Retail: $2
www.gbweekly.co.nz
Friday 3 July 2020
Rugby returns to Collingwood
Crouch, touch, pause, engage: Nelson in the blue jerseys go head to head with Collingwood’s black and gold. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
Collingwood Rugby Club finally started its 2020 campaign last weekend - around three months late. The lengthy postponement, a result of the Covid lockdown, had heightened the anticipation of players and spectators for Saturday’s Division 2 clash with old rivals Nelson. Those who came to Collingwood’s home ground were not disappointed as they enjoyed an intense, noisy, and at times, spirited affair. Collingwood back Liam Miller had the honour of kicking off – and was straight into the action along with both sets of players who were soon going full tilt at each other. In the early exchanges, Nelson appeared to have the edge in the scrum, but the home side were more effective in the lineout. The blue jerseys of Nelson were quick to pile on the pressure, but the Black and Gold held firm before turning defence into attack with a penetrating move involving Miller and Ryan McKay which yielded the first try of the game for Steve Strange aka “Captain Stiffy”. Miller
Thinking about taking your business online?
We can help. 021 035 6233 www.xplusy.co.nz +
X+Y
sent the conversion through the sticks giving his side a 7-0 lead with around 15 minutes on the clock. For the remainder of the first half, Collingwood endured long periods without the ball, but although Nelson kept pushing and probing, they were unable to break through a resolute home defence and headed to the sheds looking somewhat frustrated. As the match got underway for the second half, the visitors were clearly fired up, showing a renewed intensity, and upping the volume and frequency of their “Go to war” battle cry. But it was proving to be all noise as Collingwood snuffed out wave after wave of attacks. After soaking up the pressure for several minutes, McKay relieved it in the best possible way by driving forward and passing the ball out to his skipper who took it over the try line. Miller duly converted and left the visitors staring at a 14-point deficit. A few minutes later things got worse for the Blues when Collingwood registered a further five-pointer. Soon afterwards, Nelson’s
frustration, which had been slowly simmering, boiled over into a minor scuffle but it ended almost as soon as it had begun, and both teams went back to fighting for the ball. The incident seemed to energise the visitors who mounted a prolonged and desperate attack, pushing for a score, recycling the ball and making slow but steady progress. But as the Nelson forwards closed in on the try line, Collingwood threw everything in their way in an impressive display of last-ditch defending. When the home side were awarded a penalty for an infringement, the body language and faces of the opposition told the story; they could sense defeat; their energy was spent, and their fighting spirit all but crushed. After Collingwood cleared the danger with a kick to touch, opposition cries of “Go to war” were half-hearted at best; now the downcast army in blue looked like they just wanted to go home. But there was plenty of rugby left to play, and in the final few minutes of the match,... Continued on page 9
Local Board consultation JO RICHARDS
The long-awaited public consultation on the option for a Golden Bay local board begins next week. If established, a local board would replace the existing community board. Prior to the coronavirus crisis, the Local Government Commission (LGC) planned to begin its consultation process in April, with completion of submissions and hearings expected by June, and a final decision made by September. The Commission has now incorporated its amended timetable into a revised investigation process document, and is due to publish an official consultation document on its website on Monday 6 July. On the same day, copies of the consultation document will be delivered to mailboxes across the Tasman District. The consultation period runs from Monday 6 July until Friday 14 August and will include public meetings to be held in Takaka and Collingwood on 16 and 17 July. After the Commission has discharged its subsequent obligations under Schedule 3 of the Local Government Act 2002, a final decision can be expected later in the year. It’s already been a lengthy process; in 2018, based on a petition by 700 locals, the Golden Bay Local Board Working Group (GBLBWG) applied to the LGC to investigate replacing the community board with a local board. The community board currently makes recommendations on local issues, but all decisions are made regionally by Tasman District Council. A local board, however, would allow all non-regulatory, and some regulatory local issues, to be decided by locals elected from the Golden Bay community. Last year, the LGC deemed GBLBWG’s application warranted investigation, and subsequently specified how it would carry it out in its investigation process document. The soon-to-be-released consultation document will outline the option of a Golden Bay local board in some detail, setting out what a local board is compared to a community board, what it could do, and the likely cost implications. The consultation is part of the LGC’s commitment to ensure the community is actively involved through submissions and hearings, as well as providing the opportunity for other key stakeholders from the district, including council and iwi, to have an input. For further information, visit: www. gblocalboard.co.nz or www.lgc.govt.nz.
INSURANCE JOB?
W e
We can replace or repair your windscreen Phone 525 7274, 027 622 2228 96a Commercial Street Takaka
Creations
Are you considering selling?? See our advert inside for more info Billy Kerrisk Limited Licenced (REAA 2008)
027 608 5606 - billy.kerrisk@raywhite.com
Inside:
Destination Collingwood
THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 3 JULY 2020
Book review
y
Art project
Rugby photos
ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
1