A key player to watch out for on Saturday is Orewa halfback and captain, Simon Anderson. Simon’s leadership skills make him a vital member of the Orewa team. Playing in his second year of 1st XV rugby, Simon leads the team on attack and defence, putting his loud mouth to good use, directing his players all around the park. His crisp pass and solid defence make him a standout player each week for Orewa.
Rugby has always been in Simon’s blood starting with his grandfather Cleave Anderson playing fullback for the New Zealand Maori and the Auckland provincial side. Father Warren represented North Harbour and Auckland in under 85kg sides. Older brother Ben has played for the North Harbour Maori Colts, while younger brother Tom will start at Orewa College next year and has played in the Junior grades at the Silverdale club.
Simon started playing rugby for Silverdale at the age of 5, in bare feet on frosted fields. As soon as he was playing tackle rugby he made the club’s rep sides, from year 3 all the way up to year 7. In year 7 his rep side won the North Harbour competition. In 2007 Simon made the North Harbour Roller Mills under 55kg side.
In his first year playing rugby for Orewa Simon played in the 6th grade side who came a close second to Westlake Boys’ High School. By 2010 Simon was a member of Orewa’s 2nd XV who won the 3rd grade competition for the second year in a row.
During winter Simon’s life is full of rugby and schoolwork, he doesn’t get a lot of time to do much else with prefect duties to contend with also. But in the summer Simon spends his time playing touch, surfing, hanging out at the beach with friends and playing backyard cricket. This December Simon is part of the Orewa Senior touch team going to Nationals in Hamilton after qualifying first at the Northern region competition.
With the game against Mahurangi College being a local derby, Simon knows a number of the team from the Warkworth area having played with or against them since they were juniors. Those friendships will be put aside breifly on Saturday as Simon tries to lead Orewa to a win in the Murray Jones Shield for the first time since 2010.