I'm just settling down into my seat the Wellington v Taranaki Air New
Zealand Cup quarter final last Saturday when the nice man on the public
address system says: "today's referee is Bryce Lawrence". I think nothing
of it, but my eight-year-old son promptly announces that "Bryce Lawrence is
hopeless". Now the lad is an observant little bleeder but at the same time
boys his age are not noted for the rationality of their views so I just
ignore it.

Of course he turns out to be right: the man is a shocker! During a short
period in the second half three Wellington attacks are stopped by an early
tackle on Ross Filipo, which is ignored, Thomas Waldrom being tackled around
the neck, which is ignored, and a dropped pass which goes directly backwards
but is called a knock on. Shortly afterwards Mr Lawrence stops a Taranaki
break-out in its tracks by inventing a forward pass that never happened.

The whole match was marred by similarly mystifying decisions.

Incidentally, Taranaki played with better structure than Wellington and were
more impressive than I expected. The excellent control Wellington exhibited
earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last three weeks and
it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on current form.

Andrew

>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:23:49 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:

> The excellent control Wellington
> exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
> three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
> current form.
>
> Andrew

A bit presumptuous of you there, my good man. I certainly hope you're not
implying that the final will be Wgtn v Canterbury. All the smart money is
picking a Hawke's Bay v Southland final to be played in glorious
conditions at McLean Park with a hard fought but fair victory going to
the mighty Bay. You know it's true.

C'mon the Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lodi

"Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message news:gcug66$t33$1@aioe.org...
>>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:23:49 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
>
>> The excellent control Wellington
>> exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
>> three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
>> current form.
>>
>> Andrew
>
> A bit presumptuous of you there, my good man. I certainly hope you're not
> implying that the final will be Wgtn v Canterbury. All the smart money is
> picking a Hawke's Bay v Southland final to be played in glorious
> conditions at McLean Park with a hard fought but fair victory going to
> the mighty Bay. You know it's true.
>
> C'mon the Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't find it difficult to imagine Southland beating Wellington, but in my
wildest dreams Hawke's Bay doesn't beat Canterbury no matter how much I
might wish for such a result.

Highly enjoyable match yesterday - bet you were bricking yourself in the
last ten minutes.

Andrew

Lodi wrote:
>> On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:23:49 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
>
>> The excellent control Wellington
>> exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
>> three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
>> current form.
>>
>> Andrew
>
> A bit presumptuous of you there, my good man. I certainly hope you're not
> implying that the final will be Wgtn v Canterbury. All the smart money is
> picking a Hawke's Bay v Southland final to be played in glorious
> conditions at McLean Park with a hard fought but fair victory going to
> the mighty Bay. You know it's true.
>
> C'mon the Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Lodi

Hawkes Bay have no chance. Wish they could beat the Cuntabs, but not
enough class and not enough experience in final games. Cunterbury by 20
to 30 points.

Southland are more likely to beat Wellington who are starting to crumble
at the business part of the season - no surprises there.

I expect Cunterbury to win the thing, which is no surprise. Only
Auckland have a better history and they're not around this year to stop
the dirty ferals. Sometimes the evil empire wins I guess.

>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:20:27 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:

>> "Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message news:gcug66$t33$1@aioe.org...
>>>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:23:49 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
>>
>>> The excellent control Wellington
>>> exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
>>> three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
>>> current form.
>>>
>>> Andrew
>>
>> A bit presumptuous of you there, my good man. I certainly hope you're
>> not implying that the final will be Wgtn v Canterbury. All the smart
>> money is picking a Hawke's Bay v Southland final to be played in
>> glorious conditions at McLean Park with a hard fought but fair victory
>> going to the mighty Bay. You know it's true.
>>
>> C'mon the Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> I don't find it difficult to imagine Southland beating Wellington, but
> in my wildest dreams Hawke's Bay doesn't beat Canterbury no matter how
> much I might wish for such a result.
>
> Highly enjoyable match yesterday - bet you were bricking yourself in the
> last ten minutes.
>
> Andrew

Oddly enough no. Finishing third on the table was enough for me. The
quarter-final win was a bonus. If Waikato had managed to come from 28
points down and win it would have meant they were the better team and you
can't really moan when the better team wins. Springboks in Dunedin etc

Honestly can't see us beating the ferals but as far as I'm concerned this
season has been another success. You forget that a few seasons ago we
were being beaten by North Otago and Nelson Bays.

