Double Act

Since Kiwi pair James Reilly and Mark Sorenson arrived at Meggetland, they have rarely been out of the spotlight. Both their on field displays and amiability off the pitch have seen the boys rise in popularity. James and Mark have filled the shoes of important team members from last season and their success at the club so far is largely to do with the competence with which they have done this. James has the immense task of taking over the kicking duties from favourite Calvin Howarth and Mark has had to take over as front jumper from one of the best in the league last season, Ally Ness.

Having been playing since January, the two have had a long season but the desire to travel was too strong. Mark said, “I’ve always wanted to travel and I’ve just graduated as well so it was a good time to do it, before I get a job. I just wanted to see the world and what rugby was like elsewhere” . James’ experience was much the same, “I decided in April that I was going to go overseas and contacted an agent, the same one as Mark used and he told me what was on offer. I almost came here last season and the agent said the same club was interested so that was it really. As for what I expected, I knew they had won the cup the last two years and finished third last year and I also knew Ben was here. I’ve played with him before at Wellington Colts so my mind was really made up”. 

Despite using the same agent to arrive at Boroughmuir, the two had never met before they came. “We met in Sydney before we came over but before that I’d never even heard of Mark, and to be honest, I wish I never had. Only joking, we get on very well, we live in the same flat in Polwarth with Mark’s girlfriend and a couple of others who are about to move out. Things are going quite well at the moment. We’ve both got jobs now as well, I work at JD sports on Princes Street and Mark works on a building site with a load of mental Scots, which is doing good for his accent.”.

Both agreed that the game in Scotland was very different to that back home. Mark said, “It’s actually very difficult to compare, they’re quite different. I played at a lot of different levels in New Zealand, Under18 1st XV, university teams, representative levels and then for Waikato which is regarded as one of the higher levels so I would say the game here is not as strong, but is very competitive and enjoyable”.

The pair have been impressed by Scotland’s capital since they arrived. “I love it. It’s so different from back home, particularly being old and having no tall buildings, I thought there’d be a few at least. We’ve really enjoyed doing the tourist things as well, going to the castle and stuff like that, it’s just been really good fun”. The social side of the club is an area where Mark and James have had no problem fitting in. James said, “It’s pretty hard not to get involved. You’d have to be really miserable to miss that. I blame Calum Cusiter though, I just get dragged out and forced to drink, it’s all Calum’s fault really”.

Families back home have not been forgotten by the boys and James keeps in contact once a week when his family phone on a Sunday night, “I wish you boys would put the match report up a day later so we could have more to talk about”. Mark’s family keep up with their boy’s progress mainly through the website, “They love it so I’d just like to get a mention out to them, Andrew my brother and my two sisters Charmaine and Joanne and my mum and dad Richard and Rose. I’m really stoked at the moment because my sister is about to have a baby so I’ll be an uncle for the first time”. James couldn’t help himself either, “A big hello to Lynn and Bill Reilly and my sister Ursula, my brother Jonathan and my future sister-in-law, Denise”.

It’s undecided how long either will stay at Boroughmuir and in Scotland, “Until the end of the season at least but after that we’re really playing it by ear. It depends on work and how we’re enjoying it and whether the club wants us back”. Neither would be averse to following rugby as a career, “I’ve had a little experience of professional rugby back home and I enjoyed it so I’d like another go but I think having fun is more important, so we’ll see what happens” Mark said. James added, “It’d be nice, either here or back home but it’s not vital, if it happens it happens, if not then I’ll get on with life”. 

Ambitions for the season are quite high for both lads, “For the team, I’d like to win the league, the cup and the Royal Bank league and personally I’d like to catch Charlie in the tries and get my kicking over 75%” James commented before Mark added “I reckon we can win all three domestic competitions as well, I’m still trying to figure out the structure a bit though and for myself, play as well as I can, get a few tries and just really enjoy it”.

Both believe that the experience of coming to Scotland will benefit them as people as well as players, Mark said, “Absolutely, it’s part of the reason I came here as well, it’s a life experience. It’s been great to come straight into such a good team environment as well, it’s made it so much easier for us. I reckon we’re both better players already although that’s not saying much about James, not very difficult for him to improve”.

It is a common belief amongst the fans that these two will feature heavily in the club’s drive for success this season and will benefit the club off the field as well as on. The Kiwi’s have shown already that they have the talent to succeed, especially when James moved to stand-off against Hawick which he described as one of his most challenging games ever (we promised not to mention that he dropped the ball in the first minute) and with people like these two at the club, we can only move forward.

Simon & Mark Furnivall