It's not always easy picking the right starting team. It's not always easy deciding someone is better than another. It's not always easy to get the balance of players vs position equal. But today, Chief and Cal managed to pull it together nicely. Having our focus on the conditions of the day and the team we're playing against instead of choosing a player for a specific position because "that's where he goes" are over. I hope.
It was shown today by the full 100% Champagne Keith Rugby performance that when we go down that route, we're a much better team for it.

Mark in his very long awaited 50th game, anchored the front row nicely, thereby setting up our locks well. The Tongan trio in the loose gave us options we've always had, but seldom used, with last weeks game showing us the way, we used those options again to great effect.
All the other forward reserves who came on added to the Keithliness of the game, even Mike who came up from Queenstown for it.

Two skitteries, Toad and Not Griff because the real Griff was NOT AT THE GAME AT ALL AND DIDN'T BREAK HIS ARM, had to come off early due to ummm, injury. Replacement parts have been ordered. The replacement players, however, proved instant successes. Georgie's boot was phenomenal both in accuracy and distance. Excepting one or two occasions. If Trouty is impressed, we should all be impressed. Mossie and Shane went hell bent for leather tackling and chasing doing skittery things in a skittery fashion. They no longer looked out of place at all. Hopefully they're both having a good time playing rugby.

Stand-out back was the ever dependable Ross. Leaping onto the backs of Belfast players to bring them down like a leopard onto a tree monkey. Plus, he tackled well too.

While the score at the end wasn't the desired one, the effort we put in was. The first half was magnificent in almost every aspect, but particularly in our defence. Murray took 22 minutes to score the first points of the game, which shows how hard both teams were fighting for dominance and possession. He took only 2 more minutes to not convert his own try. Georgie, then took over the kicking with two excellent penalties.

The second half we remained scoreless but just because we let Belfast across the try line does not mean in any way shape or form that we didn't play well or play like demons or be Keithly. Because we did and today, for me, and others watching, was the game of the year. So Thank You Keith for that.

Next week we have Christchurch, with many Keiths away in Wellington. We've proven this week and last that players who push themselves while in positions they're not comfortable with, can often come out on top. Let's do that again.

The only thing better than playing against Burnside Black Adders and winning, is hearing that they played against and beat the Christchurch Canardlys. Always a good thing to hear.
However, beating Burnside is by no means a certainty. Our self belief can sometimes get in the way of the right result on the board, and Burnside gave us a bit of a scare for a short while. Relaxing your guard can end up in an unexpected loss if you're not careful. A reminder that rugby is not over until the ref signs the report sheet.
We seem to be giving some players more credit than is due and sometimes it's only noticeable when they're not there and another player slots in to their position and whoops-a-daisy they turn on the heat and start making a name for themselves. This applies to both forwards and skitteries. A coaches dilemma, but a good dilemma to have as far as dilemmas go. I suppose.

Ross had four goes at scoring, but only managed to complete three. Which were all lovely to watch. His wingery skills are joyful to observe. Murray, of course, coming from the middle of the fucking north sea islands or some such inhospitable place, got jealous and scored as well, but not quite in the same solo fashion as Ross. He did however, potentially prove his worth as a back-up to the back-up in the kicking department by converting Emili's try. I'll have to speak to his mother about paying for proper lessons though.

And speaking of Emili's try, how fucking good were the forwards in the second half? Completely dominating the scrums and the mauls and doing all this lovely running off the back stuff and diving for the tryline. Lots of people had goes at it and if the ref looked, some of those would have been awarded as tries, but VG and Emili got over well. Loa made his presence felt again after replacing Webby at half back.

Shane was awarded MVP but I never noticed anything special, but isn't that the point? Not being seen means you're not fucking up? I did notice Stewart Rankin having trouble with his finger sticking out at a 90° angle which looked like it would have hurt.

Not to be outdone, I had a fucking huge leg cramp back at the clubrooms which is still painful now. So I win the injury stakes, although I didn't win the Lions/All Blacks test tickets raffle. I suspect there was some jiggery pokery going on there in the draw. Or maybe the club never actually got around to giving us an opportunity to purchase tickets in the raffle. Who can say.

Anyways, big games ahead of us, Suburbs, Sydenham, Christchurch and Belfast so get you're arses down to training and to the game(s). Talking to your Currie. Pfft, you've had all year to organise changing the date for your daughters birthday party.

Even though we're into the 2nd round, this was our first hit out against the Sharks and also a game of celebration. Pieman lead us out onto the pitch for his 200th Keith Game with Unit starting for the first time in what seemed like a decade. In fact, the starting forward pack contained 6 centurions to help Simon along in his special match.
Webby wasn't there and we suspected that none of his posse would turn up either. But, noisily they did. Either Bevan's grip on them is strong, or they like playing for us. You decide.

We started well with Shane doing a much better job at the GAA to Rugby conversion than Dick ever did. Video evidence proves the lad can score. Griff, after a pre-game warm up injury, couldn't make the conversion, which for all later attempts at scoring via kicking, Tom took over. It's nice to have choices.
However, the choices in the reserve backline were limited to the Irish. Mossie and his girlfriend, Georgina. Until Loa showed up that is, giving us a memorable performance, as he did in our last game against Sumner. Very handy nippy half back who sees the gap and is strong enough to push through.

The low winter sun forced me to the opposition side of the paddock so I could take photos, where I was harangued by their reserves and recently subbed off players for our blatant and disrespectful abuse of the rules. Which Sumner then immediately and clearly thought tit for tat was ok and did the same. Clam down fellas, it's social rugby.
I will admit, there were occasions Rob and Tom and a couple of others took advantage of the referee's good nature right up until the point Rob got sent to the bin for 10.

The last few minutes were quite the throat in mouth situation. A "try to win" turned into "converted try to simple remain even" and we didn't have time on our side to do that.

Sumner had trouble with their lineouts which we didn't capitalise on, but we absolutely had them monstered in the scrums which we only took some advantage from. Our nippy backs with plenty of go did well but didn't always link up. Our big white forward went too and fro but never quite got over the line (except for Kevvy). But all those Keiths they love this life. Just ask Murray about your wife.