The wrap
Another very interesting round that threw up some Ripley’s believe it or not results. The Magpies jellied and potted the Eels out at Mosgiel to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table and probably need only one win to make the four.
Dunedin and Kaik drew out at the Sandpit in a pulsating affair to sit second and fourth respectively. Nobody in our tipping comp picked that but if you’d watched Speight’s/ODT Rugby Chat last week, yours truly tipped it out!
Against predictions, GI caused Harbour all sorts of problems on jubilee weekend down at Octopus Oval. Harbour scored late to win it much to the relief of the assorted heavies — it certainly would have put a dampener on the festivities had the Harbour lads lost.
The Broncos got up in the second half over the Bookworms to go fifth and three points out of the four. The question is now, does Varsity make it?
Word is although Varsity was well up at halftime, stand-in coach the Auburn Terror himself, Shayne Flanagan, had plenty to say at the break and it still lost by 10! Were the the players actually listening?
Just when you thought ...
The metro committee has been going so well then it blows its cover with another howler.
The Old Girl (ODT) reported on Saturday prem games this weekend were being put forward to 2pm. This is presumably to allow supporters the option of catching the end of the clash between the Highlanders and Crusaders.
Chairman Mao, Reggie from the Metro Committee, was quoted as saying the games could not be played any earlier because of work commitments and ground availability. Reggie, what about the prem II players now having to play at 12.30pm because of this?
I can see the lads mean well but really you should have left it as it was and not create mayhem and disruption — just to get 20 minutes of the Super game. Lads, that’s what they invented MySky for!
The Donaghy’s rope story keeps on giving
I reported last week that the free rope from Donaghy’s that Harty (Chris Hart, refs boss) had organised to rope off all grounds for safety wasn’t free at all as the ORFU had been charged for it. Well, it’s all ended well. Donaghy’s sales manager, the legendary Hunter Darry, got wind of the debacle and rang me straight away (the column reaches far and wide).
He didn’t know the background but has immediately credited the ORFU so the blue and gold rope is now free. A lot of you will know Hunter from his playing days and he sees referee welfare as paramount. In fact, in his playing days he considered himself to be chief on-field counsel to numerous referees and felt he was, in fact, the fourth official!
He felt he made careers for many up-and-coming refs and includes Lyndon Bray as one of his success stories. Bottom line, the story is successfully concluded.
The Form XV
Haven’t published one for a few weeks but here is my list of form players who have made recent headlines: 15 Vilimoni Koroi (AU), 14 Zac Harrison Jones (Dn), 11 Taylor Haugh (V), 13 Leroy van Dam (Dn), 12 Tei Walden (S), 10 Zac Porter (AU), 9 Josh Renton (K), 8 Ben Whale (H), 7 James Lentjes (T), 6 Hame Toma (Dn), 5 Cian Romaine (K), 4 Axel Hohneck (S), 3 Don Brighouse (Dn), 2 Peter Mirrielees (GI), Jonah Aoina (K).
How did that happen?
So one of the thousands of props at Southern has gone down. Hisa Sasagi — of ex-Pirates and Hurricanes fame — was doing a march up the hill to the top ground at Kaik when one of his pitons worked loose and he rolled down the hill like a snowball and dislocated his shoulder. He was only going up to watch one of his offspring play Rippa!
I’ve always said you take your life in your hands heading to the High Veldt! The aforementioned Chris Hart thought he’d do the right thing recently and organise a meeting of all nine prem coaches to see how things were going in regard to the officiating.
Three replied and said they couldn’t make it and the other six weren’t heard from. Obviously they were happy with status quo — perhaps he should have rung me!
Southern women’s captain Kimberley Carruthers plays her 100th game this weekend so congrats to her. I hope her team turns it on for her against Pirates this week because I hear they were on the wrong end of a century last week against Jacko’s United Nations posing as North Otago!
Big congrats to Sam (Sumo) Anderson-Heather as he captains the Barbarians in the tour opener against the Lions this weekend. Do the Lions actually win a game on this tour? Or am I just oversimplifying it?
Steve Davie keeps dredging them up — Otago players who beat the Lions. He’s just added Vic Lloyd and Dave Johnston from the 1959 team to add to the throng but does that mean the more he adds the more he talks? I hope not! He’s got more than 300 going now but still seats available for the Medical Trust luncheon at the Town Hall on June 13. So get in quick and he may have free earmuffs at the door!
Tree’s birthday
Big Colin Meads is having his 81st birthday tomorrow — I don’t know why we don’t re-name it Colin Mead’s Birthday Weekend — it’s a lot more relevant and how many of us have actually met the Queen? I’ve spoken to Verna (Colin’s wife) over the past few days and he’s in a lot of pain, so let’s hope he gets through this latest setback. There are big plans afoot in Te Kuiti and they’re renaming the town Meadsville on June 19 and unveiling a big bronze statue of Colin (same size as the Michael Jones one at Eden Park).
They have been trying to raise $250,000 to pay for it. The Meads Fan Club has sent $5000 towards it. I know Colin has touched a lot of people down this way so if you want to contribute something, just go to yvetteronaldson@gmail.com or their facebook page for donation info, Meadsville, Te Kuiti. Remember to raise a glass to the big fella tomorrow, preferably a 5oz, and wish him happy birthday — he deserves it!
This weekend
Horrors of horrors at the weekend, the unbeaten run crashed and burned and at the hands of Eel Mitchell Scott. Why didn’t I take my own advice on the draw? Anyway, back on the horse and on to Caleb Gray, from the Broncos, and surely a win is guaranteed.
The Magpies (12-) are at home on Mudgate against AU and, with the elephantine pack, should get it done and confirm a spot in the four. Kaik (12-) is up on the High Veldt against the Harbour Hawks and may just get it done but neither side was that impressive last weekend. The Sharks (13+) host Zingers at the Sandpit and should win and bank five. Zingers has injury problems with Fiddes and Gaffaney gone in the backs but it may have a glimmer of hope as Toma and van Dam, Dunedin’s best players, are both out. Taieri (12-) should beat the Spannerheads at the Toolbox especially if Hemopo doesn’t play but I’d love GI to put the first W on the board.
Late mail
I had the privilege of attending Richard (Truckie) Harley’s funeral early this week. Richard is the son of John and Jenny and was tragically killed in an accident on the motorway last week. There were 800 at the funeral and it was a special celebration of his short 27 years. John has been tied up with Varsity and the Eels over the past few years. Richard, rest in peace, mate.
