Horror-canes - The Fever Union thread
They got a bit of a thrashing at home to Hawkes Bay today
Hopefully they improve (in round 2 )
Fixed.
They got a bit of a thrashing at home to Hawkes Bay today
Hopefully they improve (in round 2 )
Should be good. Any ideas on best area to sit for atmosphere?
Should be good. Any ideas on best area to sit for atmosphere?
It's at Albany isn't it?? You only really sit in the main stand, I don't think they open up the rest of the ground because their is rarely enough spectator's to warrant it. I went to the Northland Vs North Harbour game last year and their wasn't much of an atmosphere at all, most of the noise was created by Northland fan's and that was right in the middle of our 'Save the Taniwha' campaign.
It will be an interesting game, Harbour have a reasonable looking team on paper, but then they did last year as well and look how that turned out!! Canterbury have a younger looking squad but should have too much class for Harbour...
On a side note, I'm really hoping the Taniwha stay up although tbh I think I want them all to stay up lol... I think it should be solely performance based but that isn't going to happen..
On a side note, I'm really hoping the Taniwha stay up although tbh I think I want them all to stay up lol... I think it should be solely performance based but that isn't going to happen..
Didn't want to put a dampener on it for you, but I have found Harbour rugby fans prefer to sit in their seats and read their programmes or check their phone or something.
If you want banter friendly sometimes but more often unfriendly, go to a Waikato/Chiefs game, they can be nutters.
On your sidenote, looking at the criteria that has been set down Northland have a very good chance of staying up. It all depends on how the NZRU interprets the data, last year's effort was a joke. Looking at the criteria, a good season this year like I'm execting, should push Northland up the criteria a bit, at the moment they are in around the 8,9,10,11 area with a few other provinces.
Read what I wrote. I said have a good chance of staying up, not more than likely staying up.
Check the criteria, then do some research. Actually I will help you out a little bit...
The criteria involve population (10 per cent), community rugby (25 per cent), playing history (20 per cent), player development (15 per cent) and financial position and performance (30 per cent).
2007 Total Players (in order)
Auckland 19,406
Canterbury 13,747
Wellington 10,701
Waikato 9,151
North Harbour 8,918
Bay of Plenty 8,692
Otago 6,829
Counties Manukau 6,416
Northland 6,321
Hawke�s Bay 6,243
Tasman 4,702
Southland 4,621
Manawatu 4,532
Taranaki 4,033
Their you go, that's community rugby, not much between the 4 middle unions that are in bold. Now that is a quarter of the criteria and it puts Northland at 8th. Financial position and performance which is worth 30%, Northland have made a loss in one season (2007/2008 financial year) but have made profits every other year. Most other Unions have recorded losses, including some of the big 5, and some of the unions have lost over one million dollars in one year!! So would be very surprised if they don't make the top 10 for that criteria.
General population Northland have a very similar population to HB 5,000 less I think. A better population than Southland, Taranaki, Tasman and Manawatu I think...That's another 10%. Player development is on the improve, but Northland will rank in the bottom 4 for that unfortunately. A good season this year will see Northland break into the top 10 for playing history (currently sitting 10th)
I wouldn't mind betting you are the victim of the lazy media who don't do any research and are fooled by the 3 pathetic years where Northland didn't win a game in 04-06. And just because the NZRU went on an unjust crusade to kick Northland out last year with a smear campaign, doesn't make them right, evidenced by their embarassing backdown. Northland are not guarenteed to survive, but their chances are better than what the greater public presumes!!
No Northland will stay up, I was saying that. Your chances however are greatly increased by having Wayne Peters on the board. If Wayne wasn't on the board your chances would be significantly reduced. You can meet all the criteria you like but it will be round the board table the decision is made and having a figure like Peters there can only do good things.
Oh and Stephen Brett clearly went to the Ma'a Nonu school of "passing" (where you actually run at the defender, get isolated and turn the ball over..)
No Northland will stay up, I was saying that. Your chances however are greatly increased by having Wayne Peters on the board. If Wayne wasn't on the board your chances would be significantly reduced. You can meet all the criteria you like but it will be round the board table the decision is made and having a figure like Peters there can only do good things.
Sorry I misunderstood what you were saying. I'm not Wayne Peters biggest fan but he was the type of guy we needed in charge last season. The NRU seem to have made great strides since he left though.
I don't think I could really accurately guess who the 4th team is that goes down, I think Tasman, Manawatu and C-M are definite's but their are a number of provinces that will be sweating on how it goes...
The Northland - BoP game didn't finish how I thought it would at half time!! Our lineout was a shambles and BoP took full advantage, Delany in particular really impressed. His kicking in the 2nd half kept Northland out of the game. It was a cool ground to watch from, BoP got in behind their team and it was good to see a decent Cambridge Blue contingent their, no doubt fuelled by numerous Lion Red's haha. I like the fact they let spectator's go meet the players on the field afterwards as well.
Gangsta! It looks like the atmosphere was a lot better than what you would normally expect at Albany, I only saw some of the 2nd half but their appeared to be a decent crowd and making a bit of noise by their standards.
Gangsta! It looks like the atmosphere was a lot better than what you would normally expect at Albany, I only saw some of the 2nd half but their appeared to be a decent crowd and making a bit of noise by their standards.
There was a group of what I think the announcer said were school boys who were actually making a bit of noise, good to hear. Was sitting near some Harbour fans who I had a bit of a conversation with not so much banter but still gave it too each other at tries (and forward passes and muppet stupid turnovers (Brett...) and even more muppet stupid penalties ).
Good night, even if we did play with the intelligence of the CBHS U14 C's.
If only Wellingtons forwards would get out of the backline and do the hard yards we might have put up a better fight, but it was more of the same.
The table is still close so their is still a bit of room to move. Hopefully the upsets continue.
How much will it cost Hawkes Bay rugby if they miss out on a home semi because of a ruling that should have been avoided...
Bad weekend for officials, the Australian refereeing the Waikato Vs Northland game was so bad he didn't even know the rules and 3 of the 5 tries scored in the game shouldn't have been allowed (including Northland's before anyone accuses me of being biased).