Regards
Lodi

"Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message news:gcuu3q$ca6$1@aioe.org...
>>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:20:27 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
>
>>> "Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message news:gcug66$t33$1@aioe.org...
>>>>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:23:49 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
>>>
>>>> The excellent control Wellington
>>>> exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
>>>> three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
>>>> current form.
>>>>
>>>> Andrew
>>>
>>> A bit presumptuous of you there, my good man. I certainly hope you're
>>> not implying that the final will be Wgtn v Canterbury. All the smart
>>> money is picking a Hawke's Bay v Southland final to be played in
>>> glorious conditions at McLean Park with a hard fought but fair victory
>>> going to the mighty Bay. You know it's true.
>>>
>>> C'mon the Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>> I don't find it difficult to imagine Southland beating Wellington, but
>> in my wildest dreams Hawke's Bay doesn't beat Canterbury no matter how
>> much I might wish for such a result.
>>
>> Highly enjoyable match yesterday - bet you were bricking yourself in the
>> last ten minutes.
>>
>> Andrew
>
> Oddly enough no. Finishing third on the table was enough for me. The
> quarter-final win was a bonus. If Waikato had managed to come from 28
> points down and win it would have meant they were the better team and you
> can't really moan when the better team wins. Springboks in Dunedin etc
>
> Honestly can't see us beating the ferals but as far as I'm concerned this
> season has been another success. You forget that a few seasons ago we
> were being beaten by North Otago and Nelson Bays.

Hawke's Bay is a great success story. It's just a shame we've had to put up
with so many sub-standard match-ups in the last three years (and set to
continue) in order to discover they were the one team who deserved to be
promoted.

Andrew

"Andrew Dunford" <adunford@artifax.net> wrote in message
news:6lfpq6Fc41pkU1@mid.individual.net...
> I'm just settling down into my seat the Wellington v Taranaki Air New
> Zealand Cup quarter final last Saturday when the nice man on the public
> address system says: "today's referee is Bryce Lawrence". I think nothing
> of it, but my eight-year-old son promptly announces that "Bryce Lawrence
> is hopeless". Now the lad is an observant little bleeder but at the same
> time boys his age are not noted for the rationality of their views so I
> just ignore it.
>
> Of course he turns out to be right: the man is a shocker! During a short
> period in the second half three Wellington attacks are stopped by an early
> tackle on Ross Filipo, which is ignored, Thomas Waldrom being tackled
> around the neck, which is ignored, and a dropped pass which goes directly
> backwards but is called a knock on. Shortly afterwards Mr Lawrence stops
> a Taranaki break-out in its tracks by inventing a forward pass that never
> happened.
>
> The whole match was marred by similarly mystifying decisions.
>
I think I'cve said before on here that Lawrence is the worst examle of
nepotism in NZ - not just rugby either. He is appalling and I feel sorry for
any teams he refs.

> Incidentally, Taranaki played with better structure than Wellington and
> were more impressive than I expected. The excellent control Wellington
> exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
> three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
> current form.
>
Difficult to see them beating Southland even ....

Cheers, aMtt

"Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message news:gcuu3q$ca6$1@aioe.org...
> >On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:20:27 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
>
>>> "Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message news:gcug66$t33$1@aioe.org...
>>>>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:23:49 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
>>>
>>>> The excellent control Wellington
>>>> exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
>>>> three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
>>>> current form.
>>>>
>>>> Andrew
>>>
>>> A bit presumptuous of you there, my good man. I certainly hope you're
>>> not implying that the final will be Wgtn v Canterbury. All the smart
>>> money is picking a Hawke's Bay v Southland final to be played in
>>> glorious conditions at McLean Park with a hard fought but fair victory
>>> going to the mighty Bay. You know it's true.
>>>
>>> C'mon the Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>> I don't find it difficult to imagine Southland beating Wellington, but
>> in my wildest dreams Hawke's Bay doesn't beat Canterbury no matter how
>> much I might wish for such a result.
>>
>> Highly enjoyable match yesterday - bet you were bricking yourself in the
>> last ten minutes.
>>
>> Andrew
>
> Oddly enough no. Finishing third on the table was enough for me. The
> quarter-final win was a bonus. If Waikato had managed to come from 28
> points down and win it would have meant they were the better team and you
> can't really moan when the better team wins. Springboks in Dunedin etc
>
And fair play to waikato - they haven't kicked up a stink about the last try
Waikato scored - that pass was almost as far forward as that pass
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

cheers, aMtt.

>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:29:06 +1300, Neilsons wrote:

>> "Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message news:gcuu3q$ca6$1@aioe.org...

