Fond memories of Marlborough

He secured a dream job as sports reporter at the Marlborough Express, gained selection for the Red Devils rugby team playing NPC rugby, went on to represent the New Zealand Divisional team and met his eventual wife and mother of their young twins, Tracey.

Tracey's first experience of Marlborough wasn't so exhilarating. She applied for the same position as sports reporter which Matt, or 'Scud' as he's affectionately known to most, pipped her for.

Now happily settled in the lovely beachside town of Umina, 95 kilometres north of Sydney, she can at least see the funny side now and has definitely got her own back since.

Recalling her initial Marlborough experience, Tracey said, "I did work experience at the Express out of the Wellington journalism school hoping to get a sports reporters job and a dream to report on the Sydney Olympics.

"I agreed to come back to Blenheim for the last three weeks of my work experience thinking I had a job but found Matt had already got it. I was not amused.

"I've got him back though. He works for me now in our editorial PR company, TraceAbility."

Tracey did eventually get a job at the Express after stints at a community newspaper in Motueka and the Kaikoura Star, and as Matt said, "Somehow against the odds we found each other (romantically)".

Born in Christchurch in 1972, Matt played for the Shirley club and represented Canterbury up to under-18 level.

With his 2m-plus frame and ginger hair he was always going to be noticed on a rugby field even before kick-off and played four years in the Canterbury Development team, although he said he never troubled the selectors for full Canterbury honours. "I don't think I ever developed properly."

He also played two years for the Palmyra Club in Perth and for Western Australia against Wales at the WACCA in 1996.

In 1998 while attending journalism school, he represented South Canterbury and was named their Player of the Year.

From 1999-2002 out of the Central Club in Blenheim, Matt donned the Red Devils jersey in the NPC second division and his last match was particularly memorable.

"It was a Ranfurly Shield match against Canterbury and they brought the shield up to Blenheim. Grizz Wyllie was our coach. We got thrashed but it was a huge buzz to play in that game."

Representing the New Zealand Divisional team in 2000 against Tonga and Samoa, he followed that up in 2002 playing against Ireland, memorable unfortunately for the fact that referee Steve Walsh sent him off for an indiscretion.

In 2002 Matt left to play for the University of Limerick Bohemians in Ireland, then the following year moved to Sydney working for the International Rugby Board on their World Cup website.

Tracey, nee McEldowney, hails from distinguished sporting stock. Born in the Taranaki town of Okato, the family moved to Cambridge 10 years later.

Her dad Colin represented Taranaki at cricket and up to colts level in rugby. Uncles Bryce and the late John McEldowney were long serving props in the Taranaki rugby team, John going on to be an All Black.

Tracey also travelled extensively, going to the UK as a 19 year-old. Coming to Blenheim was her first trip to the South Island and it proved one of the most memorable experiences of her life.

"It was a special time in my life. We were able to be selfish. No mortgage, no kids. It was amazing. We felt so welcome in Marlborough from the moment we turned up.

"Blenheim feels like home to me more than Cambridge. There is just something magical about the place."

Matt agreed. "All those characters I worked with at the Express. Playing for Central. Absolute characters I will never forget, Terry Sloan, Nathan Gill, Fingers, Johnny Ryan, Jaws Simeon and all the rest. Magical times."

Now happily settled with their beautiful three year-old twins Charlotte and Vincent, the Porters still have a significant interest in Marlborough, owning land at Kaiuma Bay in Pelorus Sound.