The tactics of both sides ultimately were decided by the weather, a howling wind coming off the sea pretty much meant that it was going to be a game of one half – the half into which the wind was blowing. 

The Bay started with first use of the wind, and with Jackson’s prodigious boot and masterful tactical game we all settled down to watch him kick to the corners and pin Wellington in their own half.  Unfortunately Wellingtonians are very good at playing into the wind, one could almost say that they are used to it – despite the radical design of the cake-tin and proceeded to keep hold of the ball for incredible amounts of time.  Phase after phase mounted up, even if they were getting no-where and steadily they ran down the clock, they even lead for a brief period when Piri Weepu slotted a goal. If it wasn’t for the fact that the Bay had a goal-kicker the quality of Jackson who managed to slot 45m + penalties and punish Wellington for any indiscretions in their own half the score at half time would have been even more flattering to Wellington. 

The Bay to their credit did take full advantage of their scoring opportunities, even those from 45 m out and scored the only try of the first half thanks to Tahana who seems to be in pretty good try scoring form.  Tahana managed to burst through some feeble Wellington defence after a half break my McQuoid, probably due to the fact that the Wellington backs were startled that they actually needed to make tackles as they’d spent the opening 15 minutes watching their forward pack monotonously pick and go into the wind. 

Come the end of the first half, one wasn’t too confident that an 11 point lead would be enough, as testified by this brief half time conversation…

“Do you think it’s an 11 point wind??”

*Whistling winds, sound of ones jacket flapping about one’s ears*

“Pardon??”

“I said do you think it’s an 11 point wind!!!??!!”

*Howling gales, unrestrained clatter of unsecured articles making their way towards Whakatane*

“WHAT???”

*Raising voice noticeably to the above cyclone decibel level*

“AN 11 POINT WIND!!!??!!!”

“MORE LIKE 40 KNOTS I’D SAY!!”

“Oh what the hell…”

The second half began with me saying, “I hope we can do a Wellington” followed shortly thereafter by the kick-off.  Wellington started the second half well, immediately putting pressure on the BOP line, and was awarded with a penalty.  For some strange reason Wellington decided to kick for the corners instead of taking the points.  Possibly at the end of the day a costly decision as any chances for points in a game as low scoring as this were worth their weight in proverbial gold.  As it was the Bay were able to resist the early charges, turn the ball over and make their way downfield taking up valuable time on the clock.

Misfortune was to follow shortly thereafter as a charge-down of a Ricki Flutey kick fortuitously landed into the hands of Kinikinilau who raced off downfield.  The ref and TJ then managed to miss an obvious forward pass and Umaga went in close to the posts to close the gap to 14-13 with 19 minutes left.  So 19 minutes had passed and the Bay’s lead had been trimmed to 1, it was going to be a very nervous final 19 minutes.  By now Cotter had run the changes bringing on fresh forwards to get involved in the ever increasing in desperation forward clashes as the game wore on.  The Bay forwards did more than hold their own, a good indication of the depth in the squad.  Slowly the ball was worked up the field and kept out of Wellington’s hands, slowly the clock ticked down, slowly our nails decreased in length…

Thankfully we were given brief respite when Jacko stretched the lead over the 3-point margin with a penalty in the 69^th minute.  This still however left 11 minutes to play with and not much left in the way of fingernails.  By now the crowd started to get involved and a lot more vocal, every turnover was meet with rapturous cheering.  As the clock ticked down every set piece win was greeted with ever-increasing applause and even awarding a scrum to the Bay bought the house down.  Wellington players became instant heroes and crowd favourites whenever they knocked the ball on or gave away a penalty.  Thankfully in the dying stages the Bay were awarded a penalty and Jackson took the opportunity to kick for goal instead of going for the lineout and running down the clock.  A pretty good idea one would have thought considering that he is the most accurate kicker in the NPC, alas his attempt went wide, and even worse didn’t have the legs to go out and force a re-start. 

Wellington then launched a final game-winning attempt from within their in-goal area that finally ended up about 1 metre short of our try line in a ruck that didn’t result in Steve Walsh penalising us for using our hands.  Indeed it was an awarding of a set piece to the Bay and the final whistle that really bought the house down.  It was 4 hard earned, gusty NPC points and only the second time in 92 years that the Bay has beaten Wellington, history – for this team it seems, is made to be broken.