Keith win by Default

Match report by Isaac ARAPAI

Saturday 26/07/2014 and the scene was set for a clash of epic proportions, Keith with everything to lose, a win giving us hope of a berth in the Canterbury Metropolitan Division 4 plate championship.
Belfast Div 4 had nothing to lose and nothing to gain and it soon dawned on them that they were short for numbers and were staring down the barrel of their second default in consecutive weeks, that is until two of our up and coming Keith wingers stepped up to fill the void allowing us to all run onto the field and enjoy a fine afternoon of division 4 rugby, many thanks to Paul Anderson and Brad ……..Whatever his name is for stepping up.
What most of the players from both sides didn’t know as they ran out onto a sun soaked Bob Deans Number 2 field was that representatives from both sides had met and Belfast had voluntarily defaulted but would still like to play to which we obliged them.

None the wiser of previous proceedings 15 Keiths took to the field on a mission to secure a chance of moving into contention for the Division 4 plate relying on other results going our way to make it through, from the start we looked an entirely different outfit from the team that had taken the field in the early rounds of the competition, Keith had been building to something special with 3 wins in a row and it just so happened to be Belfast who were about to face a determined motivated and in form Keith Rugby Team, I would have said we were near perfect in every facet but Paddy fumbled so much ball I could have sworn we were watching a gay porn.

Sam Brown started the onslaught not long into the game with the first of his hat-trick a fine display from No.7, not long after Sam’s first slippery Dick Power got in on the action only dotting down once in the game but showing Belfast how dangerous he is in broken play he will be sorely missed for the rest of the season. Rob Gibson Jones got himself two tries from No.10 and looks to have made that position his own, let’s hope both Rob and Paul Ryan return next year to share the No.10 jersey.

Hide Okada scored his first try for Keith Rugby, Hide is showing a lot of confidence the more he plays and looks to be another important new boy signing for the future.

Last to score was Paul ‘Toad’ Crichton half way through the second half before one of the Belfast lads was injured and it was decided the game would be called off; lucky for Belfast as they were staring down the barrel of a 60+ point hiding had the game gone the full 80 the final score after Toads try being 48 – 0 to Keith.

To sum up everybody who took the field did their job well and produced a champagne Keith performance, we showed how much we have improved against a team that beat us comfortably in the first round 25-11, if we can get the bulk of this squad back next year from the start of the season and showing up every week I personally think we could go all the way.

As far as I know the results we needed this year didn’t go our way and we will be playing in the Bowl championship against the teams we have recently beaten consecutively Sumner, Suburbs and Belfast. Finally I personally would like to thank John McKeage for all the hard work he puts in week in week out not only at the games but also maintaining our world class web site, having subbed in for Johnno for the stats and write up this week I have gained a massive appreciation for the hard work and dedication he puts in and long may it continue Cheers Johnno.

Thank You Keith.