IPC Drum Team Wins Over Rugby World Cup Crowd
On the brisk blue-skied morning of September 26, a group of 12 eager rugby fans headed out from International Pacific College (IPC) into the rising sun. Amongst them were the six members of the renowned IPC Drum Team. Two and a half hours later the group arrived in Napier, the city chosen to host the Rugby World Cup match between Japan and Canada.
After lunch and a short rehearsal at McLean Park, the drum team gave a performance at Port Ahuriri Primary School. The performance, which had been organized by the Japanese embassy, was enjoyed by a large crowd, including the embassy’s first secretary Mr Ato, the Hawke’s Bay News and many members of the community. But it was perhaps the Port Ahuriri students who enjoyed it most. They sat entranced throughout the performance and afterwards swarmed the performers, begging for photos and Japanese autographs. “It was so cute,” says drum team Captain Misaki Sugiura. “They were all so interested and so involved.”
From the school, the performers returned to the stadium to set up their instruments before going to check in to their hostel. That evening they enjoyed a dinner and casual conversation at Breakers Café & Bar with Mr Ato, who was very curious to learn about IPC and the students’ lives at the college. Before going to bed, the performers took their staff chaperones, Toshio Onsho and Satoshi Satoshi Minami, to play laser tag at Laserforce, which student Kentaro Hikichi describes as “just an awesome way to end a day”.
The following day, the drum team spent a sun-drenched morning in downtown Napier. After a few hours of sightseeing and café-hopping, they went to a nearby beach to try their luck at a rugby obstacle course that had been set up for the Rugby World Cup, where, amongst other challenges, the team members attempted to tackle life-size inflatable rugby players. They then met up with the group of almost thirty other IPC students who had come to support them and the Japanese rugby team at the match.
The supporters carried flags and banners and had painted their faces red and white. Even amongst the crowd of over 14,000 lively fans, they were a sight to behold. While the Japanese rugby team warmed up, the drum team performed in the centre of the rugby field before television cameras and the excited audience. The Japan fans responded with a deafening crescendo of cheers. Afterwards the Canadian rugby team sang the English and French versions of the Canadian national anthem and the game commenced.
It was a thrilling game to watch. Japan, Asia’s only qualifying rugby team, was relatively evenly matched against Canada, recent surprise victors over Tonga. However, the game remained firmly in Japan’s favour for most of its duration, with Japan’s Kosuke Endo scoring a try just before half-time to bring the score to 17-7. Japan’s supporters felt confident that they had the game in the bag, when, with only two minutes remaining before full-time, Canada’s Ander Monro kicked a penalty goal that brought the score to 23-23. Despite a hopeful last-minute attempt at a drop goal by Japan’s James Alridge, the game ended with the first stalemate of the tournament. “Everyone was shocked,” says Zoe Taylor of her fellow students’ reactions.
Regardless of Japan’s anticlimactic tie, the students agree that it was overall a winning experience. “The best part about it was having so much support from IPC,” says Zoe. “The staff that came with us really looked after us and helped to create a great atmosphere for all the students involved.”
The opportunity for the drum team to perform at the biggest sporting event in New Zealand’s history is certainly one that its members will never forget.
A Wonderful Postscript to This Story
On Tuesday 18 October the 'Student City Art and Culture Awards' evening was held at the Palmerston North Convention Centre. Representatives from all the local and regional tertiary institutions were there hoping to receive an award. The IPC Drum Team opened the evening with a strong performance that the audience really appreciated.
After listening to and watching many outstanding winners receive their awards, the final major award for the evening was ready to be presented for the '2011 Club of the Year'. Four clubs were nominated for this prestigious award, and the winner was ....... IPC Drum Team!!!! This was a very popular result with everyone agreeing that the members of this club are great ambassadors of IPC and the local Palmerston North community, where they are known both locally and nationally. Congratulations to the Drum Team!