In the game of the round, Taieri took on Kaik at the High Veldt and got up with a late try to win it. You have to give it to the Eels — they know how to win the big games, and that’s the reason they have been the best team in town over the past dozen years. Kaik proved it will be a worthy top four contender. Unbeaten Dunedin held on to its winning record, just, over a combative Harbour outfit, and the Hawks remain winless and have work to do. Dunedin and Taieri lead the standings but Southern is right there. Zingari looked like it had climbed the mountain against Varsity and led by a couple with two minutes to go. But a first win of the season disappeared, with Varsity first five Jacob Waikari-Jones nailing the late penalty. This comp is tighter than the points table would lead you to believe with all three of these games being decided on the buzzer. GI did enough to get the bonus point with a 20-point win over cellar dweller AU. GI leaps to fifth in the standings with a second straight win. AU is showing a little improvement every week, which is a good sign.
Why doesn’t it surprise?
Alhambra-Union (the Onion) is having a delayed 150th at King’s Birthday Weekend. Hearty congratulations — although my accounting doesn’t add up to that much! There has been a disturbing story to come out of the preamble which didn’t surprise. One of the club stalwarts, a portly and jovial character, was tasked with getting the speakers for the event together. He approached a former club player who is nearly as high as you can go at NZR level to speak but was advised of the incidental costs for travel for the guest and entourage, so he politely declined after speaking to the committee. This proves to me that the rhetoric out of NZR about how important grassroots rugby is just that: rhetoric. We should just do as we are told and let the real power of the game, NZR, take care of the important stuff — that’s working out really well!
On a positive note
I was out covering the Harbour v Dunedin game at Port Chalmers in unbelievable autumnal conditions with very little breeze (which most won’t believe). The game had bits of everything: plenty of action, big hits, massive lead changes, controversy, refs collapsing, five yellow cards and in the end hard to know who won. But what did impress me was the Harbour team after the game getting plates of food for their opponents. Now, that was a touch of class and a dash of humility. Don’t know whose idea it is but I haven’t seen it before, and hats off to the Harbour club for initiating it. Food for thought for all clubs.
Ridiculous obsessions
I said I was not going to comment on the bye situation in prem rugby again but I have to reject Adrian Seconi’s curious assumptions last week. In a one and a-half round comp with an odd number of teams, some have two byes. This is the number of games the clubs need to survive and the players have asked for, and we have, a defined window. To suggest we drop a club out to give an even number and make it like senior cricket is absurd. Cricket at a local level has far more issues than rugby. Our job is to encourage clubs to recruit more players, not make it harder. We don’t care if people are unhappy with the point system — it is what it is.
My tipping skills
I would just like to apologise to those teams I tipped last week to go through unbeaten, which was certainly a kiss of death. I tipped the Dunedin prem women would go through to the final unbeaten — they lost the next day to AU. The Kaik prem 2s would go unbeaten for the season — they got beaten the next day by Taieri. The Goats, apart from the Upper Clutha game, I tipped to go unbeaten — they got beaten by Alex the next day. I’m a terrible tipster and humbly apologise!
Down on the farm
It’s still very confusing in the North, with Valley the only team unbeaten and consistent. Kurow is a shadow without kingpins Parker and Faddes, and if they don’t front, Kurow could be gone. I’m making excuses, but it’s too early to tell. In Central, Wakatip tipped over and trod on the Goats to finally open its account, and Alex put on a cricket score. So the comp is still up for grabs, even though I see Upper Clutha and Goats making the four with possibly Alex and Wakatip the bolter. In the South, don’t get Dave Latta to do your tipping as last week, representing Clutha, he ended up a -40 deficit behind your’s truly — a world record! Sorry, Clutha, you won’t be going back to the stadium. West Taieri confirmed it is a serious contender down there, as did Toko, but a long way to go in this comp. Because of duck-shooting, there were some games last night in the South and Central with the other games being played tonight. The tipster this week in Central is Blue Simon from Jennian Homes, who also sponsors it up there, and our picks were through Thursday afternoon, so all above board.
This weekend
Was up against Andy Melville from Zingers last weekend and, as predicted, comfortably romped home. Up against an ageing Bob Cunningham from the Eels this week, and as Bob will tell you, if you’ve got half an hour, he is an expert on everything. I intend to poke holes in that argument this weekend. The Sharks (12-) are at home on club day against Kaik and this is nearly too close to call and there is an intense rivalry here with no love lost — Sharks just. Southern (12-) makes the trip over the Saddle to take on the Eels at the Elver Pit. Even though the Eels are unbeaten, Southern will be their stiffest encounter so far and the big Southern pack may be too much for them. Highlanders prop Ayden Johnstone is suiting up for them, so I’m giving the Magpies the nod. Zingers are at home to GI and again too close to call. I’m leaning towards Zingers (12-) because of their big pack and they’ve got Highlanders prop PJ Sheck to boot. GI get two in Leni Apisai and James Arscott, and winning form is good form — but Zingers racks up their first W.
In the prem 2 game, Taieri (13+), after its big win last week, will be too strong for AU. Harbour (12-) hosts Varsity at the Crayfish Cauldron and its big pack (provided they start) might prove the difference in the game, and Harbour is desperate for its first win of the season.
After destroying Crazy Latta last week, on to Upper Clutha president Blue Simon this week, so the roll continues. The Maggots (13+) get up at Omakau on Duck Armageddon weekend. The Goats (13+) get back on the horse (that’s an odd sentence) and easily account for the in-form Alex outfit. Upper Clutha (12-) at home to Wakatip keep its unbeaten streak alive.
The late mail
The drums are beating for JL to get a call-up into provincial rugby and the whisper is Northland is calling out — you heard it here first!
