Highlanders v Sharks
Super 12
'House of Pain', Dunedin
12 March 2004

Match Report

To see the photos click here.

alrighty

The first game at Carisbrook in 2004 for the Highlanders was never going to be an easy one. But gee, it did not need to be such a tease and at the end, disappointment.

Returning from a two match jaunt to South Africa, travel and jet-lag was against the Southern Men as opposed to the Sharks who only travelled from Canberra the previous week having lost narrowly to the Brumbies.

Five tries to four says the Sharks deserved to win, but not in the last minute with a couple of dubious referee decisions (especially that high tackle) please. So it was 36-35 to the Sharks with Craig Davidson's scramble on the 80 minute mark giving the Yarpies the victory. For the Highlanders Craig Newby was the standout whilst Brett Russell from fullback scored an outstanding individual try for the Sharks.

alrighty

 

speights mate

Prize winners

First try scorer - Joke Toorenburg and Brett Sorensen had the Otago number 8 Grant Webb and one a collection of lovely prizes from Speights and AJ Hackett.

Melenie Dey won the AJ Hackett Bungy jump for her 'Bottom Bus' face painting. Nice imagination, nice application. We liked Joke's 'Web' and the two cats who were awesome too. Great work alround.

Pick the score went to Will Simonds and he had the joy of drinking 3 yards of ale and receiving a Gardies t-shirt. Our only true blue Sharks supporter - Lindsay Grant from Durban came close but not close enough. I think she was happy enough with the result. Enough said.

A new feature of the trip was we were allowed on the pitch after the game. This meant some great photos of players, group shots under the posts and getting some autographs from the players too. Nice touch Otago Rugby.

Despite the loss, town and in particular the Gardies was going off after the match. A few sore heads returning to Queenstown the next day or for those continuing on Bottom Bus on the next few days.

Let us hope better luck for the next Dunedin games on March 20 (Cats), April 2 (Chiefs) and April 24 (Hurricanes). See you there.

And don't forget the New Zealand Backpackers Festival - June 9 to 12, 2004 featuring the England v All Blacks Rugby International in Dunedin.