A very interesting correlation between the amount of notes taken by this reporter during a game, Canterbury winning.
We will have to convince him to take more notes in every game next season!
I guess that I have discovered that I wouldn't last long as a journalist. For one thing it wouldn't be much fun to be 'open', unbiased, etc.
The first three games I reviewed were interesting for several reasons, and I felt excited writing about it. But the combination of Canterbury losing and the referees giving good performances didn't do much to get me motivated. So I'm going to cover those three games now.
3/10/1998
Canterbury vs. Waikato Rugby Park,
Hamilton
Paddy O'Brien (Southland)
It seems such a long time since the shield match. Waikato on a high at home, against their toughest competition to date. I didn't have many doubts that Canterbury would prevail - but it didn't turn out that way!
Paddy O'Brien is a great referee. He's even willing to listen to Justen Marshell or Tod Blackadder milking a penalty.
You may remember the moment when Waikato played a good back-line move that included a lovely shepherd. Todd, in an unusually subtle way, tackled the shepherder, and earned a penalty. Anyone who had been pinged for retalliation this season should take note!
Mr. O'Brien continued his normal high standard of play, always being there at ruck time, managing to keep out of most back-line moves, or ducking under passes when he couldn't. There was just one thing that bothered me, how off-side do you have to be before you aren't allowed to intercept the ball and get a run-away try? Still we saw at least one of these, in later games, that time to Canterbury's advantage (although, typically! I don't think we got a try!).
I am all for new law being made in Courts, but I don't think that improvisation on the Sports field is in the same best interest for Humanity:-) (Ah... less coffee for me!) We could have won except for that decision (well it was that close!) so it's hard not to be a little bitter!
10/10/1998
Canterbury vs. Counties-Manakau
Jade Stadium at Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Glen Wahlstrom (Auckland)
I think that this shows the advantage of the large population in Auckland - you have got to have at least one good person in amongst a million!
I didn't write too many notes about this game, it was too hard to watch sometimes. The idea that Counties-Manakau only had to spin the ball wide to score, took a lot of getting used to. The period at the start of the 2nd half, when Canterbury tried to play a controlled and tight game, worked really well for the 20 minutes that it lasted - but HELLO!! we were still behind on the scoreboard!
The only notes I have are that Mr. Wahlstrom's impressive advantage allowed Canterbury to get their first try. That was certainly an impressive first 18 minutes. Apart from that I noted his consistent tackled ball rulings. I've had some fun this year working out that rule, but when you see it used consistently it starts to become an important part of the game. It definitely reduces the length of rucks, and presumably the amount of injuries.
24/10/1998
Semi-final Canterbury vs. Waikato Rugby Park, Hamilton
Steve Walsh (North Harbour)
Finally, my work here is done - my life has been worthwhile! Mr. Walsh has read this site and taken heed of my words of reasoned critique and my subtle suggestions. He had a really good game!
How I can tell this, is that I have no notes about him at all. You can bet that if he had done anything stupid in that game, it would be seared into my brain. No, unfortunately Canterbury had no one to blame except themselves (and the outragous length of the Rugby season leading to a lack of top players without injuries!-)
I would say more, but I think that I would have to beat Sim-NPC Manager a few times before I would be qualified. That is why these people are paid to manage NPC teams and why we pay to watch the games! While it would have been nice if Canterbury could have lasted the distance, we did get to the semi-finals. And we don't have to be ashamed of our team like the people of Auckland -
Oh, I forgot! Nobody in Auckland supports them anyway!
SG
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A very interesting correlation between the amount of notes taken by this reporter during a game, Canterbury winning. We will have to convince him to take more notes in every game next season!
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