Dear Mr. Mafia,

I don't exactly know how.  And I don't know when. But I've got a reasonable idea of 'who'... who placed me onto the Bay's Mafia email listing. They placed me onto this listing. Me!!! A lad who grew up on the shores of the harbour of the internationally (but self) proclaimed 'Riviera of the South'. A lad who grew up standing alongside and supporting REAL men. Real men with surnames like Knight, Latta, Forster, Kenny and Wilson. Who grew up thinking there are only two basic food groups, both starting with 'Jimmy': one was a gold medal wining amber ale we all know as Speights, and the other a heart-palpitating, meaty conglomerate called a Jimmy's Meat Pie (Jimmy's from Roxburgh: if you haven't experianced a Jimmy's washed down with a litre of James', you've yet to live).

Now I'll admit - I'm the first to support a team wearing blue & gold when they're up against those nancy boy Latte lovers from north of the Bombays. I managed a smile when you snuck back to the Bay holding aloft that mangy looking log of timber. I was MORE than happy to support your team when it came time to defend the Ranf... Runfa... Wranf... that thing you got
that's shaped like a shield you tauntingly call the 'Log 'O Wood' against those Boys with the affinity for Bovine.  I could NOT have been happier seeing you stick it right up those lovers of sheep from North of the Waitaki river, last weekend. You came close - but, as the saying goes, 'No Cigar'.

But... this weeks e-mail has gone too far!!! I CANNOT stomach the idea of the Bay's Mafia fraternity asking me to turn on my own, and lend my weight to the Bay's attempt at steamrolling my beloved Otago.  That's one bridge that far, far to long to cross. And one where I will remain staunchly steadfast on it's southern bank.

I wish you good luck, Steamers: as do all Southern Men. We will always acknowledge our foe and wish them well in the heat of battle. But when it comes down to which team in Blue and Gold I'm supporting this weekend.... no prizes for guessing it's the one wearing Royal Blue. With a small golden 'O' on our left breast.

"OOOOOOtttaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAGGGGGgggggggggooooooooooooooooooooooooo...."

Hi Tony,

Can we use this on the website? I take it you still
want to receive our missives?

Nick

Of course you can. I was taking the piss in most respects. In the spirit of good natured piss taking throughout the world of NPC rugby (just don't print my email details - I've seen what can happen when an email address gets out to the general public - not a pretty site)

How the hell you didn't beat Canterbury has me buggered. More so that now Otago's got NO chance of lifting the shield for bloody ages! (presuming Canterbury retains the shield until the close of the 2004 season, Otago plays Canterbury at Carisbrrok in 2005... so if Canterbury retain the shield for all of 2005, Otago's next logical look in MAY be a challenge at Lancaster Park (I CANNOT bring myself to call it Jade Stadium) in 2006. Two whole years away... unless someone like the Bay lifts it from Canterbury in between times, then gives Otago a chance at challenging (slim chance though). 

Place it in highlighted blue-&-gold font in your Bay Mafia web site if you need to... (got to admit, seeing you bay boys run a-muck is a bit of a laugh)... but I still can't stomach the thought of you Mafia Misfits screaming for my teams blood. Be very careful there, Nick me boy:
remember, you're talking to a lad who's come down from the Scottish highlands with his clansmen... we can be a very tribal and parochial people, us men from the deep South. Something to do with mixing Speights, Jimmy's pies and 25,000odd scarfies together...

And please, still send in your missives - but be prepared to receive similar light hearted banter in return!!!

Finally - never forget: whenever the chips are down, as they sometimes are, and for all games other than those when you're actually playing Otago (or North Otago, if you happen to slip into 2nd Div. Umm, and maybe if you're playing Southland - we also have an affinity with our southern neighbours), you can count on support from the south. On support from those who know the pain of the narrow loss. On support from those who know the true value of the blue and gold strip. On those who still remember the days when we playedthe game because we actually enjoyed playing - not for six or seven figure sum salary's

Cheers,
Tony.