To be perfectly honest, before this game on Friday night, I was tossing up going, with the weather conditions looking decidedly like they were going to go tits up,  A night in front of the fire watching some mindless reality show seemed far more attractive - especially after the Bay's performances from last season. 

Well, what a difference a year makes.

Not only did the weather hold off, making my mountain climbing kit look slightly out of place, but there were some new and unusual developments on the playing field - yes, the Bay WON, beating North Harbour 33-29, in a match that reminded me of the 2004 season with passion, pride and a ton of guts providing the win.  Coupled with the win last week over Manawatu, things could be looking up a bit this season!!

Anyway, about the game, seen through some rose tinted glasses for the first time in a year or two!!

First, and I'll be buggered if I know where, the Bay, over the summer, have developed a lineout.  And unlike last season, where the lads would line up, and then watch the opposition snatch their lineout ball, they were winning the pill, and with ease.  Not only that, they discovered that once you win an attacking lineout from 5 metres out, you can score tries from that too, which they did.  Maybe someone should let the All Black selectors know the secret too, but I digress, onto important things, the Bay, and a functioning lineout!!

The main sources of lineout ball were the two locks.  Aidin Kuka and Callum Retallick.  Neither a towering inferno, but both, along with Bourke and King, soild enough targets.  If you don't haev the raw height, then the multitude of options is the way to go.  It helps a lot having a hooker with the ability to throw too.  Marcell Cummings-Toone was pinpoint with his throwing, and is a hard worker too.  Like his propping comrades loves the close quarter battle, and was rewarded with two tries for his efforts.  He however needs more salt in his diet, as he cramped up and had to be replaced late in the game!!

Second, the scrum.  With the vanishing of Castle and Davison, there were no doubt a few worries.  Well, shelve those worries.  In Joe Savage and James McGougan, there are two props that are not going to take a step backwards ever.  They might not have the pedigree of the dearly departed, but they are keen, demented maniacs.  McGougan looked like an escaped homicidal maniac out there - every time he carried the ball or went to tackle someone, he was trying to kill them.  It was a joy to watch, and exactly what you want from a front rower.  Probably the one place in the world where homicidal tendencies are to be encouraged, prop forward.  Savage was not far behind his proping partner though, more of a serial killer to the McGougan mass murderer!!

Speaking of props, and this can't go by without a mention.  The Harbour props were all fat.  Not 'big', not 'padded', but fat.  Sam Biddles and Chris Eaves started the game, and they were in definite need of a few months with Jenny Craig, but they looked like concentration camp victims once Mike noble hit the field.  When Noble first took the field I thought Hori Bop had returned to the fold, but had got the wrong kit on.  Noble has spent a season in France, but I don't think it involved a lot of training, but it looked like it certainly involved a lot of Red Wine Croissants.  But I digress, back to the Bay

The loose trio of King, Braid (the younger, Luke) and Colin Bourke were all class, and in Bourke's case, a lot less arse.  The boy is looking fit this season, and got through more work in this 80 minutes than he did in 8 games last season.  Then throw in Tanerau Latimer from the bench too, and the loose forward stocks are well filled.

Behind the pack there were some blokes wearing double digit numbers, but to be honest, once the ball leaves the single digit balls, my attention wanes!  Nutbrown ran the show from halfback with the (c) beside his name, a subdued Delany was outside him, with new boy Nigel Hunt at 12.  They looked pretty handy.  Even further out, where the numbers are getting ridiculously large, Lawrence, McDonald, Asaeli and Hona all had their moments and looked dangerous with the ball in hand.

So, bottom line, or near enough, as this Mafia member sees it, the Bay could be in for a good season.  The team played with heart and passion, never gave up, have a forward pack that is not going to take a backward step (voluntarily at any rate), and a backline that is going to have a go.  In their two matches so far this season I think the Bay have scored more tries than they did in the entire NPC campaign of last season. 

It is ceratinly a different side from last season.  Perhaps showing what can happen when you select a coach and give him time to build a team, instead of the balls up of last season when the coach was almiost named after the first games were played!!  Anyway, there were times when Harbour made busts up the middle, that last year would have led to tries.  This year though, you had the Bay boys scrambling in defence and rescuing the situation.  It was grand to see, and worth seeing again, so if you get a chance, get to the game!!

The only thing that would make the match day experience complete would be that big mascot that carried the day in 2004 - HORI!!

Oh, and Cummings-Toone scored a brace of tries, as did Colin Bourke.  Hunt also dotted down, and the remainder of the points came from the boot of Delaney.