No winners in colts debacle

The Wrap

A very predictable round last weekend and I can't believe only one tipster in the ODT/Speights picking comp, Jordie Beres, got it right.

Shame on the rest of you!

The Hawks crushed the Sharks and they are going backward faster than the beaten favourite lumping 60kg on a heavy 11!

The Eels thrashed Pirates to sit joint top.

Varsity broke the Broncos in the second spell to be one point out of the four.

The Magpies were lucky to beat a rejuvenated Kaik to also go top.

Zingers squeaked past the Spannerheads to sit three points outside the four.

With Taieri, Harbour and Southern all on 41 points and 13 clear they will make the four even with eight rounds to go! Varsity and Zingers should fight out fourth spot with possibly Kaik, and Dunedin looks gone.

The Colts Debacle

I told you last week this story ''has legs'' and surprise, surprise, it delivered.

With Zingari's demise from the Colts grade, Varsity was the big winner and went from one point to 11 points without playing a game.

Pete McIntyre (the coach) was dreaming of making the four without playing a game.

But the decision was reversed last Friday and Varsity plummeted back to one point because that's what the constitution decreed.

Varsity is now the big loser and if you follow the logic, will now struggle to make the four.

They've worked out if you need 45 points to make the four they have been denied the opportunity of 10 points and thus a possible 22% of that with this decision.

Through no fault of their own they've only played three of the first six games and to quote Pete, ''these kids are the next crop to play premier rugby and need more attention in any case! My two cents worth! Twelve games in one season if we don't make the top four is just bloody crap!''

I can't disagree with any of this and as previously said, there are no winners in this whole tawdry affair!

Kids Rugby

Got a great note from a concerned father of a lad playing for McGlashan U14Bs who got dealt to by 100-plus points against a King's U15s team last weekend.

The difference in size between the teams was massive.

I was going to be righteous and slam the draw etc etc, but I've talked to one of the coaches of the aforesaid younger team and organisers have already admitted such a mismatch should never have taken place and the union has been proactive since the weekend in dealing with the matter.

The situation has also brought to light a set of suggested rule changes should a mismatch occur.

It's a two or three-page document that all coaches and junior refs should have to help make such games a fairer contest.

There are no winners in a 100-point game, so please get your hands on this document immediately!

(Geoff Simons' commonsense guidelines, also available online at odt.co.nz under Rugby - it's like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy).

Southern Wide First XV Comp

I was portraying doom and gloom if the Otago Boys' Seconds won this grade last week.

Imagine if they consistently win this grade alongside their well-performing first XV?

Would quality rugby exist in the other schools in five or 10 years time? Would all the quality players migrate to this mecca of talent?

Ox Baker, ex revered figure from the school, assures me their second XV won this grade in the '90s without serious ramifications but I'd be wary!

For the record, South Otago convincingly beat Otago Boys' 2nds at the weekend and I'm predicting they play ''Johnnies'' in the final.

Speaking of OBs', they played King's in their annual encounter on Wednesday and won 53-0.

There had been predictions of a massive blowout.

There is a rumour going around that King's wanted to defer the game this year to which Otago Boys' replied if that's the case, defer it ad infinitum - surely not!!

The Other BitsSo Chairman Stedman's way of getting publicity for his under-performing club, Pirates, this year is to stage a robbery of his senior side's jerseys and appear nude in the ODT to complain - has it come to this?

There are rumours that Scott Manson is about to play his annual game for the Onion.

Surely not!

Speaking of the Onion, Breeny could be back and, if so, all is right with the world, because in Breeny we trust!

''Welcome back Kotter'' (Jim Thomson) is hanging up his whistle and handing the reins over to Harty - a disaster in the making!

All joking aside, Jim has brought a human side to the refs' group.

He has made them into a team and got them to mix and mingle in all clubrooms every weekend and actually talk about decisions (both right and wrong) and games.

Jim, we haven't always agreed, but you are a champion bloke and the good news is you've appointed a champion bloke in Harty so the reign continues!

This Weekend

Annihilated Spannerhead Liam Davies last weekend and on to ''Big Moff'' from Southern this weekend.

I don't often pick players to go up against but it is ''Moff's'' 200th game this weekend so I'm happy to lose!

Zingers will destroy the Sharks (12-) this weekend to sneak into the four but I'd rather shout Thommo, Gordy Baird and Kenny Ball a round at the Mornington than pick them.

The Eels (13+) will destroy the Spannerheads for the Bezett.

The Hawks (12-) will just pip Varsity but it will be tight.

The Magpies (13+) in the ''200th'' just win over a hapless Pirates outfit.

Kaik (12-) back at home on the Veldt in beloved oxygen deprivation get it done over the Onion but beware the Breen factor!

- Paul Dwyer 

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