Hi ,
Another typical sunny Wellington Saturday. One thing about Wellington, is that if it rains most of the week, then almost certainly we have a fine Saturday.
My day started with a morning at the Hutt Rec watching my Nieces Boys playing for Petone against HOBM. Just found out the Grade is Year 6 Tackle and Petone won.
On to Nairnville Park where our Premier 2's played OBU. We had already won the Harper Lock Shield, but this was the last game in the Round. There is a little bit of conjecture as to why there was a Draw in the Game. David Gaunt (our TV Commentator) had to leave at half time to do the commentary at Petone Rec. David maintains he left the Game in my hands at 22-5 in our favour. On the other hand, I think
David left the Bridge in the hands of lesser persons (me) to run the ship. Whichever it was, it created a few laughs at Petone after the Game. The important thing is, I was privileged and honoured to introduce our WRFU President, Kerry Walsh along with the Chairman of the WRFU Board, Sunil Surujpal before I presented the coveted Shield to TJ Fermanis and the Premier 2 Team. Two years in a row!! What a Team, what a great bunch of Guys! A bit of trivia - We have seen Brothers and Cousins, but how
many times (if ever) have you seen a Nephew pass to his Uncle? Family/Whanau spirit lives on in Tawa.
On to Petone with a top of the table Team to play. I guess we all read the Press and expected something special from Petone. Clearly our Guys had not seen the Press and got on with the job at hand. Lets face it, the Game could have gone either way with both Teams taking chances, making mistakes, and defending like there was no tomorrow. We are still short of some Boys due to Flu etc, but then so is every Club in
Wellington. That aside, a Draw was very appropriate given the circumstances. I think we are growing in confidence as we look to the next three Games which will all be tough.
Last week I was asked to sit in on a WRFU Judicial Hearing. Without going into details, suffice to say it was Referee Abuse! Personally I am hot on this. There is no excuse to abuse the Referee under any circumstance. It is an amateur game played with great passion, but lets just think of the big picture - these are amateurs (NOT PAID) and Volunteers just like all of us. All I ask is consistency, and I
continuously see that every Saturday from our Referees. Apparently the Referee Abuse is up this Season. It is up to us to change the thinking. I know I am endeavouring to make it better.
