Playoff Rugby!

Friday, May 22, 2009

The Waikato Chiefs finished the regular season in 2nd place, so they hosted one of the two Super 14 Semi-Final games tonight. We all set off for Hamilton as soon as Mark got home from work; fortunately, Ro napped on the way. It had rained hard before the game, so our seats were all wet, but the showers stayed away during the match. A couple of parachutists swooped into the stadium before the game, including the mascot, Little Chief. Then the fireworks shot off and Ro really started getting excited. We were sitting in the kids section again, but much closer to the field, which kept Ro more engaged in the game.

Ro seriously contemplates jumping in the mud puddle

Chiefs players warming up before the game; see their breath?

Little Chief dropping into Waikato Stadium

We bought Ro a Chiefs flag and he waved it with enthusiasm, joining in the chants and booing the opposition's mascot. He even made up a few chants of his own ("Yay cheerleaders!"). Sherry caught one of the freebies that they were tossing into the crowd, an inflatable Kotiate (a type of Maori war club) which Ro enjoyed banging against his flag.

Ro excitedly wielding his Kotiate

Ro chatting up some painted birds at halftime

In attendance was another sold-out crowd of 25K, and the visiting Hurricanes (the 3rd seed) who we beat a fortnight ago had plenty of fans who made the trip up from Wellington, so there were always cheers regardless of what was happening on the field. Tonight was a good deal colder than last time, but Sherry came prepared with her scarf and new sheepskin boots (sort of a NZ version of UGGs). Even so, she needed to spend the first fifteen minutes of the second half in line for coffee. The game was a tight one. The Hurricanes drew first blood, but the Chiefs scored a try shortly afterwards to knot the score 7-7 at halftime. In the second half, Chiefs captain (and All Black star) Mils Muliaina scored on a breakaway to put us ahead for good. The Hurricanes scored a penalty kick (3 points) to heighten the drama, but a solid goal line stand by the Chiefs in pea-soup fog at the end of the game sealed the 14-10 win. Ro was ecstatic at the end-of-game fireworks, and the crowd was rocking. Should the 4th seed Crusaders (the defending champs) upset the top-seeded Bulls (the '07 champs) in South Africa tomorrow night, the final will be played next week here in Hamilton! Otherwise, the Chiefs will have to travel to Pretoria to win their first-ever Super 14 title. Sherry actually enjoyed the game; she says she liked it better than American football, but wants to wait for a warm summer day before she attends her next pro rugby game, so she's rooting for the Bulls tomorrow! She forgot how much of a difference beer and youthful exuberance made in her tolerance of those chilly college football games at ECU...lol.

Can you spot the players?

"Fireworks, mama! Fireworks!"