First game of this, our 35th season was against a slightly newer and younger and more league oriented Otautahi than we have experienced in the past, and they proved a tough style of play to crack.
Their League tactics and style clashed heavily with our Union perspective on how the game should be played and at various times, the upper hand lay with Otautahi, even right up to the end.
One point where we let ourselves down was second phase ball where we didn't protect it, or the player on the ground. Much of this could be down to nerves but i'm sure Trouty, on his return from the U.S. will crack the whip and sort it out.

While to win a game, you only have to be up by 1 point, and with just a couple of minutes left and 2 points down, the sideline decided we only needed to kick 1 of the many many penalties awarded to us over the crossbar to win. Baz, as Captain and others on the field, decided a try was warranted and the strain of waiting for a try to happen turned my once luxurious full head of hair bald and grey at the same time.

Lars at the end of a long line of passes, eventually broke the line in his teflon coated style, but the referee had trouble translating his watch from ref world to real world and gave Otautahi a very close chance to come back on top.
Summing up the decision to run for the line against the quick and easy kick option, Barrie is quoted as saying 'I don't pay attention, I don't think, I'm a forward!!'

Beers always taste better after a win. And there was plenty on the table at the clubrooms where New Boys got told the truth and Old Coves got accused of being liars.
We then went down to check out what was happening at Linwood Rugby #2 HQ where we bumped into Norton and his offsider whose name escapes me for the moment.

All in all, a good day of Keith footy.