Keith vs Lyttelton
Ground: Bob Deans 3
Time: 2-45pm


Team List


Forwards
Isaac ARAPAI
Jamie GRIEVE
Phil KEARNS
Kristen CURRIE
Simon GIFFORD
Peter HADDOCK
Sam BROWN
Kevin WILLIAMS

Backs
Bevan WEBB
Richard POWER
Paul CRICHTON
Ross SINCLAIR
John LUXTON
Steve ELLS
Tito SEMIOLA

Reserves
Fred BROADMORE
Ian COWAN
Steve JONES
Stuart HERRIOTT
Isireli GUYISE
Phil HUGHES
Mike BREUKER
Simon BARNES
Nick BOLTON
Frankie SOLI
Rob FOLEY
Shane WELSH
Dave CLAUSEN


Points: 5-0, 7-0, 7-5, 7-7, 12-7, 17-7, 19-7, 19-12, 19-14, 19-19, 19-21, 24-21, 29-21, 31-21, 31-26, 31-28, 34-28


Tries: Tito SEMIOLA, John LUXTON, Sam BROWN, Steve ELLS, Richard POWER

Conv: Richard POWER (3)

Pen: Richard POWER





Player of the Day: Phil HUGHES

Most Valuable Player: Paul CRICHTON


Photographs here: http://keith.org.nz?itemid=1679

Videos here: http://keith.org.nz?itemid=1680

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE, WHERE I'LL BE ON A SATURDAY EVE. IF I DIE IN A LYTTELTON DITCH, BURY ME WITH DIRKY'S EX-WIFE.



Big Day 'O' Footy. And decision time too. Do we play to celebrate our seasons end, play to deny Lyttelton a chance at the title or play just to get an awful season over and done with? I'm proud to say we played for Keith and our Team mates and Toad and Kev and Freddy and Chester and Jonesy and Jamie who all reached personal game milestones. And we played because we wanted to beat bloody Lyttelton whom we have never beaten before.

Toad gave us some inspiration to help us on our own way to reach the same number of games (300) and the same number of points (806 or 2 ⅔ points per game) as he did. A remarkable achievement that the club didn't seem to really care about as much as we did.

As expected, Lyttelton came out strong in their pool of available players, while we came out strong in scoring first. Which set the tone for the entire game. Until it changed a bit to pushing and shoving and sin binning and stuff later on. But the start was the start we'd been wanting for the previous 16 games or so, so I was well chuffed we finally got it right.
Tito, once he learns the rules and where to position himself and gets to know the difference in wing and full back will be a bloody good asset to the team next season provided his probation officer (Webby) can get him to the games on time. Or at all.
Bravo and his Dad also have a career in Keith rugby if they want it. They've only played 250 (actually 249 but who's counting) games between them and both dotted down in casual, yet comfortable style each.
Dick, the friendliest player in the team with more friends than you and I and 4 random strangers put together have, kicked most of the tries (including his own) which went down well with his friends. many of whom were at home flicking through the TV channels trying to find the game but eventually giving up and watching women's softball instead.
Oh, and Sam scored too.




Talking about backs like this makes me wonder if I'm getting soft in my old age. Probably, but my heart will always lie in the forwards. Amongst the scrums and mauls and lineouts. Of which Dirk needs practice at and Muncher needs a full face guard to protect his nose. Jamie just needs someone to run the fuck at in imitation of Kev circa 2012-14 style, and Simon can do whatever he wants. He's old enough (54) to have this rugby lark down pat. But you would think Trouty and Uli would know better.

The ref gave us some moments of incredulity but to his credit, made the same decision throughout the game with equal parity. Although we had 50% more sin binning than Lyttelton.
Split second decisions at crucial end of game moments have been the hallmark of our undoing this year. And another possibly happened. At 3 points up, and a penalty close to the line, debate raged on the side line as to go for the try or take a shot at 3 pooints. 3 points were eventually taken which of course, left a converted try open to Lyttelton to snatch victory from us. Of which situation they, and the Ref, took advantage of for longer than was good for our collective hearts. Luckily, time ran out for them, keeping the score in our favour. Just.

Ending on a High (or so I'm told) was a damned good feeling and I hope the boys remember that feeling when deciding on what to do over the summer for next season.

Oh, and Breen, you've changed brother. Marriage has changed you.