22/05/2024
The Squad having come over from Christchurch via Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook with a bungy jump stop spent 3 days getting to know Queenstown with some great excursions Inc jet boating, Milford sound cruise and Gondolas/ luges. On Fri afternoon they made the short walk from the digs to the rosebowl of Wakatipo RFC in its beautiful setting under the mountainside. Tour President Frater leading the support was sporting a new tattoo and a Joe Marler haircut, now know as ‘‘Mini Marler’. Also great to see Alnwick old boys J Sutheran and J Kelly both now residing locally in NZ pull out the boots. The game kicked off at lightening pace again as the home side did not want these cheeky poms getting a 2nd result in New Zealand. Wakatipu got early momentum breaking defence 5-0. Alnwick rallied as the pack built some phases. Davies, Elliot, M Gray, and Ellis doing the hard yards. Ord fed Spark who found gap and streaked away only to clatter into the full back, the weeks excesses limiting the sidestep to finish. Courty found space Up wing after good hands to Cummings and raced home first try 7-5. The Alnwick pack were taking sting out of home side now, Inglis to Comber to Smith. Wakatipo turned over at breakdown and backline was away but a great interception by Renner sew ¾ length run to try line 7-10. Again the pack worked up field Ord Spark Courty Cuthbert away upfield. The big lads picked and rolled and D Smith went over for try 7-17. Wakatipu got back in game as man mountain President and Otago vet ‘Big Show’ hit the field with J Kelly in support but the big shots from Burn Ellis and M Gray kept firing. Oliver came on and got straight into a driving maul. Then Davies ran another good line off the half backs to slice defence for try 7-22 at HT. Sutherland and Weddler running the line in his lion suit. Wakatipo rallied again with some big carrys. Alnwick defence was solid as the pack forced a spillage MGray pounced and hacked up field twice for Courty to streak in for the finish 7-29. Spark retired with a stinger to see J Sutheran back in the blue an Gold immediately launching a cannon boot downfield. Renner stayed sharp for the counter and picked up another loose pass for 2nd try 7-34. Ord made another nice box kick. Gaines, Tulip and D,Gray got Involved and J Kelly swapping sides. Tulip had even brought a fan club as his NZ surrogate mothers were in full voice. Cuthbert found gap the pack recycled and Inglis stepped away to finish 7-41. The restart saw Inglis find a gap again as Wakatipu tired, to finish this tour top scorer 7-48. Middlmist got a run and made 2 good hits and hassled his opposition. A final rally by the home side saw them work right field and score after good hands 12-48. The Ref blew FT and the Alnwick lads celebrated their 2nd win in NZ. Thanks to the ref the WAKATIPU boys who put on a great spread and aftermatch speeches and presentations. M,Gray was voted Man of match as the singing and the boat racing began and both sides retired into Queenstown to party on. The next day the Tour party moved to Dunedin for some RnR but managed to squeeze in a Court session chaired by the Judge of no appeal!! As the team prepared for the long haul home. Without doubt a very special tour, with new rugby friendships forged both near an far. A huge thank you to all who made it possible especially the committee, our Sponsors and home support. The last question remains…. Just where do we go next…!!
