Rewind: The Old Otagolds

This is an extract from a column that originally appeared in the Otago Daily Times on November 6, 2010.

Sorry to bang on about North Otago for another week but you will just have to indulge me.

There are elements of the fantastic in the story of how a pipsqueak province transformed from perennial doormat into the minor champion of New Zealand's two premier sports, rugby and cricket.
   
You see, North Otago - or more precisely, Oamaru - was considered a bit of a downtrodden spot a decade or more ago, a place that provided travellers no compelling reason to stop, and a town that demanded you drive at 50kmh for an unreasonably long stretch.
   
It was less multicultural than Invercargill, and it had more bogans than Gore.  

Getting a KFC was a big deal. Civic pride was limited to how we performed in Top Town, or the number of times we got mentioned on the news. They closed our port and they tried to close our hospital. We lost our only movie theatre, and our entertainment options consisted of a pie at the 24-hour Shell or parking up in the trees in the middle of town.
   
But how times have changed.
   
To be at picturesque Whitestone Contracting Stadium last Saturday, when North Otago claimed the Meads Cup by thumping Wanganui, was to be a part of a special celebration in the heartland.
   
Sport is not the only thing, of course, that has helped reinvent Oamaru and North Otago. Victorian celebrations, heritage buildings, irrigation, vineyards, penguins, a great movie complex, new pubs and restaurants, and the planned Alps to Ocean cycleway make a compelling package.  

But to think of a North Otago rugby team that spent decades in the wilderness holding the Meads Cup, at the same time as the North Otago cricket team has the Hawke Cup for the first time, really is fairytale stuff.

You know that thing people do when they compare sporting teams and ponder who would be selected if they were combined?

Just for fun, let's do that with the worst top-division team (Otago) and the best lower-division team (North Otago). Otago names first.

Fullback: Ben Smith v Billy Guyton. Guyton is a rising talent and a lovely runner of the ball. But this is an easy choice because Smith may be the best player in the Highlanders franchise. Edge: OTAGO.

Wing: Joe Hill and Fetu'u Vainikolo v Greg Zampach and Lemi Masoe. Two of these wingers can run, catch and score tries. The others are called Joe and Fetu'u. Edge: NORTH OTAGO.

Centre: Paula Kinikinilau v Faaitu Tuamoheloa. Kinikinilau has only just made his debut and, for all we know, is the next Robbie Fruean. Tuamoheloa is a top performer right now. Edge: NORTH OTAGO.

Second five: Josh Tatupu v Luke Herden. One of the close calls, but Herden makes more line breaks and gets bonus points for his leadership. Edge: NORTH OTAGO.

First five: Chris Noakes v Ben Patston. Noakes has promised some but delivered little - and we have been waiting four years. Patston might be English but he is an exciting all-round player. Edge: NORTH OTAGO.

Halfback: Sean Romans v Kilifi Fangupo. A no-contest. Fangupo is electric; "Sparky" Romans shorted out this year. Edge: NORTH OTAGO.

No 8: Paul Grant v Tevita Fifita. One of these two reminds you what a good No 8 should do. Edge: NORTH OTAGO.

Flanker: Alando Soakai and Brad Cameron v Ross Hay and Josh Collier. Four good grafters, but Soakai's class is the trump card. Edge: OTAGO.

Lock: Hayden Triggs and Hoani Matenga v Eric Duff and Dave Simpson. Matenga isn't really a lock and Triggs went missing. Plus Simpson helped win the Hawke Cup as well. Edge: NORTH OTAGO.

Prop: Sam Hibbard and Halani Aulika v Palenapa Mafi and Ralph Darling. The Old Golds front row is under-rated but Aulika was one of the few bright spots of the Otago season. Edge: OTAGO.

Hooker: Pete Mirrielees v Stu Philpott. One got suspended for two weeks for a booze-related incident. One carried his daughter on his shoulders after the final game. Edge: NORTH OTAGO.

So there you go. My combined team would have 10 North Otago players and just five Otago players, which tells you either how high North Otago has risen, or how low Otago has fallen