Thanks to everyone who turned out for Quiz Night on Saturday. Well done to Team Brazier (Womens) who took out the title, and to the runners up – Hardon’s Hard Ons and Vajazelle. A massive thanks to Justin Rafton who ran the show on the night, and to Kieran Howden and especially Charlotte Welch-Cropp (UC Netball) for sorting out the prizes.

Notices

Bar Duty Teams

Please make sure you read the instructions behind the bar, particularly the green sheet stuck up on the display cabinet – particularly the bit about making sure all the glasses go through the steriliser and are put away before the end of the night.

Waimairi Village Info – Parking and Access

Following a meeting with the people from UC Accommodation last week there are a few things we need to make sure of and be clear on

1) The gravel driveway is not to be used by club members and no one should be parking on the other side of the fence

2) The gate in the fence to the gravel driveway will be locked

3) Absolutely no-one is to be on the Waimairi Village grounds

This does meant that parking around the clubrooms will be at a premium if we have lots of people playing at home, so be prepared to have to park off-site.

Bar service and who’s allowed on the premises

Those of you in the clubrooms on Saturday night will have noticed our visit from the license inspector. They were happy with how things were in the clubrooms but did advise us that we need to brush up a bit on some of our procedures, especially around who is on-site. In a nutshell:

People allowed in the clubrooms:

Members of UCRFC (who should be carrying a membership card). If they have lost or misplaced it please check the list above the sound system.
Members of UC Netball (who should also be carrying a membership card).
Members of other rugby clubs as we all have reciprocal visiting rights courtesy of being affiliated to the CRFU.
Members of other affiliated clubs with reciprocal visiting rights
Anyone else on the premises needs to be a guest of a member of UCRFC or UC Netball, and SIGNED IN to the visitors book as such, including which club member signed them in.

Please do not be offended if you are asked for your membership card. If you haven’t received one, or have lost yours, please contact me urgently on crisbridger@gmail.com so I can arrange one for Saturday.

Clubrooms Food

The netball exec do a good job of running the kitchen on a Saturday night, please support them by ordering your food through the kitchen. Food brought elsewhere by players shouldn’t be brought in to the clubrooms. All food purchases get used to help keep costs down for prizegiving. The exec personally recommend the burgers!

Subs – thanks to the overwhelming majority of players who have paid their subs in full and on time. For those who haven’t the account number is 01 0833 0077395 00. Full season subs are now $175 for those who have yet to pay anything. Those who are paying off in installments and started before April 2nd pay $150.

Events

Team Photos – Date to be confirmed

30th July – Beer Pong

Duty

Bar Manager – Kieran Howden

Lock Up – Les

Duty Team – Div 2

Match Reports

Div 1 – courtesy of the CRFU website

At Ilam 1: University 17 (Finlay Christie, Matt Farrant tries; Brad Hemopo 2 conv, pen) beat High School Old Boys 14 (Nick Hyde try; Jarred Percival 3 pen). HT: 3-11. Referee: Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri.

With both sides sitting mid table and seeking a win to advance their position a tight encounter was expected and the 17-14 victory to University did not disappoint. University would have been pleased to turn around a two-game losing streak.

HSOB led, 11-3, at the break after an even half where both sides created opportunities, the difference being that the visitors nailed theirs while Varsity squandered a number of theirs with unforced errors.

It took some individual brilliance and quick thinking from Varsity halfback Finlay Christie to change the complexion of the game.

The brilliance came in the form of a 40m solo run from the base of the scrum to put his side back into the game and some quick thinking in taking a quick tap penalty and initiating an attack which culminated in a try to fullback Matt Farrant.

That gave University the lead, one they never surrendered despite a strong fight-back from HSOB.

Two penalties from Jarred Percival and a try to hooker and skipper Nick Hyde after 30min gave their side an 11-point reward for the half, the try to Hyde coming off the back of a strong run from wing Angus Blair, who was lowered short with Hyde on hand to force his way over.

The home side received something for their efforts with a penalty to Brad Hemopo on the stroke of half-time.

The try to Christie after 55min put some spark into the game and lifted his side which was again rewarded some 10min later with the Farrant try, a classic example of great support play with the ball passing through many hands.

