The wrap
The Magpies came storming out of traps and put 50 points on Varsity in what the coaches described as "a preseason romp". Varsity certainly didn’t help themselves with the high error level and Southern capitalised. Taieri sneaked out of the high veldt with a one-point win over Kaik in a game that could have gone either way. AU started the game with a hiss and roar, but finished with a dribble and a whimper. Zingers’ big pack took control as the game wore on as they clocked up 60 points. Last year’s finalists Dunedin and GI battled it out in a turgid affair at Shark Park. The Sharks made too many errors and GI were good enough to take advantage and make them pay. It came at a cost, though, as No 8 Ronan Dynes suffered a serious leg break and is gone for the season. Get well, mate.
They shoot horses, don’t they?
Or so the song says! On Saturday at Shark Park, the game was called off between Dunedin and GI 10 minutes early as No 8 Ronan Dynes (GI) suffered a compound fracture of his leg in a tackle. He was in excruciating agony for an hour and 20 minutes, lying on the field till the ambulance turned up. Now, I’m not blaming the St John ambulance team, as they can only work with what they’ve got. The ambulance that came was one on its way back from Central Otago and was diverted to Shark Park. Winston has banned greyhound racing for the way they treat the hounds and they would never treat the dogs this way! The question is, what do we need to do to make sure we have ambulances and staff to cover so that what happened to Ronan doesn’t recur? It will be hand up, not out.
NZ U18 team
I promised last week I would have a look at what has prompted NZR to take on the secondary schools by announcing they want to have a New Zealand under-18 team. Firstly they tell us they have no money, and what will it cost? Well, if the U20 side is anything to go by, it could be massive. The U20s have been picked from the Super Tourney in Taupo a couple of weeks ago. They assemble mid-April and then are not seen back in their clubs and provinces till late July! The schools pick NZ secondary school teams every year and have done forever, and I think they play Aussie and a couple of Pacific Island teams. The secondary schools have said en masse they won’t support the U18 team. The reasoning out of NZR is: what about the under-18 players not at secondary school, what’s their incentive? Team, this is a battle you won’t or shouldn’t win. Let it go, and concentrate on your knitting!
Arrivals and departures
The mighty Clinton side defaulted their first game a couple of weeks ago and have now pulled out of the South Otago comp, leaving eight teams. My spies tell me they had some debilitating preseason injuries that left them short on numbers, so running a team across the season would have been difficult.
But all is not lost: they vow and declare they’ll be back next season. Make it happen, lads.
On the plus side, Pirates are back! No, it’s not April 1, it is happening. They have entered a team in the senior grade or, in the new parlance, division 3 (what rocket scientist thought of that?). Glenn Dickson, Clarky, Dodge, Ogre and Rugby Roy — all Pirates stalwarts — are behind the re-emergence. They’ve had 40 on paper, but "Dicko" assures me they’ll have mid-20s stripped every week. Great work, lads, I hope it goes well.
The rumour mill
I'm hearing on the grapevine the Otago preseason programme could be announced soon. Those words fill premier rugby coaches with dread, health issues, stress and migraines. Club and Otago Rugby, as we all know, are at loggerheads every year, especially around player availability leading into club finals and the start of the provincial season. The word this year is Otago will play Southland in a preseason on the Friday night before the club final, so that will send terror into many club hearts. New coach Mark Brown (Brownie) spoke at the recent Otago AGM (riveting affair, by the way!) saying it's all about “grassroots rugby”. Presumably he'll follow that up soon by saying all players will be available for the club final!
Some bits
The evergreen Pete Mirrielees, in his "mid-40s", I'm presuming, was spotted fronting for GI against the Sharks at the weekend — good on ya, mate. Rugby Chat is under way again, brought to you by Garador. Just go to odt.co.nz to find the latest episode. The ODT is once again doing live scoring of all Dunedin prem games brought to you by Liquorland Andy Bay, Leith St and Meenans — just go to odt.co.nz/sport to find it. We publish a form XV weekly on Rugby Chat, but we'll endeavour to give a monthly form XV in this column, so look out for it.
Down on the farm
In Central, we've had two rounds, and Upper Clutha is leading the way with 10 points from two big victories. Wakatip is one from one with a bye in the first week. The mighty Cromwell Goats are zip from two with work to do. Down in South Otago, they've had two rounds, but only one has counted (long story, refer to Clinton piece). Clutha, Heriot, Toko and West Taieri had wins at the weekend. Somebody told me North Otago rugby was cancelled — scurrilous rumour, they finally get under way this weekend! Word is Athies and Old Boys could be the lamplighters, but doubtless I'll get that wrong.
This weekend
Destroyed Mayor Radich last weekend and on to Otago Volt Thorn Parkes this weekend so it just gets easier! Varsity head up to Bastion Point to take on Zingari, who are fresh off a big victory over AU. It's nearly too close to call, but Zingari go in as favourites, especially with their big pack. Varsity (12-) will be improved and they have a better backline and they won’t play as badly as last week — Varsity just. Southern (13+) are at home to a new-look Harbour outfit who might just need a couple of weeks to gel. Southern were good across the park and will be too strong. The Eels (13+) have Highlanders falling over themselves to play — Millar, Whaanga, Sexton and unbelievably Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens — so it doesn’t bode well for AU. In reply, inexplicably Shark Folau Fakatava is suiting up for AU (Sharks have the bye) but it won’t be enough.
Down on the farm in South Otago I’m up against Mayor Bryan Cadogan. Poor old Mayor Glyn from Queenstown had no chance last week and Mayor Bryan may go the same way. In the battle of the mayors so far, Mayor Radich is –5 and so is Mayor Glyn!
The coalminers from Crescent (12-) should get it done over a weakened Clutha Valley outfit at the Collier Pit. West Taieri (13+) should be all over Owaka like “truffle scent” and win comfortably. Heriot host Clutha (12-) and you would think it would be a rout to the townies, but I’m thinking the country boys will keep it close. The Prison Warders from Toko (12-) host Lawrence in the prison yard and it will be close, but the guards will know where the weapons are stored!
