Read it in the paper.
One of the classic sporting adages and it was used ad nauseum last Saturday afternoon in Cromwell. And bizarrely after reading Monday's ODT and reading our flash new sports liftout we still don't know the score.
Read this in wonderment from what I've managed to piece together. So Cromwell is at home to Wakatip last Saturday and defending the legendary White Horse Cup. Now they have a flash new electronic scoreboard up there which is bizarrely not being used. At halftime Wakatip is up 26-6 and the "dirty-dirties" are eyeing the trophy and considering placing it on the team bus.
Cromwell comes roaring back into the game in the second spell. It scores a late try and the captain and goal-kicker, Ben Maxwell, asks the ref, Matt Green, what the score is and he is told it is 31-29 and he needs the conversion to draw the game. He duly obliges. The game continues for the last couple of minutes, with Wakatip "hiding" the ball and then kicking it out on fulltime. The side raise its arms in triumph and jubilation, thinking it has won the game 31-30 and thus it gets to take the precious cup home.
The ref is then seen talking to the Cromwell players, who even after that, appear somewhat stupefied and dazed. Ref Green then wanders over to the celebrating Wakatip players and informs them he has the game as a draw, meaning Cromwell retains the trophy. And then all hell breaks loose.
I'm informed nobody covers themselves in glory at this stage, as understandably, emotions are running high. I'm pretty sure a few apologies should be issued.
Wakatip coach "the big show" was (according to some wags) acting like a "pork chop", but rest assured, he was not on his own. Ref Green took a lot of heat but was adamant he had the right score and wisely left the scene and retreated to the sanctuary of the showers.
The dispute comes down to the successful kicks by Cromwell. The ref and the score in Monday's ODT (supplied by ref) have it at four penalties and two conversions. Many at the ground and the whole Wakatip Basin (including Arrowtown) have it at three penalties and three conversions. I've talked to many at the ground and they concur with the latter. I've talked to two "major league heavies" who watched the game together and who come from both sides who agree that it was three penalties and three conversions.
I was expecting to hear there was trouble at the after match, but I hear the Wakatip skipper, Brad Cross, and ref Green spoke really well and took a lot of heat and emotion out of it after the post game fracas.
Some questions: both sides' managers would have been tracking the scoring and scorers so will know full well what the score is - trust me, all managers do that - so why not just check their original notebooks? You can't tell me both coaches don't know the score. The goal-kickers will know exactly what they kicked and didn't kick. And, as discussed, the ref is adamant he got the score right.
A protest has been lodged and the Otago Country board was due to discuss it at its scheduled meeting last night. I've said it before - this can only happen in Central, so nothing surprises me! I think the clubs should get together (I'm happy to ref), open the books and agree on the score and then go back to the union with their conclusion. One thing I will tell you is I'm going to be at the next game - it will be emotionally charged, that's for sure!
Where have the players gone?
I don't want to say I told you so . . . but this week Southern Ravens (junior colts) have pulled from the comp. This leaves Southern with three teams - decimated. Kaik was trying to run two junior colts sides but now has one - so now 14 colts sides in town - decimated. The word is Pirates will pull out of Prem 2s, so now no men's sides in the club - decimated. Harbour had confirmed three sides this year but its senior team is now touch and go - good luck. Clinton is teetering in the south and may go: watch this space.
This weekend
Decimated Hamish Harvey from RD Petroleum last week and on to Dunedin's most recognisable publican - he of the flowing locks and gauche Hawaiian shirts, Mitchells Tavern owner, Bryan Morris - so yet another easy victory. Up at the High Veldt, Kaik (13+) will be too big and strong for an injury-ravaged AU outfit. The Eels (13+) slither all the way to the Cousteau Clam Bowl and get it done over Harbour. The Sharks (12-) head to Cemetery to take on Zingers and on form you'd take Zingers, but I'd rather be Folau's manager. Varsity (13+) to take on the Spannerheads and just win.
The late mail
The world's tallest player, at 2.13m, is heading to Harbour to play in the next couple of weeks, so it is true money talks - more next week.
- Paul Dwyer