The Wrap, ah no, the aftermath
So I was just about to wrap the games from last Thursday night but that's right, there weren't any!
Why not? Well I was at Forbury Park from memory (and yes, I made no money; it's a punters' graveyard!) and it was overcast and cold at 6pm but not raining. In fact, it cleared from mid-afternoon.
Big Gareth Jones (the great Harold Driver replacement - big shoes to fill), from the DCC, after taking advice from his ground manicurists, decided on Wednesday, with the threat of titanic floods, tempests, breached cataracts and cyclones, to close the grounds midway through the afternoon - 24 hours before scheduled kick-off times.
We weren't playing games across all grades. We were talking about four games of prem footy! They were scheduled for Logan Park, the High Veldt (Bishopscourt), Kettle Park and the Toolbox (Miller Park).
Even if some of the grounds were dodgy, two could have been played at Kettle Park and you wouldn't have known they'd been there. Two could have been played at Hancock - they won't be seeing much rugby this year! Or heaven forbid open the Glasshouse - don't we own that?
I understand it was closed for maintenance but the curator, Ox, is an obliging chap. He could have moved his lawnmower for an hour or so!
I understand the council was worried about South Dunedin floating to Waldronville, especially after the 2015 debacle, but this was an average call. Gareth, if Harold is still gallivanting around town in his Ferrari, call him in for a chat and a cup of tea to discuss these issues!
So what has it done to the comp and what has the illustrious metro committee decided to do? The options were to reschedule the missing round, carry on as though nothing had happened, or carry on but allocate some points for teams that were due to play. It has gone with the last option and (I can't believe I'm saying this!) awarded two points to each team, apart from Southern which had the bye, and this was the eminently sensible route that it had to take.
There are no real winners here. Some teams will be aggrieved, as they thought they may have missed out on some five-pointers, some teams missed on getting their first win. Southern might have benefited from dropping only two points against the opposition. But we weren't going to get more games in a crowded comp, so to Reggie and his band of merry men, well done.
But to Gareth, more homework with Harold and more deep breaths!
Form XV
It's been so long since we played I'm struggling to remember who is in it but here goes. (15) Sala Halaleva (H), (14) Jonah Nareki (AU), (11) Glen Beadle (T), (13) Dwayne Corcoran (Z), (12) Josh Ioane (S), (10) Ben Miller (K), (9) Josh Walden (S), (8) Mika Mafi (S), (7) James Tomkinson (H), (6) Hame Toma (D), (5) Chucky Koroi (H), (4) Harry Dodds (D), (3) Benny Rumble (H), (2) Brett Kingsbury (GI), (1) Mika Mata'afa (S).
The Super Coaches
``Long time passing'' or so the song goes. Super Coaches I, II and III are nearly all gone. Just to refresh your memories.
Super Coach I was the great Tim Belcher from the Magpies. He's the club captain there so his coaching days are behind him - struck off! Super Coach II was little Jimmy Columb jun from the Broncos Colts - gone, thus struck off! Super Coach III Marty Hurring from the Hawks - gone, thus struck off! He might still be coaching Otago B but do they really play any more?
That leaves Super Coach IV Ryan Martin who is really doing the coaching for all of them. He's coaching at OB's and Kaik. But the era of the Super Coaches has sadly passed us by. It was a privilege!
Country rugby
There are two big games on in Central this weekend and the good news is I'll get to one live and, no, it's not Crescent against Clutha - I'd never get out of there alive! It's the White Horse Cup game in which holder the Arrowtown Bulls take on defending prems Cromwell.
It should be a grand old affair, especially with the most famous cup in Otago rugby up for grabs. I'm tipping the home team but it's nearly too close to call. I talked about it last week but down in ``Banjo Country'' the Kai boys (Crescent) hold the Speight's and McIntosh Cups and the ``City Slickers'' Clutha in their pink limousines glide into town to regain them.
Both teams are unbeaten but my spies tell me, unfortunately, that the Steamers (Clutha) will be too strong - but I'm praying for the home side. I hear the ``Battlers'' beat the ``Warriors'' at Owaka over Easter which is a battle of North v South. Is South Otago big enough to have geographical distinctions? But I digress - the game was played at Owaka (as if you thought Kai was Banjo Country) and the ``beer and spit roast'' flowed generously after the game.
In the North, I commented last week on Folou Tokai, who is playing interschool for St Kevin's only and most Saturdays is playing prems for Athies, which I found unusual. Well, I've been doing some sleuthing - well, somebody emailed me! None other than the illustrious Robbie Breen, of the Broncos and Arrowtown Bulls fame. He's now coaching St Kevin's - the money must be good. Turns out the Highlanders schools comp is under 18 only, so Folou is ineligible to play. Interschools are under-19 - go figure! Thus he is eligible to play - hence my musings have been answered.
Just to finish, I've nearly seen some stuff from the legendary ``KK'' so more next week!
Some other bits
Harbour is having its 25th-year celebrations on May 26-27. It's 25 years since Port Chalmers and Ravensbourne combined. More detail as it comes to hand - it's still a bit murky!
A few Highlanders taking the club fields this weekend. Rob Thompson for the Sharks, Guy Miller for the Eels, Josh Dickson and Fletcher Smith for Varsity, Kane Hammington for Zingers and Ash Dixon and Adrian Smith for Kaik. Aren't they both hookers? How does that work? Oh, and if you're interested, Every St, so we've been told, is now shut till June, so just the nine months - unbelievable!
This weekend
Up against the '70s Bohemian hippie himself, in Bryan Morris, who still suffers from the hallucinations, so as drug-free as I am, the streak continues. Varsity with Fletcher Smith back should win this but I'm backing the heavy-walleted, mastadon-style Southern (12-) pack to get it home - just! The Hawks (13+) take the migration route to Bastion Point to take on Zingers and should get it done comfortably. The Sharks (13+) cruise out to the Eelpit and flesh should fly as the Elver scatter under the weight of the big Dunedin pack. The Broncos are at home at Pony Pit arena as Kaik (12-) come down from the mountain to visit. It'll be tight but AU will miss Nareki so Kaik get it done - just.
