Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Crusaders up, Warriors down
Got a bit spoiled over the weekend, which might have been a bit tough on Lady Janice – the best mother I know – since it was Mother’s Day, but it was also my birthday.
We both got treated very well by family and it was a nice reminder about what is truly important in life, and it isn’t sport.
And I was humbled by my good friends in the deep south, with both Southland harness and greyhound meetings staging a Mad Butcher Happy 77th Birthday Race.
My Vodafone Warriors took the gloss off a lovely time, losing to the Manly Sea Eagles 38-32.
A few weeks ago we lost 13-12 to a side that was going poorly, and we served up an awful showing.
That game was something of a turning point for Manly, who went on to smash the Titans and Tigers before losing narrowly to the competition leading Panthers.
A lot of fans thought we owed Manly one but this was always going to be a different proposition, the side having returned to form and got a few injured stars back.
I said last week this would be tough, Manly desperate to end a six-game home losing streak, and Tom Trbojevic playing his 100th game. He destroyed us, scoring two tries and setting up four others.
While we lost, at one stage I was dusting off the Mother’s Day Massacre heading, but we rallied and almost scored in the final seconds, which would have left us a kick to tie it up.
At least it wasn’t the total capitulation it was a few weeks ago, although any side that gives up three tries in five minutes like we did during a poor second half, is going to struggle.
We have not managed backto-back wins all year and it won’t get any easier with the eight-in a-row high-flying Eels next up.
We might not like it, but all that happened was that the better side on the day won.
I don’t always expect us to win. But I do always expect us to compete, which is why the first Manly loss was so disappointing. This one I can take on the chin.
And the Super Rugby final saw the Crusaders beat a brave Chiefs side to win title number whatever is it is, a lot certainly.
Coach Scott Robertson has them going incredibly well and like others before him, has built a quite magnificent culture.
I’ve had the pleasure of being at the ground and being invited into the changing room and I can tell you it is something special. I maintain contact with a few Crusaders to this day and having nothing but admiration for them.
And speaking of admiration, take a bow Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan. With Chiefs fans up in arms after the final, he kept his head despite his supporters unloading on social media.
I don’t even try to pretend I understand the rules in rugby, but he refused to moan or complain, instead saying if anyone was to blame it was his own players, who failed to capitalise when the Crusaders were down to 13 men.
Then he went further, saying he thought the officials probably got the calls right, which was a refreshing thing to hear in an age when endless television replays undermine officials time and time again.
And I can’t sign off without mentioning the passing of a great mate of mine, Kiwi basketball hall of fame coach Steve McKean.
‘‘Coach’’ had been fighting cancer and was an incredibly well-respected figure in the game.
Although quite a player in his own right, it was as a coach that he truly flourished.
His crowning glory came in 1978 when New Zealand beat Australia for the first time, a result that really put the sport on the map in New Zealand.
After coaching he worked for about 20 years in school and community sport for Sport Taranaki and was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 for services to sport.
So go well Steve, and as ever, go the Vodafone Warriors, let’s upset the Eels.