Our Premiers (dogged by injuries) had a bit of a "wake up call", by way of a Pare-Plim victory. Seems a few quick tries in the first half put us into catch up mode for the rest of the day. We are still in 6th place on the ladder, and historically we all know we can perform well from here. Keep the heads up Boys!
The 85s Tawa Ducks hosted the Johnsonville Terrahawks at Lyndhurst Park and managed to come away with a score of 35-14. I guess you could say they were flying high that day!
Our Colts had a rather convincing win over
Norths, 36-7. The Reserve Grade team played Upper Hutt Rams at Redwood Park. From the scored it looked like it was a tight game, 15-19 to the Rams.
I spent the day at William Jones Park watching Wainuiomata take on Upper Hutt Rams in two Games. The Premier 2 Game was pretty close fought and there were times it could have gone either way.
However, the Rams came out on top 22-12.
The Premier Game was a tough battle all day with Wainui down to 13 Men at one part. The Rams just seemed to be a bit more organised in the execution of their game plan, taking the Game 41-14. A very good Crowd, numbers wise, but a few need to be educated about the Rules. Great to see Peter Umaga-Jensen on the
field in front of his home Crowd.
At the After Match speeches, The Captain, Kura, called up a Club Member to present the Cup the two Clubs play for, to the Rams Captain. Kura mentioned that this Club Member sat in the Changing Room with the Wainui Team and said words to the effect "you are playing a Game of Rugby, of which, win or lose life goes on - I
have been diagnosed with Alzheimers". Kind of brings back a reality to how fickle our lives can be. The words were well received.
ANZAC Day Karen and I went to join Petone RFC in their walk to the Te Omanga Garden of Remembrance. This is an annual occurence on the Petone RFC Calendar. It all started after Tana Umaga went on an All Blacks tour as
Captain to France.The Team was taken to a Gravesite where Fallen Kiwis were laid to rest after WW1. Apparently all the AB Members were moved when it was realised that the Ages of some of these young Men were not indifferent to their own Age - or younger. Upon Tana's reurn, he took the idea of this Petone RFC Group March/Walk to the ANZAC Memorial to the Club and they have been doing it since. A number of Wreaths were laid, including Petone RFC, and Guest Speakers were introduced. It was a very
poignant moment that we were involved with. The Army Lieutenant delivered a very good speech, telling us of the History and of course "Dictator Putins" (my words) War in Ukraine. We are so lucky in New Zealand, both from a Geographical aspect and living in a Democracy. After the event, we went back to the Clubrooms for a Cooked Breakfast. Well done Petone. Lest We Forget
On to Motor Racing - specifically Formula E. Does not matter how much you turn up the volume, they stiil sound like out of control sewing machines. That aside, they sure do move. Late March at the Race in Sao Paulo, we had Mitch Evans winning with Nick Cassidy second. Then to Berlin last Saturday where Evans came First again and Cassidy 5th. Sunday had Cassidy First and Evans 4th. The Formula E standings have Cassidy in 2nd place and Evans in 5th
place. Kiwis certainly out there doing it.
