Rugby: Final not soon enough for Patston

North Otago rugby player Ben Patston is excited about tomorrow's Meads Cup final against Wanganui...
North Otago rugby player Ben Patston is excited about tomorrow's Meads Cup final against Wanganui. Photo by Sally Rae.
Ben Patston is looking forward to tomorrow "big time".

The 25-year-old Englishman is playing for North Otago in the Meads Cup final against Wanganui at Whitestone Contracting Stadium in Oamaru. 

"I can't wait for it to come," first five-eighth Patston said.

When approached by North Otago Rugby Union chief executive Colin Jackson about playing for North Otago, he decided it was "make or break" time for his rugby career.

"At the end of the day, I decided to come over and better my rugby," he said.

Since arriving at the beginning of May, he has been having "a whale of a time" and he has fitted in easily to the community.

It was a major change coming from a large English city to a quiet lifestyle - "just so laidback and relaxing" - but it had been a good change, he said.

His father had come out for four weeks and he was not feeling too homesick. He also had an opportunity to do some travelling.

Patston has enjoyed his rugby, along with his coaches and team-mates, and he particularly enjoyed playing on firm pitches - "back in the UK, you get such a mud bath" - apart from the Citizens Shield final earlier this year.

The Heartland Championship had been very challenging and he expected a tough game against Wanganui which had "such strength and depth".

North Otago needed to get out in front of its very supportive home crowd and put on an 80-minute performance.

Patston, who has been "trying to visualise everything going right", was concentrating on this weekend, before worrying about his future.

"Saturday's the only thing in my mind at the moment."

Since arriving in Oamaru, he now has a partner and she will be flying back to the UK with him for nine weeks.

He planned on returning home, having a rest "for maybe a week or two" but apart from that, was not entirely sure what he was going to do. He hoped to come back and play rugby in New Zealand.

 

 

Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM