Haugh’s dropped goal first in five years
WHAT do dropped goals, fidget spinners and leg warmers have in common?
They are not terribly fashionable any more.
University first fiveeighth Taylor Haugh nailed a wobbly dropped goal two weeks ago to seal a 1916 win against Harbour and a place in the playoffs.
Had he missed, the defending champion could easily have fallen out of the title race.
The Bookworms would have limped into the playoffs in sixth as it turns out. But Haugh’s late
RUGBY
heroics meant the team could start preparations a week earlier.
But as important as droppies can be, astonishingly it was the first one landed in the competition in five years. Not one single dropped goal was registered in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
University’s Stephen Fenemor was the previous player to drill one and that was on April 11, 2015.
Rocking Rod Stewart played a gig at Forsyth Barr Stadium that night.
The country was debating whether to retain its current flag or adopt a new one featuring a giant photo of John Key.
The fidget spinner craze was still two years away and noone, nowhere was talking up the prospect of leg warmers making a triumphant comeback.
AlhambraUnion’s Peter Breen and Southern’s Ben Patston landed one each in 2014. And in 2013 dropped goals were all the rage. University’s Guy Schwikkard landed two,
Green Island’s Dan Duke and serial offenders Breen and Fenemor popped one over each.
But with just nine dropped goals in eight years — five of them to University players — they are a rare sight in the Dunedin premier club rugby scene.
Given how close the tournament has been this season — 12 of the 36 have been decided by three points or fewer — the unloved droppie might be worth another look.
Bonus points for anyone who nails one while wearing leg warmers.