Taieri absolutely destroyed Dunedin to put a mortgage on the Gallaway, and it would be a brave man to say the Eels don't win it all this year.
Defending champion Dunedin, in its current state, will struggle to make the four. Kaik got up late over the oxygen-deprived Pirates at the high veldt but there is chat they could have been robbed by the officials.
Southern got a fright from Harbour but clicked into gear late in its best display of the season, and the Magpies look certain finalists.
Varsity got the chocolates but Green Island put in its best performance of the season to run the students close for 70 minutes. Alhambra-Union had a gutsy win over Zingari. Zingari, you let us down badly!
Referee speeches
Referee supremo ''Welcome Back, Kotter'' has decreed referees need to speak at functions after premier games. I applaud the sentiment but if they don't add anything, is it worth it?
After-match speeches tend to be inane gibberish with 100 cliches that take far too long in most clubs. So refs, if you have to speak, make sure you add something worthwhile. This is your chance to serve it up to the players and the crowd. After all, they give it to you for 90 minutes. Ring me for any tips you may require.
Admittedly, Sheldon (the big boss) served up a gem at Shark Park the other week. I can't repeat it here but it had something to do with his new name by deed poll or popular opinion.
Speaking of refs, big ''Blocka'' (Karl Bloxham) has taken up this whistle and, as he knows more about cheating and summary justice than most, he will be outstanding. I hear he did the Southern under-9s at the weekend and even Colty was impressed. Which was surprising, as the Pirates team actually scored 30 points against the Invincibles. I doubt if the Magpie premiers will get the main ground to train on this week!
Yet another incident
There has been another serious incident involving colts players in town. One of the kids spent the best part of the week having oral surgery, replacing all his front teeth, and won't be playing rugby again this year, while the other is facing some serious consequences.
The teams involved, Taieri and Kaik, play each other this weekend, and the alleged transgressor has very sensibly been stood down. Taieri has handled this situation very well and the responsibility has to stand with the colts players.
You guys need to make sure this doesn't happen again, and I don't care what club you are from. Take responsibility for you and your team-mates and remember who you represent.
Country rugby
Every time in the Central competition when the A and B teams of any club are down to play each other, they default. This is farcical, and the ''heavies'' need to sort it out.
I hear Finchy is leaving the Blue Bulls this week and Drew Carmody (former Eel) is taking over. The good news for Drew is Andrew, his old man, knows more about rugby than the rest of us combined, so they win it all this year.
The last bits
Watched the Otago Boys' v King's interschool, and the hakas took longer than the game. If King's spent more time practising tackling rather than the haka, the result might have been different! Seriously, both hakas took 10 minutes - I could read War and Peace faster.
An under-14 player in South Canterbury got marched for whacking the same guy twice in the one game. What's unusual about that? It was his own hooker!Speaking of hookers, Sam Anderson-Heather could be on the bench for the Highlanders tomorrow night. Couldn't happen to a better guy. You students of club rugby will know this guy is the second-best hooker in the province and should be in the team anyway.
This weekend
Destroyed John (Grocer) Moyle with a draw. Now up against Rob Bain from Dunedin City Motors. The Eels (13+) will be too strong out wide for the Colours at Bastion Point. Varsity should beat the Sharks (12-) in a canter but I'd rather go out for lunch with Trevor Turner than pick them.
The Magpies (13+) destroy the Spannerheads at the Toolbox. The Hawks (12-) deal to Kaik at the Flounder Forum. The Onion (12-) don't have Breeny and apparently Viggo is kicking but they still beat Pirates at ''John Wilson''.
- paul.dwyer@alliedpress.co.nz
