July 20, 2009
by Peter Leitch
with 19 comments
Here's to Harry: My mate Harry Newbury is off to Aussie to watch the mighty Vodafone Warriors play the Bulldogs next month courtesy of the club and the good people at Air NZ.
The Rooster Roast on Sunday at the Ellerslie Events Centre got off to a slow start and I have to confess that to say I was worried would be an understatement. I was worried it was going to be a flop. We had only pre-sold about 50 tickets but when a crowd started to roll-up at 1pm I thought it was a really good sign and by the time the boys took the field at 4pm there were hundreds in. And what a game they got to see.
I thought I was in trouble when Wade McKinnon shot off down the field because there was so much shouting and jumping about the place was rocking. But that was nothing compared to when my little mate Stacey "Subway" Jones picked up a ball right on full time and shot off as fast as his little legs would carry him to dot down in the corner.
I was concerned I was going to have to go home and tell my lovely wife Janice we were up for a new roof for the Ellerslie Events Centre because the crowd had raised it with their cheering and hollering. There were high-fives going on all over the place and little dances of celebration breaking out. I tell you I will never tire of seeing the golden grin of winger Manu Vatuvei and I got a double dose when he scored twice. The second try was magnificent, catching a ball low down that he had no right to take and going over.
Stacey was absolutely formidable, taking over the kicking duties when young Kevin Locke was ruled out, although I had to laugh because the Herald didn't even mention him in the match report. I know they have it in for him but that is just ridiculous and shows you how good the standard of league reporting on that paper really is.
What really impressed me was the way the boys stuck to it because we had to come from behind for almost the whole game. The Roosters crossed twice in the first 15 minutes before Simon Mannering got over and Stacey goaled, but the Roosters went 12 up again when Mitchell Pearce scored and Craig Fitzgibbon converted before Patrick Ah Van scored to take us to what Jason Costigan likes to call "oranges" at 10-18 down.
We had a load of former Vodafone Warriors there and Logan Swann, Monty Betham, Hitro Okosene, Henry Fa'afili, Clinton Toopi, Joe Vagana, Cliff Beverley and Tea Ropati told us we had to hang in there and that we would recover in the second half. It's fair to say one or two in the crowd weren't convinced but when we scored straight after the break you cold tell the crowd knew something good was in the offing. It certainly was for big Joe - the tinny bugger even won a singed Warriors jersey in the raffle.
It was Manu's special catch that got us back to 16-18 but for me it was the defence when the Roosters had five repeat sets that sealed it. When we kept them out I was always confident they would come home and they did not let me down. Manu made it 53 tries but even though Stacey cold not convert, we led for the first time at 20-18.
The old Butcher's heart sped up a bit when the Roosters stormed back with a six-pointer to lead 24-20 but step up Wade McKinnon. He was quicker down the field to score his amazing try than a bludger at a barbecue on his way to the free sausages. Stacey knocked over the kick and we had a 26-24 lead with just minutes to go and the Rooster Roast was crowing.
Then when a desperate Shaun Kenny-Dowall tried a miracle ball for the Roosters with time up Stacey picked it up gratefully and the rest is history. That made it 77 tries in 254 games for the Vodafone Warriors, but as I said, still not enough to make the Herald.
The only man happier than me was Harry Newbury, who has had a season ticket since game-day one! Harry has been saving desperately to get to Australia for his nephew's 21st because money is a bit tight when you are retired. But now he won't have to because he won the Air NZ tickets for two across the ditch, with category one tickets for the Bulldogs game courtesy of the club. He is one lucky man and it could not have gone to a better or more deserving bloke.
See, I told you keeping the faith would pay off in the end!
Famous Five: Clinton Toopi, Hitro Okosene, Henry Fa’afili, Monty Betham and Tea Ropati joined us for the Rooster Roast.