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Redemption for AU this week even if they got thumped by Varsity at the weekend — more on that shortly. At the North Ground on Saturday in terrible underfoot conditions and the turf reeking like a sewer, Varsity controlled the game with their big pack and put 50 on AU. Kaik were leading Zingers by just seven at halftime at Montecillo but added another 50 in the second spell to thrash the Colours outfit. The big upset was at Bathgate where Harbour stormed home on the back of first five Rique Miln to win the game by nine after being down by a point with five minutes to go. Taieri and GI swam around the Eelpit in mud up to their necks for 80 minutes and the home side squeaked home by three. It came at a terrible cost to Taieri as they lost their two best players to season-ending injuries: Nick Henderson (broken bone in foot) and Matt Whaanga (hamstring). So the top six is basically wrapped up even with the mysterious bye points to be added. Harbour could possibly go past GI into fifth. By my reckoning, the bye points will be allocated as following Taieri (5), Kaik (4), Southern (3), Dunedin (2), AU (1).
I said last week AU would get their points back from the Zingari game for playing an unregistered Jermaine Ainsley and so, quite rightly, it has come to pass. It means they will go to 15 flag points and Zingari will move back to 10. Zingers now becomes the prime candidate for the dreaded spoon come season end. The MCRC basically had no option but to reverse their decision as, if it had stood, other results would have to change as well which could have started a war. But there is always a silver lining and the MCRC will now have to tighten up their registration rules so there are no grey areas and the clubs will have to be aware of them and abide by them. Our premier grade must be able to stand up to scrutiny so thank you AU for being the catalyst for change — and justice has been seen to be done.
Do we need William Shatner?
I ran into Horey (former ABs hooker, merino farmer) last Friday night who told me his under-14 McGlashan side was taking on the other under-14 McGlashan side the next morning. The other side is coached by our new Super Coach Mike Kerr, a former Eel. Word is Mike’s side is made up of lot of his former schoolboys Eel side who were unbeaten for several years. I promised to go and watch it but it was inclement on Saturday morning (I’m soft!) so I gave it a miss. As the story goes, the Superstars were up 36-12 with 20 minutes to go but the country boys, watched over by the grizzled countenance of Horey, stormed back to win 37-36 and danced around in a sea of euphoria. Then the mystery set in. Mike and his management team (do you have one at this level?) had the score at 36-32. Horey (no management team) had it at 37-36 to them and get this, the heavies that run school rugby had it at 34-34. Now work that one out. I can’t but perhaps I should have turned up after all!
Down on the farm
In the north, Valley are unbeaten just for a change and Old Boys sadly defaulted so that was about it. They are now starting two weeks of crossover games. You have only six teams (five on Saturday!) so I’m not sure what crossover games are. Anyway, at least they’re still playing! In central, Cromwell keep winning (10 straight) and Upper Clutha had the bye but that’s the match we’re waiting for. In the south, Clutha scored 50-plus points again — when don’t they? West Taieri got back on the horse (or pigs) when they beat Toko. In the deep south, the big upset was Marist knocking over Star. Great work, lads.
Other bits
Varsity prop Charles Engelbrecht (ex Johnnies) played his 50th game for the Bookworms on Saturday — great work, mate. Hugo Hyndman, the AU manager, hit the 100 mark for the Ponies at the weekend as well and his reward is in the tipping challenge against yours truly this weekend — congrats, mate. As you know, I’ve got heavies at all prem games picking players of the day and doing live scoring and occasionally sorting video crosses for me at the end of games. I had Reggie from Magpies teed up to handle a live cross from me to the captains at Bathgate post-game but for some reason Reggie was incommunicado. Was it because his team had lost in the last minute in Mike Mata’afa’s 200th game? We’ll never know! Next week I’ll update all the other grades in town — stay tuned.
This weekend
Destroyed big Mike Mata’afa last weekend and on to Hugo Hyndman this weekend so the streak continues. Zingers are at home to Taieri at the cemetery and they will be smarting about the spoon! Taieri (13+) should still be too strong and get to park the Gallaway Trophy in the garage for the summer. Varsity will be commanding favourites to put Dunedin out of their misery at the Oval tomorrow but, being the masochist I am, I’ll pick the Sharks (12-) to win but I don’t know how! Kaik (13+) up on the High Veldt should be too strong across the park for GI. Harbour (13+) are extremely hard to beat at home and, even though AU have Coltman and Ainsley suiting up, the Port boys will be too strong.
I was much too good for Woody from Toko last week and on to Arrowtown stalwart Simon Spark this weekend. The Maggots (13+) will feast on Matak in Omakau, Cromwell (13+) will remain unbeaten in Alexandra and Upper Clutha (13+) will overpower the Bulls in Arrow.
PS With all our grounds being bogs should we not move all three quarterfinals to the Greenhouse next week? Seems a no-brainer to me.