HSOB only had another Percival penalty to show for their endeavours and try as they might in the final 10min were unable to add to their score-line.

Christie made a statement with a fine all-round game. He was not only strong with his go-forward efforts but covered well on defence under the high ball from HSOB. Second-five Hemopo was always probing the advantage line and was telling on defence when called upon. Skipper No.8 Sam Goodwin was the everywhere man, mopping up round the fringes. Hooker Elia Elia made some strong ball carries.

Nobody worked harder in the tight for HSOB than prop Blair Prinsep and he received good support from lock James Naoupu, who made some barging runs. Both wings Blair and Josh Taylor from limited opportunities showed gas and the ability to get on the outside of a defender.

Women – courtesy of Sophie Anderson

After gifting a few players to Marist the game gets underway… We start the game on a positive note catching the kick off… And it wasn’t long before the girls spread the ball wide for Mel to score in her debut game for the Viperettes.. Scoring after only a few minutes the game, I have a feeing where this game is going to go… I hope Rilee has her running shoes on as I’m sure she will be making multiple trips with the tee to Kendra. Very shortly after Lauren comes up trumps with try for herself, and after the second try is scored, just 7 mins into the game, Kendra makes the call all in the 22 when we score.

Marist come back strongly holding some possession and show they are going to play the game through the forwards, we know we will have to muscle up to stop them. Unfortunately handling errors from both team is not to the usual high standard, Varsity win a scrum and Liv trots on through to score through a gaping hole.

Not long after Kendra runs in one of her 3 tries. Out of nowhere Jessie face plants spectacularly having me in a fit of giggles on the sideline! The girls start to get a little comfortable and decide to spread wide not far out from our goal line, when our hands let us down again, only for Taryn Murray who is donning the green for Marist pounces on the loose ball to score for Marist. So that’s how Marist scores…. At some stage I completely miss the memo we have gone to golden oldie scrums.. Every front rowers worst nightmare! What’s a game of rugby without glorious scrums! *

We manage a few more tries before half time and have a break.. Chat at half time is too its too quiet, I know hard to believe 15 girls and no chat? But its true guys we can be quiet!.. Too much contact, not using the ball enough, catching and passing!

Second half starts and the tee running had warmed Rilee up to make the hit of the match where I felt the earth move under my feet, Marist have possession and leave Whitney Hansen dumbfounded when they have a little dance and leave her for dust.. A wee move Whitney has been practising herself is well executed on her, but to get her own back she goes on a storming run and knocks a girl for six, I’m surprised an ambulance wasn’t called.

Of course there were more tries scored, Catlin, Liv, Lauren,Kenj,Julia.

And game over final official score is 94-5 if you ask the CRFU its 60-5

Big shout out to Taryn C and Taryn M for jumping on to play for Marist its appreciated girls and to Liv and Kendra for cracking the 100 points…

Until next week folks.

*The editor fully endorses this comment.

Div 2 – Courtesy of Justin Rafton

It was not for a lack of effort or heart on their part however still the Yams fell to Christchurch Div 2, 5 -23 on the Veggie Patch. The lads came out fizzing, wanting to turn their current situation with five losses on the trot, around as they experienced a mediocre slump. Pattern worked a treat early on, thanks in large part to the leadership and management of returned club stalwart, Andy Ireland at first five. He really pushed the tempo early with the Yams able to hold onto the pill and maintain pressure.

However, as had been the case for nearly a month and a half of these writeups, pressure did not equate into points. Instead it was Christchurch who would make the most out of minimum possession. First it was off a penalty at rucktime about 40 metres out, straight on for their sure footed kicker. Then off an unfortuitous bounce of the ball off the props leg off a Varsity put in on a five metre scrum, the Christchurch number 8 was gifted an easy try. Andy Ireland had a chance to cut into that lead before the end of the half, but the ball carried just to the left in its last breaths.

