100% record gives Sharks top six hope
The Wrap
The Sharks made it two from two when they put Kaik away in terrible conditions at the sandpit and put themselves halfway to the mythical six. Kaik is now one from three and with the bye this weekend has made it tough on itself. The Spannerheads and AU ended in a draw, so both are in good positions to make the six, as they are unbeaten. Harbour got off the duck with an unconvincing display against Zingers and still has a lot of work to do. Zingers has not troubled the scorers to date and seem glued to the “spoon”. Taieri has just about clinched a spot in the six with the maximum 15 points in the bank — remember 18 probably gets you in — when it thrashed Varsity at the Eelpit. Varsity, conversely, are in a world of pain with no wins to date and is at Everest Base Camp at best.
Lander 20s
The Highlanders under 20s are off to their national tourney this weekend and play three games across the week against the other franchises, plus a Barbarians outfit to square up the numbers. From this they pick a NZ Colts side to go to a quadrangular tourney in Aussie. Word is a lot of the side has been pencilled in as they are signed to the franchises now, but there could be double figure spots (just) up for grabs. The clubs that are most affected in terms of players out are Dunedin (6), GI (5), Varsity (5) and Kaik (4). Varisty also supply a player to the Hurricanes side as well – bizarre. Anyway good luck to the lads selected and hopefully a few will make the national side. Take it from me, Cam Millar from Taieri and giant Dutchman Fabian Holland from Dunedin will be in that team.
The grandfather clock
Dunedin’s best accountant — apparently retired and keeping his portly figure well contained in a reinforced rocking chair — has been up to his old tricks, but at least not exotic car related this time. The story goes he had been fruitless in his efforts to secure a grandfather clock. On a recent trip to Auckland he called into a reputable dealer and said if one became available money was no object — spoken like a true accountant. A couple of days later said accountant noticed one coming up at auction and settled in to bid by phone. After a furious bidding war with a local Auckland dealer our famous accountant won the day and secured the clock. His feeling of elation and smugness was somewhat shattered the next day when the dealer he had originally talked to contacted him and said (and I quote) “I found you the perfect clock yesterday and I went way above any budget to secure it, but some idiot on the phone just kept bidding, so I couldn’t waste your money so had to pull out”. True story!
Other grades
In Prem Women’s, even though there are only five teams it looks closer than normal. AU and Dunedin are unbeaten, but surprisingly Varsity were beaten by Clutha at the weekend, so there are four sides in the running. In Prem Colts, Harbour and Dunedin are the only unbeaten sides from what I can see, so it could be a changing of the guard. But Kaik will rebound from the shock loss to Harbour. In Prem 2s, Kaik wiped the floor with defending champions Dunedin at the weekend and it would be a surprise if it didn’t go all the way.
Down on the farm
In the north it’s very confused, but currently Valley is the powerhouse but Kurow is sitting in the wings. Old Boys are finally winning again and you can never count them out. In Central, Upper Clutha and Wakatipu drew at the weekend, so the “Horse” is still floating on Lake Wanaka. These two sides should be the top two qualifiers. In the south I think Clutha Valley is the team to beat but there is still a myriad of teams that can make the semis: Heriot, Clutha, Crescent, Toko and West Taieri, for example.
The Landers
Brownies’ Landers are coming right after a horror start to the season and should make the play offs. Then again, just about everybody does, so now head honcho Peter Kean (Chairman Mao) would have been asking for a “please explain” if they hadn’t. They back up against the Waratahs this Sunday at the Greenhouse and they have been a revelation this year considering how bad they’ve been over the last three seasons. If the Highlanders can comfortably account for them the game against the Blues in a couple of weeks could be an absolute ripsnorter. Housekeeping
I’m finally picking a form XV on Rugby Chat today, so look out for that. I’m also going one on one with Tom Donnelly, the Otago coach, and we’ll discuss the state of the nation in all things rugby. Tom heads to the aforementioned NZ 20s tourney as he is doubling as the NZ Colts U20 coach this year. Also look out for our intrepid band of selectors, who are allocating Player of the Day points in all the prem games, plus looking at promising players eligible for the Ben Smith medal at the end of the year. Finchy from Speights, the twins Milly and POD, Davey Callon and yours truly will be on the sidelines scrutinising the players. Make sure you say “gidday” or remonstrate with them if you think they are getting it wrong. Finally, just remember we are still really struggling for refs and it is a rugby problem not a “ref” problem, so think before you offer them some advice. The prem panel of refs has dramatically changed this year, so let’s give them some time to adjust. Here endeth the lesson. This weekend
Took on Mel Reynolds from the
Sharks last and thrashed her by five points, so the streak has finally started. On to diminutive Donny Cameron from the Magpies, so I’m a raging hot favourite to go two from two. I haven’t picked GI all year and it is yet to be beaten, and even though it has five players away with the Colts I’ll be the “kiss of death” and pick the Spannerheads (12) just to tip over Southern at Bog Bathgate. The Eels (12) should be too strong for AU at the Pony Pit, but the Ponies won’t lie down. The stars from both teams, Hotham (AU) and Millar (Taieri), are both out, so that potentially evens out. The Hawks should be too strong for the Sharks (12) at the Codfish Cauldron, but I’d rather swim to the game than pick them. The cellar dwellers Varsity (12) and Zingers square off in the battle of the spoon and, with the Colours playing with only one Highlander, the Bookworms just.
In the feature game in Prem 2s, GI (12) should account for the Magpies away from home. In the country, the Pigs let me down and I crashed and burned to Bumpy ‘‘Grant’’. Back on the horse and off to Central to take on Wayne Soper from Alex, so I can smell success — could be horse manure! I’m tipping the Arrow Bulls (12) to tip over the Goats at home to send them crashing to their third loss. Alexandra (12) will be too strong for the understrength Maggots in Ranfurly. Upper Clutha (13+) will make it one way traffic against the Cromwell Cavs. Wakatipu (13+) will be all over the Oamakau Domain like smallpox and contaminate Matak.
The late mail
Have AlhambraUnion finally become Alhambra without telling me? That’s what TV1 thinks, anyway. About time, I say!