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Written by the Dreamland Resident Fan in the Stand
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Thursday, 10 September 2009 |
As we trooped out of Eden Park the other week, soaked and despondent, we chatted to Hori BOP about our prospects against Canterbury. As always Hori was confident and willing to bet pies that the Bay would beat the Red and Blacks. We took him up on his generous offer, pretty certain that the new Ranfurly Shield holders would turn us over. We now owe him a rather large number of pies, but for the sake of his health, we are planning a payment scheme of one pie per month.
The mighty Bay has done it at last. We have finally beaten Canterbury, the only province we had failed to beat since our return to Division 1. What a gripping encounter it was, the second half was massive from the boys with the forward pack tearing into the Cantabs and Colin Bourke unstoppable all over the park. The loosies were swarming as a pack and the tight five refused to take a backward step against their large and ugly opposites.
In the first half, the Fan sensed the Bay was just hanging on. Our defence was watching and waiting for the slick moves instead of moving up and tackling. The Fan was pleased with only an 8-6 deficit at the half thanks to some errant Brett penalty attempts but in the second half we started to play. Jason Hona was into everything on the left wing and another of his bursts led to a 5m attacking scrum. Bourkey tore into them off the back of the scrum and with quick ball, Burleigh ran through a gap as wide as Arthur’s Pass to dot down under the posts.
The final minutes seemed to last forever as Canterbury played keep ball, trying to win a penalty. The tension in the stadium was huge, all eyes on the referee and most of us praying that his arm wouldn’t be raised. Luckily the Bay defence held firm and a knock-on gave us the game. The scenes at the end were fantastic, huge numbers of fans on the field and every player completely surrounded by autography hunters.
Once again there was a large crowd at Baypark. Where else in the country can you watch a top of the table clash and pay no more than $15 for the best seat in the house? The best decision the Bay union made last season was to drop the ticket prices and it is no coincidence that the fans keep coming back.
It is a tough road trip to Invercargill this Friday night for the battle of top versus second. Expect this to be a real forward battle in which goal kicking is decisive. Luckily Mike Delany has been Mr Reliable in that department and long may it continue. Go the mighty Bay and go Otago to take the Shield and give us the first challenge.
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