Choices for positions in the past few weeks have been going to those who turned up to training and to the games and we've been spoilt for that choice. Huge numbers of reserves even when players were away on holiday and up watching the Lions cheat their way to a win in the second test. Today, however, was a different story.
15 men starting (many out of position or injured) and 5 reserves to call upon. Luckily only Isaac seriously injured his non wanking hand, but others played through all the usual end of season niggles and aches and pains.
Before the game started we'd heard the sad news from Dunedin about Lars and an emotional but determined Chief gave us the option of playing as team or not playing at all.
We played as we have always played, as a strong team during difficult times.

And no one played stronger than Laina. "Get out of my way. I need to be where your puny body is standing" was his mantra and boy did it work. Thrice he crossed/fell over the line due to determination and a few Keiths up his arse supporting his forward drives.
Unbelievably, Dirk became inspired and also scored in similar fashion, albeit with less strength but with more guile. 2 tries in 137 games. Who would have guessed?

Jones, Steven, Mr reached his peak Keithliness by telling Chief he couldn't play this weekend but after being told by Chief he was mistaken and was playing this weekend for a full 80 minutes, he did so without too many lineout errors to bring up his 50 Keith games. So that was nice.

Tommy, in the backline, played like he used to play; which is to say, with better focus and intensity than otherwise of late. And he was probably the stand out back today. Toad gave all his considerable body could, with Ross and Muzz proving they will always be starting lineup material.

The scoreline gives an accurate representation of the effort both teams put in to this match and it was only towards the end that Suburbs started to lose their grip on discipline, to our advantage. And how good was the ref? best we have ever had in a very very long time.

Thanks to the Ref and to Suburbs for gracing us with a minutes silence before the game.

Back at the clubrooms we were of course jubilant, but subdued and those that were there, especially Ross, enjoyed watching the Test.

I've always been proud of this team, even when Dirk is my Lawyer, but I was very proud to be a Keith today.