9 weeks crossed off, into the final month.

To say it’s flown by would be a serious understatement. It feels like only last week we were lifting the Metro Cup in Energia Park. It’s been a busy last couple of weeks as we’ve begun the next, and final, section of our season.

Keeping up with tradition, there are a few messages regarding the club that I wanted to pass on.

Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Gerry Ussher on being named Club President for our 102nd season. Gerry and the Ussher family personify everything that is great about the club, and I couldn’t think of a better man for the job. Pon and I wish you the very best of luck in what will be a massive season for the club. A special mention also goes to Cian Buckley and Oisin Kelly on being named Captains of our 1st XV and 2nd XV.

Secondly, seeing Oscar Reilly, Darragh Kelly and Noel Hehir named as the coaching group for our U20s squad this coming season was fantastic. Having been coached first-hand by Oscar and Darragh, I can confidently say our U20s are in for an outstanding year. Oscar’s link with St Fintan’s SCT also strengthens the already excellent relationship between the school and the club. Restarting the Suttonians U20s system was vital in creating a clear pathway for the talented players coming through the club’s age grades, and I’m confident it will help guide many from youth rugby into the senior ranks.

The long-awaited debut for Pon on New Zealand soil finally came against Burnside RFC in our first game of the next section of our season. I was named to start in the second row, with Pon making an impact off the bench. With Linwood 1st XV having an off week, a few players came down to play for the Colts. With such an impressive line-up, we proved too strong for Burnside, running out convincing 66–12 winners. It was a pleasure to finally share the pitch with Pon after a long wait. He did what he always does, providing big carries and a strong set-piece as soon as he came on.

During the following week, we were told that our opposition for the coming weekend, Lincoln University, had pulled out of the fixture, giving us the four points. Luckily, our coaching staff managed to organise a friendly against country club Waihora RFC on Thursday night under the lights.

Game day came around on what turned out to be a freezing weekday evening. The team was named, Pon and I were both in the starting XV, and the focus was well and truly on. Dogfight is the only word I could use to describe the game. It was a cold, sloppy night, with both packs doing everything they could to bully the other.

After my third intercept of the game, I finally dotted down for my second try in green and black early in the second half, giving us a two-score lead. As bodies grew tired, the determination only increased, resulting in a gruelling defensive effort to hold onto the win. With five minutes left on the clock, Pon won a vital scrum in front of our own posts, giving us the foothold we needed for the final stand. When we held the ball up over the line on the last play of the game, we came away with a hard-fought 24–17 victory. I think that was definitely the most physically demanding and satisfying game of rugby I've played since coming over here.

With the university holidays now in place for the next two weeks, our main competition is on hold until 11th July. To keep our momentum going, we entered a mini tournament, very similar to the Easter Monday U20s tournament in Belfast that Suttonians have competed in for the past number of years. Three teams, two 40-minute games, and fast-paced, physical rugby back in Waihora against the home side and New Brighton.

The weekend came around and the focus was on maintaining the momentum we'd built from our previous two victories. Waihora were up first, and we certainly kept things rolling with a convincing 42–0 win in the opening 40-minute game. Unfortunately, New Brighton got the better of us once again as we found ourselves chasing the game from start to finish, eventually falling to a 34–5 defeat.

We kept our heads high as we headed back on the team bus to Tane Norton Park to watch our 1st XV produce a dominant display against High School Old Boys in their final league game of the season. The result leaves them sitting top of the table heading into finals rugby, with hopes of bringing home the title.

I'm currently writing this from Christchurch Airport before I hop on my flight to Wellington. I'll be spending the week visiting family, most of whom I haven't seen in many years. Pon will be back in Linwood keeping the graft going ahead of a possible opposed training session against a very well-known national side. More on that in my next entry.

It's pretty surreal to think that once I'm back from Wellington, I'll only have three more weeks before the trip is over.

Time really does fly when you're having fun.

Until next time.

Bulls baby,

Simon