Balfour/Lumsden rugby players dedicate win to fishermen missing in the Catlins

Sunday, 31 March 2019

Balfour/Lumsden rugby coach John Gilkison and player Chris Ponga after their team's 96-17 win at Balfour on Saturday. Ponga's brother, Hendrix Kamo, and friend, Shaun Orchard, went missing while fishing at Slope Point earlier this year.

Former teammates missing in a Catlins fishing accident are constantly in the thoughts of Balfour/Lumsden rugby players and officials.

And on Saturday, their team dedicated its whooping 96-17 win to them.

Shaun Orchard, 23, and Hendrix Kamo, 28, were swept off the rocks near Slope Point on January 27.

Police called off the official search on February 28 and referred the case to the coroner. The pair were set to play this season.

* Search continues for fishermen who went missing from Slope Point almost two weeks ago

* Missing fishermen planned to play for Balfour Rugby Club this year

* Search continues for missing fishermen**

Balfour/Lumsden played Collegiate in the opening round of division two at Balfour, and the win on Saturday was a much-needed boost for the club and Balfour community, who have rallied around the families of the missing men.

Coach John Gilkison said the win was his most satisfying in rugby.

The Balfour/Lumsden team come together to enjoy their 96-17 win.

'That was just the tonic we needed, it's been a tough buildup [to the game with what happened to Orchard and Kamo].

'I'm sure they were smiling down on us today.'

Balfour/Lumsden players, who wore black armbands, the Collegiate team and referee paid tribute to Orchard and Kamo with a minute's silence before kick-off.

Kamo's brother, Chris Ponga, is in the Balfour/Lumsden team and said the support his and the Orchard families had received from the Balfour and Lumsden communities had been amazing.

'We're holding up OK but no-one knows how to deal with it … mum's doing the best she can,' Ponga said.

Gilkison said the Balfour township and surrounding areas were still struggling to comes to terms with the tragedy.

'It's devastated the whole community … I think about them everyday, just like others in the club and community.'

The pair thought nothing of the travel time from their homes at Tapanui (Orchard) and Wendonside (Kamo) for training and games, Gilkison said.

'They were dedicated rugby club men, always there to help out and were good players.

'This season is dedicated to them, to do as good as we can for them.'

Gilkison would personally like to see a memorial or a remembrance area at the rugby club for Orchard and Kamo.

'We're tossing ideas around but we don't want to tread on the family's toes.

'When you're in the Balfour community family you don't go out of it … you're never forgotten.'

Many people from northern Southland travelled to Slope Point to offer various forms of support to emergency services when Orchard and Kamo were reported missing.

Balfour Rugby Club president Bevan Roy made two or three trips.

Meanwhile, Balfour/Lumsden scored 16 tries - eight in both halves - in their 96-17 victory on Saturday. The score was 50-12 at half time.

Senior club officials said the 96 points could be a record win for the club.