It was a bright morning and a ‘‘disappointing’’ start to the day about 10am, when the three lads had only 11 ducks between them.
Bryden, a midfield back and co-captain of the Waitaki Boys’ High School First XV, had to get the matter of opening day of his secondary school rugby season out of the way.
And despite the Waitaki high schools’ formal in the evening, he had his priorities in order.
"Probably both" rugby and duck-shooting were important and he was skipping the formal to get a few more birds.
Mason, who was shooting for the first time on opening day, was using "Bryden’s granddad’s gun" but planned to have his own by the time the next opening day rolled around.
He, too, had rugby on Saturday, playing a senior premier game in the afternoon for Athletic Marist.
Paddy (17) had been duck-shooting since he was 8 or 9, and expected better luck later on in the day.
