Author: Soutie

Kings v Cheetahs

My programme

After a much needed weekend off last week we were back at the stadium supporting our mighty Kings.

This weekend it was the turn off the Bloemfontein based Cheetahs to visit the shores of our bay. The Cheetahs are a strong outfit, with four or five Springboks on the team but their real strength lies in their squad.

They assembled a team of young players perhaps five years ago, these guys have played together, toured together, know each other well with the result that they are a really good team, no superstars but a good team.

They’re also presently fourth on the super rugby log, no mean feat that, there’s some tough opposition out there but after a stunning tour of Australia and New Zealand (3 wins in 4 matches) they’ve maintained the momentum and are having a good, no a great season.

I also think that our South African coaches study the opposition a lot more closely, the Cheetahs were able to nullify a lot of the tactics that I’ve been watching from my Kings this season (line out drives, rolling mauls, our tearaway loose trio, etc.)

So, how’d we do?

Continue reading “Kings v Cheetahs”

June photos – Tranquility

Click picture for a larger view

She wouldn’t sleep as a baby, boy did she keep me up at nights. I would always do the late night / early morning stint and you can imagine my joy when she dozed off.

Peace and quiet, tranquility, a moments rest, call it what you will but this picture on the left perhaps depicts my feelings best.

It’s hard to believe that she’s now in her twenties, was it really that long ago?

And that’s what I want from you, cherished colleagues, a picture that perhaps describes tranquility in your life.

It can be a special place in the garden, a room, a chair, a holiday destination or as in my case a ‘special occasion.’ (even a ‘rare moment’ perhaps ;))

As usual I’ll accept multiple entries from participants.

Closing date Saturday June 22nd, any time zone, anywhere in the world, I’ll do the judging on Sunday, have fun and good luck!

Traffic update

A friend of ours who works for a tow truck company decided to fill his time waiting for an accident to happen by sending his pals updates on traffic and other important traffic info. By other important info I mean the really important stuff, you know? Like where the speed cameras and  road blocks are.

He also considers himself a bit of a comedian, here’s a sample from recent broadcasts… Continue reading “Traffic update”

Kings v Highlanders

My programme

What a difference a week makes!

After last week’s humiliation at the hands of those Aussie Warratahs my Kings hosted the Highlanders this weekend, a team packed with All Blacks and boosted with the confidence of a victory just last week against the Sharks,  but more about that later.

Remember my “Super season tickets” post back in February? The one where I explained that a local bar had 2 ‘royalty package’ season tickets to hand out as prizes for all home game? Guess who won them this week? Ha ha I can hear you all laughing, of course it was me!

Now as you know,  I go to the games anyway, we always have great seats but these? These are special, plus the facilities which were still being constructed during my first visit (bar, restaurant, lounge, flat screen tv’s, big screen etc.) are now all in place. It really is a magnificent (royal (?)) way to watch rugby, or any sport for that matter.

So how did my Kings do this week?

Most here aren’t going to believe me but I assure you that I’m telling the truth we WON!

Not just any old win but a win with a bonus point for four tries. Continue reading “Kings v Highlanders”

Kings v Waratahs

My programme

Have I mentioned how much I’m enjoying this year’s Super Rugby season?

As mentioned elsewhere, it was the turn of the New South Wales Waratahs to visit our shores. Our Kings have had a good record against Australian teams this year, in fact all 15 of our log points have come against Aussie opposition. (Wins against the Perth based Western Force and Melbourne Rebels and of course that last gasp draw against The ACT Brumbies)

Hopes were high, well mine were, for all of 30 seconds that is, for that is just how long it took for this Aussie outfit to score their first try!

After that? Believe it or not it got worse, they ran in try after try and for all of the first half consistently had more points on the board than minutes passed! Men against boys I kept thinking, it was really really difficult to watch. As a life long Eastern Province supporter (a team who’ve never won any top flight competition) I’m sort of used to losing, this wasn’t just ‘losing’ this was ‘annihilation!’

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, our new darling of E.P.rugby Sergeal Petersen got us out of our seats with a brilliant try just before half time, but I’m afraid that was all my Kings had to offer.

Continue reading “Kings v Waratahs”