From: hamish@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: rec.sport.rugby
Subject: Re: The NZ final - a P.S.
Date: 5 Oct 92 12:58:56 +1300
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

In article <BvMBqF.3tq@cantua.canterbury.ac.nz>, wft@math.canterbury.ac.nz (Bill Taylor) writes:
> Three P.S.s ,  actually.
> 
> (i) If, as Andy Bond and our local paper both say, Richard Loe did deliberately
> gouge Otago fullback Cooper's eye, (which may result in permanently impaired
> vision according to the paper), then I heartily join in the Australian baying
> for blood that has followed him.    I didn't see it myself, but I hope the
> video evidence is checked carefully; and if it turns out that he was guilty,
> then I suggest a lifetime ban would be appropriate, (if not criminal prosecution).
>

It wasn't apparent during the game, and the news only showed a slow motion
closeup of the gouging as his fingers were in the eyes. You couldn't see
whether Loe knew he was gouging (In which case kick him in the bollucks and say
night night loe), or whether he just grabbed a handful for something to bind
with and wasn't aware that it happened to be Coopers eyes he had hold of. You'd
need to see the whole thing in order to make a decision, and unfortunately TVNZ
didn't seem all that keen to provide a full picture of it. 
 
> (ii) As some earlier poster said, one of the most amusing things about this
> game was the moaning by the two Auckland teams about how they didn't want to
> play the final on Sunday !   (Would have interfered with their overseas earnings).
> Distinctly premature; and certainly worth a snigger or two!
>

hah! The dorklander bit the bit one there. A pity they didn't have the guts to
put the shield up on the day. Else we would have a new holder.
 
> North Harbour were unlucky; but Auckland can (in retrospect) largely blame
> their home crowd who miserably failed to turn out to inspire their team.
> 
> (iii) Mention should be made of referee Dave Bishop's excellent handling of
> final. We all like to moan at refs, me as much as anyone; so when one
> does a good job it should be well applauded.    He kept fiery spirits under
> control; he kept the game flowing; and I don't think he made a single wrong
> decision all day, which alone is an incredible feat, seemingly.
>

Brilliant reffing. He seemed to play just the right amount of advantage, and to
blow up the stuff when it looked to be getting dangerous.
 
> Three cheers for the ref, who must surely have earned his place ahead of
> Clive Norling and Sandy MacNeil as the world's top.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>               Bill Taylor              wft@math.canterbury.ac.nz
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>    Committee - a group of men who individually do nothing,
>                but collectively decide that nothing can be done.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  
-- 
==============================================================================
|  Hamish Marson   <h.marson@waikato.ac.nz>                             OS/2 |
|  Programmer (n/5), School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences           | 
|  University of Waikato,                                                    |
|  Hamilton, New Zealand.                                                    |
|Disclaimer:  Anything said in this message is the personal opinion of the   |
|             finger hitting the keyboard & doesn't represent my employers   |
|             opinion in any way. (ie we probably don't agree)               |
==============================================================================
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