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Reporting on Dunedin club rugby has been a labour of love for Dave Underwood, who celebrates his 60th birthday today.
He has been on the sidelines of premier club rugby for the past 30 years.
''Half my life has been involved with covering club rugby,'' he said.
''I'll carry on as long as I'm wanted. It's been an enjoyable experience for me. Thirty years has just flown by.''
Underwood has reported about 550 club games and understands the local rugby scene better than most people.
He started reporting Dunedin club rugby in 1984 when Port Chalmers entered premier rugby.
Brent Edwards, sports editor of the Otago Daily Times at that time, asked Underwood to report on Port Chalmers' first game, against Taieri at Watson Park. It ended in an 18-18 draw.
''It snowballed and I gradually became part of the team,'' Underwood said.
''I haven't missed many games. I didn't think I'd still be doing it 30 years later.
''It's been a hell of a ride. I've enjoyed every Saturday. I'd be lost without it.''
It became a double act for Underwood in 1993 when he joined the local club rugby radio team. He now organises the radio coverage each week.
''I enjoy meeting the guys I played with or against who are now on the sidelines as coaches and managers,'' he said.
''I feel part and parcel by going along. I have become part of the team.''
Covering rugby in Dunedin is not all sunshine and dry grounds. Watson Park in Port Chalmers is not his favourite ground.
''It is not pleasant standing on the sidelines when horizontal rain comes off the harbour.''
Ground conditions have improved over the past 30 years.
''In days gone by, you were up to your socks in mud. But ground conditions have got better.''
Other grounds were not much better for rugby when Underwood started reporting.
''We had to take the good with the bad. You rugged up with gumboots and warm jackets.''
Underwood's knowledge of rugby is respected in the Otago community and he has also been part of radio teams for representative matches.
He is a regular on the sidelines when the Otago Spirit women's team is playing at home.
Underwood gets a special buzz as part of the radio team that gives a live coverage of the club semifinals and final.
''I feel much like the players do and get a bit of adrenaline flowing,'' he said.
''I get myself hyped up for it and like the players I have to give 100%.''
A highlight was to give live reports to Radio Pacific on the progress of promising No 8 Jonah Lomu when the New Zealand secondary schools team played England at Carisbrook in the early 1990s.
Underwood was a flying winger for the King Edward Technical College First XV and then played for Port Chalmers from 1969 to 1977.
His mentor at the club was coach Jack Medder.
''I can still remember his loud voice at training and in games,'' Underwood said.
''Jack instilled a lot of pride in the jersey at Port Chalmers. The training sessions were always horrendous but we always enjoyed it.
"He was without peer in his coaching days and turned Port sides into championship winning sides and got us promotion to premier rugby.''
Port Chalmers beat Alhambra 7-3 in the promotion-relegation game in 1983.
Dave Underwood
The facts
Club rugby reporter: ODT (1984-2014), radio (1993-2014).
Favourite players: Billy Laing (Dunedin)1984-93, Steve Dunn (Southern) 1994-2003, Charlie O'Connell (Taieri) 2004-14.
Best referees: Lindsay McLachlan, Neal Wallace, Peter Millar, Ray Coombes, Stephen Wood, John Ferris.
Best game: University A 52, Southern 33 (Cavanagh Trophy, 2012).
Underwood's XV: Greg Cooper, Brendon Laney, Pita Alatini, John Leslie, Steve Dunn, John Haggart, Byron Kelleher, Mike Brewer (captain), Josh Kronfeld, Taine Randell, Gordon McPherson, Simon Maling, Kees Meeuws, Tom Willis, Carl Hoeft. Reserves: Wayne Graham, Ken Olsen, Justin Cullen, Noel Pilcher, Warren Matene, Charlie Hore, Stu Forster.