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OCTOBER 24, 2024
Goalposts on our side By Andy Campbell
Even the goalposts played their part in the King Country Rams’ defeat of West Coast in the Lochore Cup final on Sunday. In the conversion of a King Country try the ball tipped the flag at the top of the outside post, and the conversion was given. Then at full time with the scores levelled at 34 all, West Coast’s kick bounced off the post as full time was given. This led to 10 minutes each way extra time and KCR taking the cup 46-44. King Country Rugby Union’s referee education officer Jamie Bell said the conversion was given because the ball came inside the post after it struck the flag on top. “If the upright goes up to the
sky and it hits the upright and bounces back in, that’s okay,” he said. “That’s probably why it was allowed, because it touched the flag up the top before it came back in. That’s what won it on the day. “That one at the end of full time when West Coast hit the upright, that bounced out. Bounced back into the field of play - so that’s how it goes some times. It happens to anyone.” West Coast came to Te Kuiti having won their semifinal against Horowhenua in extra time. This time, the bounce of the ball – or off the post- went against them. It was a full on final played out to 100 minutes before the final result was called in extra time. The final delivered all the drama expected, and a constantly changing score.
With two reasonably matched teams the tally climbed in a tit for tat fashion to 34-all at fulltime. The final 20 minutes was also busy with both sides scoring. For Glynn Meads, son of legendary King Country All Black Colin, the final was the first time he had arrived at a match via helicopter. Glynn and Brian Lochore’s grandson Lochie McNabb delivered the Lochore Cup – named after the Wairarapa All Black captain and coach - to the ground. Glynn’s sister Rhonda Wilcox was present for the Meads Cup final in Te Aroha where Thames Valley beat Mid Canterbury 37-29. Glynn who is also the KCRFU board deputy chair, described the final as a real nail biter. It had
Thou shalt not pass: King Country stand firm against one of many Coast attacks – but both defences were regularly breached on the day.
everyone on the edge of their seats for 100 minutes. “It really appreciated the efforts of all of the players, the whole lot of them even West Coast. Everyone had admiration for the way they played for 100 minutes. “The West Coast forwards were fairly active and doing a lot of work which we took a bit to get on top of. You have got to do the job in the middle of the field before you spin
it wide. So that was the biggest task really, doing all that grafting up the middle of the field. “They disrupted us quite a bit lineouts.” But the Rams hung in and persisted, Meads said. “They were determined to win and got there in the end. When you are a good side I guess you find the way to win when it’s tough.” •More on the game – see Page 10
Cup goes east By Andy Campbell
The Lochore Cup which the King Country Rams wrested from West Coast on Sunday, was in Taupo this week. Rams captain Liam Rowlands took it back to Taupo, King Country Rugby union general manager Keiran Hema said. “Our captain Liam he got hold of it yesterday afternoon and he still has it in his hands now,” he said on Monday. The Lochore Cup and all the team’s other trophies were star exhibits this week at a Rippa Rugby tournament in Taupo. “We’re expecting to have around 400 kids, what better way to display it?” Hema said. “We’ve got schools from all over. We’ll have those (trophies) there for the day, and it will be a good opportunity to showcase that, and give even a level of understanding what it is about. “It is a good opportunity to
The Lochore Cup
explain to our kids and to our schools who they are named after, and what they have done for rugby and just start with things early.” The cup would be brought back to Te Kūiti in coming weeks for school visits and photo opportunities, Hema said. The Lochore Cup is named after famed Wairarapa Bush and All Blacks player and coach Brian Lochore. It was first awarded during the Heartland Championship in 2006.
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