Adventures in Aussie Touch Footie Part 6 - Reffing the New Zealand "Touch Blacks"

 
New Zealand are in town preparing for the "Trans Tasman" international series against Australia next weekend, 24-26 April, which coincides with ANZAC Day. There will be a men's, women's and mixed series - best of 3 games in each division - and I am looking forward to seeing them so very much.

Last night I had the pleasure of refereeing New Zealand women's side as they took on Australian national/regional NTL side, the Sydney Rebels. There was also a men's and a mixed game. Australian national squads are selected from NTL regional sides so these games were always going to be of the highest quality between the #2 Test playing nation in the world vs. some of the very best players from the #1 nation who are knocking on the door to represent their country.

Every one of these women was super fast, strong and skilful, which of course led to a hatful of touchdowns scored. The result wasn't kept to my knowledge but NZ outscored Rebels by a factor of about two to one.

This was arguably (at times definitely) the hardest, most intense run I've ever had on a Touch field - but was both happy and very satisfied that I could hold my own and (I felt) maintain my intensity and concentration levels throughout the game.

My first taste of refereeing the highest quality of Touch on the planet: I loved every minute and I want more.
 

Susan Boyle

 
I'm generally cynical of reality TV, but I do have time for Britain's Got Talent because it occasionally produces moments like this which charm the heart.

Susan Boyle appeared on the show's TV auditions the other night. As the judges did their initial chit-chat with her, I thought back to Paul Potts' audition from a few years ago, which still gives me chills when I watch, hoping I'd be about to witness something similar...

This clip tells a great story on many levels. Judging books by covers - go on own up it you did too and fair play to Amanda Holden for admitting it - Susan was written off within seconds of walking on stage and even mocked during her introduction, but by the time she'd sung about 4 bars she commanded a standing ovation and it was difficult to hear her over the cheering audience. Watch the judges' faces too while Simon's comments provide a real LOL moment in what was (I suspect) a heavily veiled apology / admission he too was wrong.

Goodonya Susan, congratulations and good luck to you.

Addendum:
Here's a great news digest from the BBC on the worldwide coverage this has seen in just a few days.
 

Small gestures

 
Today I observed an elderly lady exiting the main building here at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, where I've been working the last week or so. She was on one of those underarm crutches while her other hand/arm balanced a full tray of something and held both a shopping bag and her handbag.

"Excuse me Ma'am, can I help you get where you're going or are you ok?"

She looked up and smiled.

"What a delightful young man you are. Thank you but I'm an independent, stubborn old woman and I'll be just fine."

I'm reminded just how gratifying a simple, polite gesture can be.
 

The paradox of stem cells

 
Better dead than alive? Ingenious title - deliciously ironic.

Reference:
Hunyor S. The Paradox of Stem Cells – Better Dead than Alive. Royal North Shore Hospital Cardiology “The Beat Goes On” Conference, 28th November 2008.

 

The Touch Blacks are coming AND I'LL GET TO REF!!

 
I am so excited right now I'm ready to burst.

There's gonna be a "Trans Tasman" Test Series here in Australia over Anzac weekend (Apr. 24-26) when New Zealand and Australia will contest full international Test matches in Men's, Women's and Mixed divisions. Touch Footie doesn't get any better than that and I've already been looking forward to seeing it for weeks.

Well, for me personally, it actually just did get better. NZ will play warm-up games earlier in the week here against Sydney Rebels, my NTL/regional affiliate. And I've just been nominated [by Rebels] to the referee panel for these games!

Is it a full international? Okay, no. But I'm gonna be in the middle of the #2 Test playing nation in the world vs. a National/Regional Rep. side from the #1 Test playing nation... probably the highest and most challenging level of Touch I will referee in my fledgling career so I will TAKE IT GRACIOUSLY, thank you very much.

So much for resting after NTL... it's back to training for me! Bring it on :-)