>>
>> Oddly enough no. Finishing third on the table was enough for me. The
>> quarter-final win was a bonus. If Waikato had managed to come from 28
>> points down and win it would have meant they were the better team and
>> you can't really moan when the better team wins. Springboks in Dunedin
>> etc
>>
> And fair play to waikato - they haven't kicked up a stink about the last
> try Waikato scored - that pass was almost as far forward as that pass
> zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
>
> cheers, aMtt.

With my black and white eye patch firmly in place I actually thought the
pass was okay until the Waikato player got a hand to it and deflected it
backwards (so it looked forwards from a HB point of view).

I'm pretty sure I'm right cos Tony "The Idiot" Johnson went all stupid on
the ref. And he's always wrong....but it matters not cos it's all history.

Regards
Lodi

On Oct 13, 3:41 am, Lodi <l...@ccr.com> wrote:
> >On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:20:27 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
> >> "Lodi" <l...@ccr.com> wrote in messagenews:gcug66$t33$1@aioe.org...
> >>>On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:23:49 +1300, Andrew Dunford wrote:
>
> >>> The excellent control Wellington
> >>> exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
> >>> three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
> >>> current form.
>
> >>> Andrew
>
> >> A bit presumptuous of you there, my good man. I certainly hope you're
> >> not implying that the final will be Wgtn v Canterbury. All the smart
> >> money is picking a Hawke's Bay v Southland final to be played in
> >> glorious conditions at McLean Park with a hard fought but fair victory
> >> going to the mighty Bay. You know it's true.
>
> >> C'mon the Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> > I don't find it difficult to imagine Southland beating Wellington, but
> > in my wildest dreams Hawke's Bay doesn't beat Canterbury no matter how
> > much I might wish for such a result.
>
> > Highly enjoyable match yesterday - bet you were bricking yourself in the
> > last ten minutes.
>
> > Andrew
>
> Oddly enough no. Finishing third on the table was enough for me. The
> quarter-final win was a bonus. If Waikato had managed to come from 28
> points down and win it would have meant they were the better team and you
> can't really moan when the better team wins. Springboks in Dunedin etc
>
> Honestly can't see us beating the ferals but as far as I'm concerned this
> season has been another success. You forget that a few seasons ago we
> were being beaten by North Otago and Nelson Bays.
>
> Regards
> Lodi

Ferals? Ferals?

You are falling for the Bobs jedi mind tricks, miguel...

Keegan...

On Oct 13, 11:27 pm, "Neilsons" <matt.neil...@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
> "Andrew Dunford" <adunf...@artifax.net> wrote in message
>
> news:6lfpq6Fc41pkU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> > I'm just settling down into my seat the Wellington v Taranaki Air New
> > Zealand Cup quarter final last Saturday when the nice man on the public
> > address system says: "today's referee is Bryce Lawrence". I think nothing
> > of it, but my eight-year-old son promptly announces that "Bryce Lawrence
> > is hopeless". Now the lad is an observant little bleeder but at the same
> > time boys his age are not noted for the rationality of their views so I
> > just ignore it.
>
> > Of course he turns out to be right: the man is a shocker! During a short
> > period in the second half three Wellington attacks are stopped by an early
> > tackle on Ross Filipo, which is ignored, Thomas Waldrom being tackled
> > around the neck, which is ignored, and a dropped pass which goes directly
> > backwards but is called a knock on. Shortly afterwards Mr Lawrence stops
> > a Taranaki break-out in its tracks by inventing a forward pass that never
> > happened.
>
> > The whole match was marred by similarly mystifying decisions.
>
> I think I'cve said before on here that Lawrence is the worst examle of
> nepotism in NZ - not just rugby either. He is appalling and I feel sorry for
> any teams he refs.
>
> > Incidentally, Taranaki played with better structure than Wellington and
> > were more impressive than I expected. The excellent control Wellington
> > exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
> > three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
> > current form.
>
> Difficult to see them beating Southland even ....
>
Lord Shiney lives in hope, if not in expectation...

The good news (for Lord Shiney) is that Southland will not have to
overcome Lawrence, as he appears to have been allocated to the Canty-
HB game. That can only be good news for HB as well, insofar as it
means the outcome becomes considerably more random.

