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Go the Canterbury Rejects! |
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Written by the Relieved Fan in the Stand
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Thursday, 24 September 2009 |
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The Tasman game was a feisty one and it was a relief to escape with the points. When we were down to 13 players including both of our outstanding loose forwards, the Fan was beginning to think it was going to be one of those nights. Tasman looked bereft of attacking ideas with a half-back who could have brewed a cup of tea in the time he took to clear the ball. But the Bay couldn’t put them away until late in the game, some lovely sweeping backline moves always ended with a dropped ball and a Tasman counter attack.
Canterbury has a model for producing young rugby players that is the envy of every other province and this is borne out by the quality of the players who have to leave the province to crack an Air New Zealand Cup squad. Lock Culum Retallick joined the Bay from Canterbury in 2007 and was left with massive boots to fill following the departure of Upton and Sorenson. Thrust into the engine room before he was ready, he looked unprepared for this level of the game. Last season he began to grow into the role and this season he has continued his development, a reliable source of lineout and restart ball and a grafter all over the field. He had a critical hand in the first Bay try on Saturday, receiving ball and man at the same time and showing good skills to release to another ex-Cantabrian, Phil Burleigh.
Burleigh has been a revelation this season, a versatile player with a sound boot, excellent distribution and a real turn of pace. The moment of the match on Thursday night came when Delany received bad ball from the forwards with defenders closing in. Burleigh instinctively made a great run to relieve the pressure on Delany but then charged downfield within sight of the try-line. This led to Junior’s try and a Bay lead which they never relinquished.
Another long trip down south this weekend to play Otago who must be desperate as they perch precariously close to the foot of the table. With the unused All Black Tanerau Latimer back in the side, watch those Bay loosies rip into the opposites once again and hopefully avoid the referee’s cards.
The Fan hopes that the Bay players and management aren’t feeling too comfortable in their position on the ladder and are driving towards a top two place and a home semi-final. Imagine a sell-out at Baypark and a single game to win to make the final. Already some of us are getting out the calculators and pondering the permutations, not to mention assessing tentative travel plans for an away semi-final. Three wins from the final five games should see us safely into the semi-finals. Let’s grab the first of these on Saturday night.
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