Hamilton Marist have won the annual battle of the Spillane Cup for 2023, their first win of the trophy in 23 years.

Last weekend a strong Hamilton Marist Premier side headed south down State Highway 1 to the heart of the mighty King Country and landed in Taupo for a weekend of Spillane Cup action. The weekend been one of the first challenges for new head coach Craig Walters and his management team. A weekend in which Craig was massively impressed with how his men went.

Hamilton Marist headed down to Taupo in the hunt for their 5^th victory of the prestigious Spillane Cup. Having won the event for the first time in 1955, it was a short wait until 1960 for the next victory. The third victory came in 1971 followed by their last victory at the turn of the century in 2000. It has been a long 23 year wait for the Hamilton outfit to bring the trophy back to their Old Farm Road base.

The weekend started with Hamilton Marist taking on MSP in the semi-final in what was a tightly contested match throughout with Hamilton Marist getting the W 52-14. Before the big showdown of the weekend, taking on Napier Marist in a hard-fought final, winning that match 25-12.

A special weekend was wrapped up with three Hamilton Marist men making the NZ Marist Tournament Team: Mossese Mafi, Leroy Van Dam and Sam Pou. 

The weekend was hosted in Taupo by NZ Marist, with a great event at Owen Delany Park. Hamilton Marist wants to acknowledge the great work done by all involved putting on the event for what was a great weekend. Finally a special shout out to Napier Marist who committed to the weekend under the challenging circumstances their community is facing. 

Some background to the Spillane Trophy below supplied by Paul Martin.

The trophy was known as the Marist’ Cup and although it still bears the name, it is the same trophy as played for today under the accepted title of the ‘Spillane Cup’. It was donated by Mr C. I. Spillane and from 1926 the Cup was competed for between Wanganui and Wellington and in 1930 Hamilton Marist issued a challenge to the then holder Wellington. That challenge resulted in a conference being called with a view to some form of permanent competition being established. From this gathering of Marist clubs came the ‘New Zealand Marist Brothers Old Boys Football Association’. A further result of this conference was the inauguration of what is now known as the first Spillane Tournament. Approval was obtained from the trophy’s donor to change the intent of the cup from that of a challenge basis to a competitive one which would encourage more Marist clubs to compete.

Article added: Thursday 16 March 2023