‘Rugby royalty’ fires up fundraiser

Members of the Kinloch Volunteer Fire Brigade line up with Carols Spencer, Jack Malpass and Andrew Wills before a round of golf at the Kinloch Club.

Two mates teed off alongside former All Black Carlos Spencer and his son Peyton at the Kinloch Club on the weekend after winning an auction that raised about $2,000 for the Kinloch Volunteer Fire Brigade. 

Jack Malpass and Andrew Wills won the round through a Trade Me auction organised by brigade member Justin Feeney, making the trip down from Warkworth for what they called a "dad's weekend" away. 

Justin says the funds are needed for improvements to the station. 

The brigade has 11 volunteer members on call around the clock, covering the Kinloch area through to Western Bays and providing backup to the Taupō station when required. 

Justin knows Carlos and he didn't hesitate to come to the party and for the chance to have a game at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, often referred to as the most challenging course in the country.  

"We know how poorly funded they are, so I just thought it'd be a good opportunity to help them out," Carlos says. 

Jack Malpass tees off on the first hole at Kinloch Club. Photos: Dan Hutchinson

He is on an 11 handicap but admits Peyton has the edge on the course. Peyton made his debut for the Auckland Blues this year. 

"He's the better golfer — by a long shot," he says with a laugh, adding that Peyton hadn't played in a while, so he was "hopefully a bit rusty." 

Jack says the course is quite punishing if you are not playing well with a tricky layout and tussocks alongside the fairways. 

"The company's good today, so the golf is secondary to that — for a good cause," Jack says. 

Justin says the local fire brigade is very important to Kinloch.  

"As good as the Taupō crews are, they're still 15 to 20 minutes away." 

He says it was awesome to have “a bit of rugby royalty” down to help raise some money and some profile.