"lord shineything" <shineything@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cc72b030-0a7d-451e-8e38-2f25b61faf14@p10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Oct 13, 11:27 pm, "Neilsons" <matt.neil...@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
>> "Andrew Dunford" <adunf...@artifax.net> wrote in message
>>
>> news:6lfpq6Fc41pkU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> > I'm just settling down into my seat the Wellington v Taranaki Air New
>> > Zealand Cup quarter final last Saturday when the nice man on the public
>> > address system says: "today's referee is Bryce Lawrence". I think
>> > nothing
>> > of it, but my eight-year-old son promptly announces that "Bryce
>> > Lawrence
>> > is hopeless". Now the lad is an observant little bleeder but at the
>> > same
>> > time boys his age are not noted for the rationality of their views so I
>> > just ignore it.
>>
>> > Of course he turns out to be right: the man is a shocker! During a
>> > short
>> > period in the second half three Wellington attacks are stopped by an
>> > early
>> > tackle on Ross Filipo, which is ignored, Thomas Waldrom being tackled
>> > around the neck, which is ignored, and a dropped pass which goes
>> > directly
>> > backwards but is called a knock on. Shortly afterwards Mr Lawrence
>> > stops
>> > a Taranaki break-out in its tracks by inventing a forward pass that
>> > never
>> > happened.
>>
>> > The whole match was marred by similarly mystifying decisions.
>>
>> I think I'cve said before on here that Lawrence is the worst examle of
>> nepotism in NZ - not just rugby either. He is appalling and I feel sorry
>> for
>> any teams he refs.
>>
>> > Incidentally, Taranaki played with better structure than Wellington and
>> > were more impressive than I expected. The excellent control Wellington
>> > exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
>> > three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
>> > current form.
>>
>> Difficult to see them beating Southland even ....
>>
> Lord Shiney lives in hope, if not in expectation...
>
> The good news (for Lord Shiney) is that Southland will not have to
> overcome Lawrence, as he appears to have been allocated to the Canty-
> HB game. That can only be good news for HB as well, insofar as it
> means the outcome becomes considerably more random.

But the bad news for Southland is that it looks like Ma'a Nonu will be
shunted out to the wing, which means the Wellington midfield is likely to
function better than it did against Taranaki.

Southland showed in the match between the two teams in Invercargill that it
is perfectly capable of competing with Wellington. Their one major failing
that day was a failure to put away numerous chances.

Andrew

On Oct 15, 2:45 pm, "Andrew Dunford" <adunf...@artifax.net> wrote:
> "lord shineything" <shineyth...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:cc72b030-0a7d-451e-8e38-2f25b61faf14@p10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > On Oct 13, 11:27 pm, "Neilsons" <matt.neil...@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
> >> "Andrew Dunford" <adunf...@artifax.net> wrote in message
>
> >>news:6lfpq6Fc41pkU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> >> > I'm just settling down into my seat the Wellington v Taranaki Air New
> >> > Zealand Cup quarter final last Saturday when the nice man on the public
> >> > address system says: "today's referee is Bryce Lawrence". I think
> >> > nothing
> >> > of it, but my eight-year-old son promptly announces that "Bryce
> >> > Lawrence
> >> > is hopeless". Now the lad is an observant little bleeder but at the
> >> > same
> >> > time boys his age are not noted for the rationality of their views so I
> >> > just ignore it.
>
> >> > Of course he turns out to be right: the man is a shocker! During a
> >> > short
> >> > period in the second half three Wellington attacks are stopped by an
> >> > early
> >> > tackle on Ross Filipo, which is ignored, Thomas Waldrom being tackled
> >> > around the neck, which is ignored, and a dropped pass which goes
> >> > directly
> >> > backwards but is called a knock on. Shortly afterwards Mr Lawrence
> >> > stops
> >> > a Taranaki break-out in its tracks by inventing a forward pass that
> >> > never
> >> > happened.
>
> >> > The whole match was marred by similarly mystifying decisions.
>
> >> I think I'cve said before on here that Lawrence is the worst examle of
> >> nepotism in NZ - not just rugby either. He is appalling and I feel sorry
> >> for
> >> any teams he refs.
>
> >> > Incidentally, Taranaki played with better structure than Wellington and
> >> > were more impressive than I expected. The excellent control Wellington
> >> > exhibited earlier in the season seems to have disappeared in the last
> >> > three weeks and it is difficult to imagine them beating Canterbury on
> >> > current form.
>
> >> Difficult to see them beating Southland even ....
>
> > Lord Shiney lives in hope, if not in expectation...
>
> > The good news (for Lord Shiney) is that Southland will not have to
> > overcome Lawrence, as he appears to have been allocated to the Canty-
> > HB game. That can only be good news for HB as well, insofar as it
> > means the outcome becomes considerably more random.
>
> But the bad news for Southland is that it looks like Ma'a Nonu will be
> shunted out to the wing, which means the Wellington midfield is likely to
> function better than it did against Taranaki.
>
> Southland showed in the match between the two teams in Invercargill that it
> is perfectly capable of competing with Wellington. Their one major failing
> that day was a failure to put away numerous chances.
>
T'was ever thus. This year's shield challenge being a prime exhibit.