25 replies to this topic

[Higgins]

No sign of the teams being named yet but here is the first sign that Aaron Cruden will probably be starting

http://www.stuff.co....en-to-get-start

[WingerHB]

Haven't seen the team list yet, but apparently Horrell is out for four weeks, and Foutail'i, Coman, Keys and Lealamanua are bracketed.

I wonder when Kaka will be available?

[Higgins]

Details here of some good news

http://www.hawkesbay...agpies/3920509/

Like WingerHB said we won't know the exact lineup of the Magpies until later this afternoon but as you can see there are a number of injuries to be taken into account and there could well be even more changes in the actual XV that run on than the published starting 15 if normal practice with injury worries can be relied upon.
The 'Poo lineup also will be announced later today if anyoneis interested int that.

Will you be making the trip up WingerHB?

[Stockcar86]

Thanks for the update Higgins - I'm looking forward to getting back to NZ on Wednesday and catching up on 3 weeks of games (well, not looking forward to seeing the Magpies lose really).

Heading out tonight to watch a baseball game for the first time, but don't expect to become a convert over Rugby...

[WingerHB]

The Magpies team for tomorrow:

Israel Dagg, Kaka Gillies, Richard Buckman, Jason Shoemark (captain), Zac Guildford, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Kahn Fotuali'i, Michael Coman, Karl Lowe, Michael Johnson, Ross Kennedy, Bryn Evans, Anthony Perenise, Hika Elliot, Clint Newland. Reserves: Eugene Smith, Joshua Keys, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Grant Webb, Chris Eaton, Star Timu, Luke Rooney

Sadly I can't make the game as I will be in Hawke's Bay, shame it isn't a home game.

[Higgins]

Here is more news from the 'Poo pit

http://www.stuff.co....or-tough-hooker
http://www.stuff.co....gh-Turbos-ranks

Still trying to locate their starting XV

[Higgins]

A really foul day in Wellington, tiredness and coupled with an authorsed visit to my wallet overnight has kept me away from the Kel Tremain Cup Match in Palm Nth. Who could possibly believe that conditions could so so reasonable (well no rain or windy) and be reasonably warm in Palm Nth when so yuck in Wellington. A reasonable crowd is in attendance for what hopefully will be a high scoring encounter

The Magpies are defending the City or Speedway Pits end in the first half although most of the play has been down in the other half of the field with th Magpies looking by far the most likely team to post points. And so it proves with Daniel Kirkpatrick booting a penalty after 14 minutes to make it Minnowapoo 00 Hawkes Bay 03

[Higgins]

Somehow the home side break out of their own half thanks to a nice run from Aaron Cruden and a Bryn Evans missed tackle. The Magpies recover well and gain a turnover but are penalised in the ensuing ruck. Cruden, accompanied by a chorus of raspberries from close by where I am viewing the match is successful from centrefield directly in front 19 minutes 'Poo 03 HB 03

Things get back to normal thanks to Kirkpatrick slotting his second penalty 'Poo 03 HB 06 after 20 minutes

[Higgins]

Sadly Cruden does likewise from wide out in front of the stand from about the 10 yard mark from yet another penalty 24 minutes gone and it's 'Poo 06 HB 06.

The HB lineout has been having a few speed wobbles resulting in a a couple of losses from not straights, hopefully that will be sorted out shortly.

[Higgins]

The Magpies destroy the Manawatu scrum and nail their halfback. Mike Coman effects a steal and somehow the referee decides there should be a penalty to the home team from the ruck Coman sets up. The commentators are speechless about the decision, I am likewise. A minute later yet another penalty is awarded to the'Poo and Cruden raises the flags to make it 'Poo 09 HB 06. Neither team looks like having the skill to construct a try and the never ending flow of penalties is creating a very disjointed affair. 31 minutes have gone by.

[Duluth]

I haven't been watching properly but I notice Cruden has 3 from 3 attepmts at goal

Any difficult shots in amongst that?

[Higgins]

Things show no sign of improving with the HB backs trying to create something but it looked more they they were trying to introduce themselves to each other before being put out of their misery when the referee rules an obstruction that sees the assessors sitting in the stand with their white coats and clipboards putting a big tick on their report cards and beaming a big smile for a comparatively innocuous offence that even from my one eyed position could not possibly have affected play. the 'Poo clear but HB regain possession and surprise suprise another penalty is whistled up after an indiscretion by 'Poo hooker Rob Forman on Israel Dagg and Kirkpatrick's kicking mirrors the level of skill shown by his fellow backs with a miss and fortunately the halftime whistle is blown.
The next 10 minutes look like they will be making up the highlights reel so awful has the display been so far.

[Higgins]

Duluth said:

I haven't been watching properly but I notice Cruden has 3 from 3 attepmts at goal

Any difficult shots in amongst that?

