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Sports correspondent & historian with |
Life can be like a bag of mixed lollies - you never know what you are going to get when you dip your hand into the bag.
All week, I couldn’t wait for last Saturday when the three oval ball teams I follow with a rare passion were all scheduled to play must-win games.
First up, the Bay of Plenty Steamers were to square off with Hawkes Bay at the Tauranga Domain, in Bunnings NPC competition.
There is no bigger enemy than the men from the ‘Other Bay’ who wear their black and white strip with the same pride, that ‘our’ team dons their blue and gold uniform.
When the regulation 80 minutes was completed the scoreboard told the tale of the two sides locked together on 21 points apiece.
The NPC rulebook then dictated that the match would be awarded to the team that scored first in the golden point extra time.
To the Steamers’ fans disappointment, a Hawke’s Bay dropkick in the gale force wind staggered between the posts, to give the visitors a 24-21 victory.
Next up, the New Zealand Warriors were to engage with the Penrith Panthers in a winner take all NRL playoff encounter at Mt Smart Stadium.
There was plenty of hope of a Warriors home town win at half time with ‘our’ team trailing 6-2.
However, the club that had won the last four NRL Premierships knew a little about digging deep into their reserves, going on to produce a 24-8 win.
While the supporting acts had lost, attention turned to the main event, where the All Blacks were chasing back to back victories against the Springboks in Wellington.
What happened could only be described as a nightmare, unfolded in the capital city, as the South African World Cup champions thrashed their oldest rivals, in a record-breaking 33-point victory.
Like the Warriors, the All Blacks were right in the game at halftime when they led 10-7.
The home side had no answers in the second spell with the Boks racing away to a 43-10 win.
I awoke next morning, to the realisation that the three teams that I wear their supporters gear with pride, had all failed to post a W against their name the previous day.
However, all was not lost, as a vital NRL playoff match was to take place in the Australian capital city in the early Sunday evening.
To give me an interest in matches on television I always try and pick the outcome of games I watch.
Minor premiers in the Canberra Raiders, were at home to the Brisbane Broncos, in a game where the winner had the next week off in the race to the 2025 NRL title race.
My selection was the Green Machine to beat the Cane Toads. The match was locked up at the end of regulation time at 28 points apiece.
Two 10 minute spells of extra time saw no change on the scoreboard.
Golden point football remained, and when Canberra crossed for a touchdown, a change of fortune seemed to have arrived.
While Canberra jubilation was taking place, the officials looked at a replay of the touchdown and declared it a no-try.
Brisbane then came chanced their arm in defiance and were rewarded with a field goal for a one point victory, in the 94th minute of match.
Sports fans are optimists and next week will bring better results?