with only minutes to go.

A 22m drop-out error from Tech gave winger Cam Langsford the game-winning try.

The final score was 25-20 in favour of our boys.

Hautapu had won their second Breweries Sheild, going back to back for the first time.

In the last quarter, Hautapu were on a roll.

Isaac Boss, Kerry Williams, Damian Karauna and wing Shane Thornton were all looking dangerous on attack, while captain Hayden Scown led his rejuvenated forwards by example from no 8.

Hautapu’s shield-winning squad

Rodney Fisher, Matt Phillips, Glen Stanton, Rob Rogers, Shane Thornton, Norm Rusk, Jay Cowley, M Zame, Regan King, Ray Stowe, Sean Botherway, Jesse Adams, Bryce Norris, Lee Turner, Todd Miller, Barry Schrader, Kerry Williams, Brad Miller, Isaac Boss, J Cooper. Cam Langsford, Damian Karauna, Keith Lowen, Phil Herewini, Hayden Scown (captain), Chris Jacobsen.

Craig Stevenson (coach), Mark Tomsett (assistant coach), Dave Manderson (manager), Ross Tompson (manager).

Photo gallery

All the Waikato Breweries Shield winners

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