The second half started much similar to the first; the Yams set good pattern, had all the attack but Christchurch would again capitalize off of Varsity mistakes, scoring another under the posts. The game became a bit of a stalemate at this point with much of the play outside each teams 22. The Yams had their chances though to get back into the fray. A try by prop Justin Rafton off the back of an attacking maul was ruled held up even though there were no opposing players near the pill; quite a puzzling call. Reward would eventually come through following some strong running on the right wing by fullback Jonty Nesbitt which opened room for replacement wing Jamie Newman to dot down for the Varsity lone try.

Christchurch would add a drop goal and try in the end to blow out the score. Again the Yams look to next week to turn their fortunes around out in Linwood. However there were many good signs taken from the game. The team was bolstered by Div 1 regular Daniel Barr who was an immersive force in his stint on the paddock. Kieran Howden and Torin Rensford both ran strong lines all day, with the latter also fully putting his body on the line in the defensive effort. In the backs, Andy Ireland was outstanding as usual, reminding players and supporters alike of the Yams of old. Hamish Paterson and Jonty Nesbitt made space for each other and both had some cracking runs.

‘Brett Menefy’ Players’ Man of the Match: Kensei Kobayashi had his opposing props number all day, made metres after contact on each carry and was an absolute brick wall on defence, punishing defenders with his power and finesse.

Colts Prem – Courtesy of Kyle Bosselmann

The Prem Colts had another tough and muddy day in the office being unable to retain the challenge shield from a determined Burnside team. We had a slow start and Burnside capitalized on our missed tackles putting 20 points on the board before we replied with a try through Jonny Pethybridge and conversion by Kieran Hunt. Burnside replied with another try before half time.

The second half was a much closer battle with Trent Tipene having an impact of the bench and scored our second try and Kieran once again adding the extras. An unlucky bounce of the ball prevented Matt Little from scoring out wide in the final minutes. The final score was 38-14 which is a disappointing result as we lost the challenge shield after only a week.

The player of the day went to Kyle Bosselmann.

Div 3 Tigers – Courtesy of Sef Erasito

It was a tough match-up this week, going up against the undefeated Marist Albion Beacons. Despite improving from last weeks loss, it just wasn’t our day and couldn’t quite notch up a W. We played with a lot more direction, with our focus being to get over the advantage line and thought we played with a lot of intensity. However, it was the line we couldn’t get over and at times that line felt like a repelling magnet. Having done a lot of things right and rectifying the mistakes from the previous game it was extremely frustrating not to get the points we worked hard for. And with only 2 months left in the season, there is an urgency in the sheds to put together a 100% performance and after the game against the table leaders the belief is still there that we can deliver on our potential.

We set up goals this week to be aggressive in the contact area, work hard off the ball, get over the advantage line and be up in their face in defence. And for the most part we believe that we did that and now we just need to add getting the ball over the try line to that list. The forwards stepped up as a pack, with Shannon Goldsmith, really muscling with ball in hand and at the break down area and just as the Beacons were fast in their recycling of the ball we felt that we matched up to that and were just as fast. There was some good tactical kicking from backs giving us every opportunity to play in the right half of the field but we were just lacking that last 25% to get us over the try line.

The Tigers now have 2 weeks off with a bye and a default from Suburbs to really drill in a plan and reinforce some skill work to start getting over that damn try line!!

Colts – Courtesy of Harry Webb

Following up from a promising win the week before, the Colts had a frustrating result on Saturday, failing in their defence of the Colts Challenge Shield against Burnside. Pitch conditions meant that the game was always going to be an arm wrestle and that at the end of the day the team that wanted it more would get the result.

We started the game strongly, spending most of the initial moments camped in the opposition half. This resulted in a try to Nic Adams after a nice move down the short side to make the score 5-0. Based off our strong set piece, our territorial dominance continued for the whole of the first half, however we were unable to convert it into any more points.

The second half started of with a similar story, with our lack of intensity in the oppositions 22 causing us to be unable to take advantage of our opportunities, causing the score to remain 5-0 with 20 minutes to go,

From here Burnside hit second gear, and a strong run from their centre resulted in a try to even the scores. From here Burnside had their tails up causing them to convert a penalty and grab another late try, making the final score 15-5. It was a disappointing result for us, losing a game which we had full control of for 60 minutes and knowing that if we had played to our full potential we could have very easily won.

Credit to player of the day Nick WIlliams for his solid defence and strong all-round display