Rugby Talk with John McKittrick
30 July 2009
Five thirty on Saturday evening will see Harbour commence their 2009 Air New Zealand Cup campaign against Canterbury at North Harbour Stadium. Not only will the crowd get a firsthand glimpse of the new-look Harbour side led by overlooked All Black Anthony Tuitavake, but also see the return of world class five eigths Dan Carter in the Canterbury jersey. As I mentioned last week admission for under 15's is free for this game and the Stadium management have assured me supporters will be allowed access to the field ten minutes after the fulltime whistle and once the players have recovered.
Canterbury are one of the competition favourites but don't underestimate this Harbour side who have not only come together well under the guidance of Craig Dowd and Jeff Wilson but have put a huge effort into winning back local support.
The Harbour Union continue to break new ground and have entered into a close alliance with the NZ Blood Service... In a media promotion last Friday with the squad both Dowdy and Anthony Tuitavake donated blood in a first for provincial rugby.
What brilliant weather for finals day and as expected by many, Takapuna took another senior championship 20-13 over a gallant Northcote.When you consider Cote finished ninth last year it has been a massive turn around and credit must be given to their coaches Ian Selwyn and Gary Whetton..It was certainly great to see the battle between the two standout hookers in the union,James Parsons(Taka) and Michael Mayhew(Cote).If it was a boxing match you would have scored them equal on points.One has to admire the Takapuna dynasty when it comes to the Harbour club championship,its not pretty rugby, but.twelve titles out of the last sixteen takes a lot of beating.Most players never get to win a championship but evidently assistant coach/player Jerome Smith has now won nine.
In the plate final East Coast Bays finshed off one of their better seasons in recent years comprehensively beating Silverdale 25-6 with veteran Bays hooker Slade McFarland dotting down.
The All Blacks ceratinly got a wake up call in South Africa and will need to elimate the stupid mistakes to bounce back in Durban on Sunday morning.I cant recall a recent AB performance with so many fundamental errors.
See you at the Stadium on Saturday, Harbour are going to rattle Canterbury's cage.