Five from six.  Otago dispatched back to the land of snow and gloom.  And Craig Newby one step closer to stepping into that noose.  When you look up 'gloomy bastard' in the dictionary at the moment, their is a photo of Otago's captain.  Who frankly is not playing very good code at the moment either at any rate, so he'll be glad he's already signed to play offshore, as his market value would be dropping by the match at the moment.

Anyway, enough about suicidal looking Otago captains.  The colour stealers came to BayPark, and were once again sent home with their tails between their legs.  After the first 40 minutes, with a 24 to nil margin, the Bay looked like they were going to romp home to a record score.  However, Otago decided to stop bitching, and start playing code, and after 15 minutes were 14-24 down, and with 17 minutes to go, had pulled the Bay in even closer, 20-24. 

But not to worry, the, the Bay finally held onto the ball for more than five passes, and after a concentrated forward rumble and multiple rumbles at the line, Mike Delany darted over, proving to pacey for big Otago 8 Setaphano.  They then managed to hold on for the final ten, playing as they did again in the first spell, dangerous on the counter, dangerous at scrum time, and with Colin Bourke, dangerous any time.

Colin Bourke, what a game from the number eight, at last stringing performances that demand Super 14 selection together week in and week out.  His pace off the back of the scrum frightening for any flankers trying to catch him.  It looked like he was playing against schoolboys at times.  Around the field too he was busting tackles and making the hard yards at will, and as per usual (this season at least), his kicking game was superb.  When you look at Bourke's play in this game, and through the season, and then look at say, umm, Sione Lauaki's over the season, you wonder how the hell that fat lazy prick got even near a black jersey this season, let alone a Chiefs, or Waikato one.  Bourke does more in five minutes than Lauaki does in five matches.  But I digress, we are not here to slate lazy bastards in the black jersey, we are here to praise a Bay team filled with hard working rugby players.

So on with the praise, in a random sort of way.  Braid.  Luke, not the midget former All Black Dan, or former All Black lock Gary.  Young Braid has come a long way this season from his possum in the headlights performance against Tasman in round one all those weeks ago.  Subbed on for Solomon King, he added drive and aggression in the tight when the Bay needed it most, in that second half when Otago looked set to roll over the Steamers and snatch a win.  May have even earned himself a start, as King looked off the pace to the level he was playing over the last few weeks.  Braid though made a postive impact once he hit the field - for the Bay.  Unlike fat lazy pricks that play for the All Blacks who you have no idea who he will impact for, if anyone...

Callum Rettalick.  Hasn't this young bloke come a long way.  Last season he looked the biggest dud the Bay had signed on since the last big dud that former professional manager Morry the Mole signed on (you can add 1 of a dozen names in here)!  However this season he has been a revelation, thanks mainly I believe, to being fit!  The skills have always been there, just never able to be used for longer than 5 minutes before he was exhausted!  He is the glue around which the Bay tight five revolves.  Always making a yard or two with the ball in hand, drawing in defenders to set up the next ruck, tackling solidly, and just doing the hard, dirty, nasty stuff in the depth of the rucks and mauls.  The big lad even managed to snare a try tonight, with a nice angled run that took him past and through 5 or so Otago defenders. 

The locking partner deserves a mention too, John Moore looked frankly crap last season too, but this year, solid, solid, solid.  What's that glue where you have to mix two parts together for it to work - araldite or something?  Well Moore and Retallick are the araldite of the Bay.

And of course, the fatties up front.  McGoughan, Savage and Pareanga anchored a scrum that basically smashed the shitters out of the Otago front three.  Even two old fashioned tightheads where Pareanga out hooked his opposite.  One in particular was vital, as Otago had a 5 metre scrum, pouring the pressure on, and next minute Bourke is surging forward again, making another 20 metre run before anyone had a chance to see what had happened.  It is a pleasure to watch these unheralded fatties doing the business week in and week out.  Super 14 contracts?  Well, who the hell knows, I think McGoughan would be closest of the three - quality tightheads don't grow on trees (ask Waikato), and this fella is quality.  He must have a foot in the door with the Chiefs this season, especailly with Nathan White not having put on a Waikato jersey in anger this year.  If White got another Chiefs call after no game play for almost a year, it would be cause for a lynching (if you could get the nose out of Craig Newby's hand).

Captain fantastic Tanerau Latimer was strong again, creating turnovers and brutal tackles the trademark of his match.  He is getting better and better as the season progresses, would have to be damn close to a black jersey for the end of year tour, especially if two specialist openside flankers are selected.  The Dan Braid journey in black must be over, so a leutenant for McCaw is needed, and Latimer would be first cab off the rank you would think.

The backline, you had Hunt at second five cutting capers in the first half, but he needs to take the blinkers off, a couple of times he went himself, ignoring the outsides, but a small complaint from an overall top game from the tough little bugger. 

Delany was class too, 100% with the boot, and the match winning try.  He also sliced through the Otago defence late in the first spell, linked with Bourke, who then drew the final Otago defender and put the departing Nutbrown in under the posts.  It was a textbox score.  Linebreak, draw and pass to Bourke, who then did the same for Nuts.  They made it look easy.  He did get a bit run hungry though in the second spell, looking to dance too much, cutting back in and getting slammed and dis-possessed a few times - something no doubt that will be shown to him on video during the week!

Nutbrown was tidy and dangerous close in too - sniping runs and searing breaks marked his game, and his pass bullet like.  He will be missed, and it will be interesting to see who gets the nod to replace him.  Ruki Tipuna gets my vote.

The rest of the backline looked pretty average to be polite.  McDonald at fullback was solid, and had his moments on attack, but his two wing men, Toby Arnold in particular, were ahh, um, yeah, average.  Arnold does not look comfortable at this level.  He looks like a spotty 12 year old (perhaps a brother of the Otago goal kicker, who looks about 10), and looks to have the confidence of one too.  Certainly does not fill you with confidence when you see Otago ball carriers galloping down his wing towards him.  Hona not so bad, but still, scary stuff.

So despite all that Otago could do, and despite not playing any rugby for the 20 minutes post halftime, the Bay came away with the wing, and currently have a 5-1 win loss record.  Or 5-0, as I missed last weeks loss to Wellington, so it does not count...  Although I do have it on DVD, and will watch it to keep the player ratings up to date.

And with that, this weeks players of the match.

Three points, Colin Bourke.  Hell, he played that well he could also get the two and the one, but that would be unfair.  So two points go to one part of the two pot glue mix, Callum Rettalick, and Mike Delany gets the final point, a try, four conversions and a penalty round off a fine game from the little ten.

So the current standings for the  Skitzo's player of the year award, Miss Ford please...

Bourke 8; Latimer 7; Delany 5; Nutbrown 4; Pareanga, Retallick 2; McGoughan, King 1.

Oh, the final score, 31-20 to the men in blue and gold.  The men, not the colour stealers from the deep south.  Scorers were Latimer, Delany, Nutbrown and Rettalick with tries, and Delany conversions for those tries, and a penalty.