I feel Norths are trying to steal our draft picks

Another nice afternoon for some club footy today, that, in contrast to all the tight games last week, this week saw some bigger scores in all games.

I went along to watch Hora Hora host Mid Northern who alongside Kamo & Moerewa/United Kawakawa still remain unbeaten after 6 rounds.

Game started well, and the home sides loose trio of Rory Woods, Jaycob Matiu and Terrell Peita were keeping HH in the game, with Peita and Woods in particular prominent on both sides of the ball.

For Mid Northern, thier pack set the platform, led as always by Jordan Olsen, playing at 8 today.

Jade Stewart at 10 controlled the game well, while thier locking duo of Terepai King and Darcy Holwell were busy on both sides of the ball.

MN were up 28-7 at the break, although the game was closer than that, but the 2nd half saw the injection of Rob Rush who made his impact felt at the first few rucks he cleaned out and showed his step up in quality.

HH hit back early in the 2nd half when Peita bagged a double, but MN hit back immediately, and then a 4 try spell in 15 mins from about 60 mins put the game away, although HH 8 Rory Woods had the final say as they went down 51-19.

For HH, Woods and Peita were prominent in the 1st half, while Woods maintained this, Peita was a bit quieter in the 2nd, Kobie Scutt and Kobie Walters both had thier moments for the home side.

MN seem to be playing well as a team, with no real standouts in the 1st spell, Kiwi Duncan had his moments but sometimes his decision making lets him down, although scored a cracker of a solo try in the 2nd spell with great stepping off both feet to beat defenders and gas to finish.

In the 2nd half, centre Zac Shanks who is usually a loosie showed some classy with ball in hand and deceptive pace, while Jade Stewart had a good game guiding them around at 10, while Rob Rush was into everything as you'd expect with a player of his calibre, props Lemisio and Apoua both had thier moments to show thier running skills while they ensured MN had a dominant set piece.

All the other results were as expected, although score lines bigger than I'd expected and a couple blowouts, none moreso than the MUKK v Waipu where the scores were tight at 17-13 at half time.

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@Chris I have. They were good at scrum time against the lesser sides. I support MP as well and watch every Drua game so I watch plenty of the lesser sides haha.

Their scrum was terrible last night. I'm wondering if they had the wrong studs in last night like the Force last year because they were going backwards at a ridiculous rate.

I would assume they will start from the bench. Halfpenny is pretty descent goalkicker, could come in handy.

The simple way to prove Boks also hold the 'unofficial world title' The simple way to prove Boks also hold the 'unofficial world title'

Two weeks ago, a Kiwi colleague with a penchant for riling South Africans put together a piece on rugby’s “unofficial world titles”...

Managed to bag another reasonably major press piece. This time one owned by World Rugby

@barbarian said in NFL:

Falcons are an embarrassment of a franchise. Just egregious behavior.

This comes days after they were crowing that Bill Bellichick didn't make their top 3 coaching finalists

What a clown show.

Thanks for reviving this thread

Well they're only 1 point out of the 8 (not sure what effect remaining games will have) so not terminal yet.

@Bovidae not bad by the Under 20s, I thought it would have been more of a flogging than that.

@Kruse That sounds like Derpus?

Squads for Singapore. Some mens players returning from long-term injuries.

All Blacks Sevens:
Leroy Carter
Dylan Collier - captain
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Fehi Fineanganofo
Andrew Knewstubb
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
Moses Leo
Tone Ng Shiu
Lewis Ormond
Brady Rush
Codemeru Vai
Kitiona Vai
Regan Ware

Unavailable due to injury: Roderick Solo, Sione Molia, Payton Spencer, Akuila Rokolisoa, Tim Mikkelson, Joe Webber and Amanaki Nicole.

Black Ferns Sevens:
Michaela Blyde
Jazmin Felix-Hotham
Tysha Ikenasio
Shiray Kaka
Tyla King
Jorja Miller
Manaia Nuku
Mahina Paul
Risaleaana Pouri-Lane – captain
Alena Saili
Theresa Setefano
Stacey Waaka
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe

Unavailable due to injury: Sarah Hirini and Kelly Brazier

New Zealand Sevens teams named for Singapore New Zealand Sevens teams named for Singapore

The All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens travel to Singapore this weekend for the last tournament of the regular SVNS Series season.

@KiwiPie ha, I thought both Westwood and Scott never quite took #1 spot, like a couple others I mentioned.

@DaGrubster said in EPL 2023/2024:

This is a quote from Michael Oliver from a few years ago. I’m not sure if the same rules apply at the moment but you can see why Nottingham Forest were able to raise questions about the allegiance of the VAR official.

"I never referee Newcastle games. We have to declare if we have an allegiance to any club or if a family member works at a club. You can’t do any match involving that team and I can’t do Sunderland, either, for obvious reasons.

"Because Newcastle are invariably involved in a relegation battle, when you get to March or April, it means I can’t referee anyone around them towards the bottom three.

"If Newcastle needed a point to survive and the team they were fighting to get above was say Villa, I couldn’t referee Villa’s game either. I wouldn’t want to. It’s not worth the hassle."

No idea if the same rules apply for the ref in charge of VAR - they aren't meant to be making the decisions as such, such decide whether to refer back to ref to make a call. Or draw lines and not entirely sure how much control they have over that and how much is automatic.

I should at this point state that I am a Notts County fan and we are duty-bound to dislike the mob from across the Trent. But Forest have been hard to like this season (bar Chris Wood) for their whining and employing of a ref - and complaining about their points penalty having spent a ridiculous amount last season.

Liverpool are out of the title race now unless both Arsenal and City slip up more than once - Liverpool's maximum is 86 points and given the relative goal difference, they would need Arse to get 8 points from 4 games and City 9 from 5 to finish above them.

@Godder tell us you're an accountant, without telling us you're an accountant 🙂

Edit: thanks though - I think I got that after a second read over. Useful.

I just remembered Niall Williams-Guthrie. She was brilliant for the blues this season. It’s a shame the contract system is tailored towards younger up and coming players and towards developing front rowers because she still has a lot to offer despite her age.

April 30 for the Chiefs heritage jersey according to their SM.

@NTA probably, hes a good guy...but typical in that hes been at the club for a few years...but when i suggested checking with some of the people on the committee...he didn't know them....on sat when someone asked him for water bottles...he hadn't thought about getting any....he just rocked up and played 1s and someone else arranged the bbq that paid for things and someone else filled the water bottle he expected to be there and someone else washed his jersey each week etc

he'll come right, hes just having a wake up call

Presbyterian Schools Quadrangular Tournament

Scots College 24 - 22 Lindisfarne College
St Kentigern College 52 - 14 St Andrews College

@Higgins said in Super Rugby 2024:

Apr 22  /  Sport Radio veteran demands sacking of ’dim-witted’ football great Radio veteran demands sacking of ’dim-witted’ football great

‘I’m embarrassed to be in the same camp as him.’

Wow, this says it all with no holds barred!

I saw read that, but he obviously not too worried about having the same employer, or he can fix that himself surely? A letter of resignation would take care of who employs them both

(“I don’t know how this bloke has continued to be employed by the network that employs me,” Hadley said.

“That’s a decision for people who are on a higher post than me.)