Nothing that could be labelled difficult, especially for someone who is expected to be entrusted with the All Blacks goal kicking next time out. The have mostly been mid to long range so were certainly not gimmees

[Higgins]

Phew 3 minutes into the second half and I was almost getting withdrawal symptons going for so long with out seeing a penalty but Referee Mr McBride puts an end to that and after initially being botched by Fotuali'i who takes a quick one but forgets to tap the ball an eternity is taken before the Magpies decide to take the three points. From directly ion front and 8 metres out Kirkpatrick is successful.

The HB forwards are playing a little better but oh the backs (of both teams it must be said) look anything but paid professional players.

[Higgins]

Things are improving slightly for HB supporters with the ball having been successfully passed along the backline twice in the last few minutes even if on the first occasion it took Karl Lowe to be wide on the right hand wing to make a lovely break that almost score him dot down. For the resultant maul Israel Dagg is passed the ball in a position where he should have scored but somehow his hand gets interfered with and he drops it, it is just one of those days.

[Higgins]

60 minutes have now passed and somehow the Magpies manage to score a try courtesy of Zac Guildford in the right hand corner after a bit of a scramble. Kirkpatrick does not trouble the touch judges standing behind the posts and the score balloons out to 'Poo 09 HB 14

[Higgins]

Yes I can now report on having found a highlight, the 'Poo No 12 is wearing what look like an unmatching pair of socks!!!!. That sort of sums up what an uninspiring match it has been. About the only redeeming feature has been the performance of the visiting forward pack (apart from the lineouts - 3 not straights now) who are a notch above the home sides 8, 12 loooong minutes remain.

[skaapa]

Higgins said:

60 minutes have now passed and somehow the Magpies manage to score a try courtesy of Zac Guildford in the right hand corner after a bit of a scramble. Kirkpatrick does not trouble the touch judges standing behind the posts and the score balloons out to 'Poo 09 HB 14

Higgins, I think you will find the try scorer was Gillies Kaka not Zac

[Higgins]

A nice break from near his own line by Aaron Cruden that goes some 60 metres is ruined when the unmatched socks player muffs his catch of the pass from Cruden when it looked like he could score. Israel Dagg nails him anyway to remove all danger.

Edited by Higgins, 29 August 2010 - 04:14 PM.

[Higgins]

skaapa said:

Higgins, I think you will find the try scorer was Gillies Kaka not Zac

Well done Skaapa, you have spotted my test to see if anyone else is watching the match! Just kidding, accidentally cut and pasted the wrong name. Is it as awful in your eyes as it is in mine Skaapa, really disappointing eh?

Daniel Kirkpatrick kicks another penalty to make it 'Poo 09 HB 17 and there are only about 5 minutes left, nowhere near long enough for the 'Poo to score enough points to get ahead so ordinary they are performing.

Edited by Higgins, 29 August 2010 - 04:15 PM.

[skaapa]

They are a hard team to support aren't they? Disappointing, their inability to finish off and score tries, but we will take the much needed points and hope that they can inject something into next weeks game against Otago. Great to see Kaka score.Ive been pushing his case for a while now and given the limited opportunities he had out there today, I think he did enough to stay there next week. I'd love to see him at fullback once Dagg goes back to the ABs.

[Higgins]

Frustrating is about how it could be described. We have been spoilt over the last few years of turning up to see how much we would win by rather than turning up hoping we would win. Getting beaten is never easy at the best of times but if your team at least displays a reasonable level of skill and organised teamwork it is a bit easier to stomach. We have not seen as much as we have come to expect so far this season and worryingly after 5 games there has not really been that big of an improvement amongst our backline. The number of tries sits at a miniscule number, the lowest in the competition I am led to believe.

Edited by Higgins, 29 August 2010 - 04:35 PM.

[Higgins]

The most pleasing blast of the whistle signals full time and sees Hawkes Bay comfortably retain the Kel Tremain Trophy in a match the never really reached anything other that what could best be described as ordinary heights. To prolong the agony the last play of the match took about 4 minutes (2 minutes after the hooter) before the inevitable error occurred and at last a tick can be put in the win column in the HB records.
The 17+ margin needed for the HB Tipping Team was never really threatened and the way things are going in that competition we could be taken down by North Harbour, perish the thought there!

Full Time
The 'Poo 09 Hawkes Bay 17

[Higgins]

Here are the first of the match reports

http://www.nzherald....69724&ref=nzhbt

http://www.stuff.co....eason-continues

and a sideline interest article
http://www.hawkesbay...-proud/3920679/

Edited by Higgins, 30 August 2010 - 02:32 PM.

[skaapa]

http://www.hawkesbay...d-kaka/3920629/

Here is the Hawkes Bay Today version of the game. Slightly different to the Manawatu Standard.

Interesting fact quoted that Manawatu haven't beaten HB in 14 years!

[BOPRED]

Hard work for the boys last week but a wins a win. Good luck this week