Saturdays Games

This morning is Rugby Day kids nationwide are being driven by to their rugby ground destinations. The rural kids especially have to drive many kilometers to play against their opposition and Billy and his Otautau team mates are in that category. As Jude and Kimberley were in Dunedin last night at a concert, it was my job to get up early and make the 55 kilometer trip to Sandy Point, Invercargill’s main Gathering point for multiple club and school rugby.

Awaking to a foggy and very cold morning of 0°C it was obvious to be dressed in winter warmth. Heading off to Invercargill a medium fog made for a slower than normal trip. Arriving at 1020 hrs I was surprised that Billie’s game which was scheduled for 1030 hrs was already underway so I had missed quite a bit of the first half. Otautau was up against Albion from Gore and what I managed to catch of the game looked like it had been a good battled. The Otautau team looked like they had improved from their disaster performance last weekend and it was really a great game to watch with Otautau team running out the winners 15 – 5.

Game two was against Woodlands and although they had not had a break they were required to field immediately. The game started off fast and furious and I was impressed with the Otautau hooker as he made some real good gains crashing up the field with good support from his colleagues. Billy was playing at 10 which seem s to be his favored position, and he made some good meters but what stood out was the accuracy of his passing and his sidestep. Albion did not go down without a good fight and hit back with some good play, but Otautau today was just a bit too strong winning against Albion (Gore) 25 – 5. Well done to the Otautau boys.

The Third game was against STAR from Invercargill, my old club, no I didn’t play rugby, I was the Premier Teams medical for quite a few years including when they won the Galbraith Shield.

The game was hard and the STAR boys were a well oiled unit and although the Otautau boys tried their best fatigue was taking it toll as mistakes started creeping in. STAR really put Otautau under the pump and ran out comfortable winners 25 – 0. Overall the Otautau boys had improved remarkably from last weekend and did well. My player of the day was the hooker for Otautau.