Can I take the opportunity before I describe the debarcle at Albany so say at least I support Counties a province with some ticker albeit with a team with a collective vacuum between the ears when it comes to tackling or the laws around the breakdown.

Where it went wrong ; -

Noone on the North Shore goes to the footy, Harbour supporters were out numbered by a factor of 8 to 1. Those F#$king cowbells were a pain in the date and my advise to future unions who have the pleasure of a challange from the animal pokers from the Tron is to have the government declare a Foot and Mouth quarantine so they are stuck where they belong. The only team more irrating are the Naki, however wedged between the King Country (never really understood this) and Palmerston North one can begin, and only begin, as there is so much wrong with it all, to understand.

There is nowhere to park up there - plenty of carparks for members (although the are none - see above). Harbour folk are not walkers. To mention it either am I but I had been mellowed by the previous four hours at the Northcote Tavern and a couple of cones of the way up.

The Harbour forward pack must have been watching the World Cup qualifying matches of teams such as Uruguay, Spain and Hong Kong as a complete lack of passion was displayed at the breakdown (Nick Willams aside) .Most teams with a VCR (no DVD technology south of the Bombays) know that his game consists of picking the ball up from the base of the scrum and running at the loose forwards - pretty good tactic against most teams but not against Holah, Bates (the Master), and Messam (this kid is seriously good - just a little small and prone to standing out in the centres in the last 20 minutes. This does not endear him apparantly to Mr Hansen.). The dislocated fibula aside it was brave but stupid to persist with this line of attack although it did prevent the ball from entering Mr Pisi's hands

Tusi Pisi - gave a Burton-esque performance. Anyway why is a guy with a name like this playing on the Shore? He would be more at home in the Bartercard Cup - Otara Scorpians, Mangere Seahawks, and my personal favourite the Manurewa Dolphins. Or alternatively he could play for Counties although it marginal who is the worse him or Tana Vili Boot parties are banned in the carpark at Albany stadium, although ours was low key (I needed a little lie down it the back of Todd's car) and no abuse was hurled at the hordes of scum wearing Yellow, Red and Black (the same colours as Germany.....................) I can confirm that responsible drinking was taking place and that asparagus rolls and Chinese chicken wings had been prepared, this fell on the deaf airs of the Security people and the North Harbour Rugby Union. Fortunately after being asked to pack up three times the Police were called and the gentlemen who were sent to disperse us we placated with said 'sparry rolls and chicken wings and allowed us to continue on our merry way. This policy does not foster the correct atmosphere and encourage crowds to the ground. This was made clear to the good people at Prime news who aired our grievances on the Saturday night news.

Regards

Tony