Eric’s Blog

After two months of training with the Development squad, it was finally time for the two trials, and of course to find out who would be good enough to make the team!

We had to weigh in and register before our first trial, as for this team you needed to be under 55kgs to make it in. luckily enough I was, weighing in at 53.7kgs. We headed into the grand stand to get our positions, jerseys and geared up. I was to play prop being one of the biggest in the team and playing it last year for Gwynne Shield. The trails would be four fifteen minute quarters long.

For the first trail I was in the maroon team. The game was fierce and hard but with a moment slacking off the yellow team went in front with a sneaky try from Nikau. Our defense was like this letting them get another two sneaky tries. Taking the final score to 15-0

Tuesday came around quickly and it was time for the next trial, this time the trial would be at night and of course under lights. We were split up again and this time I was on the yellow team. We took the field eager for some game time. Within the first few minutes of the our team was in front, with a quick try from Mitchell. We  weren’t in front for long though, we slacked off for a split second and before we knew it they were tied up and in front. The score line stayed like this for the whole game. With the final score. 24-19. We were dissapointed but not to much, I mean it was only a trial. We handed the gear back in an dispursed all hoping we had done enough to make the team.

5.6.08 I got a call last night and I made the team.

25^th December or Christmas, the best day of the year. Everyone exchanges gifts and there are smiles and family all round Relatives come from everywhere. From Te Awamutu to Dunedin. All coming to a little town called Te Aroha. To the house where every Christmas has been held for the last decade in my family. The house of many great memories and people.

 The smell of freshly cooked ham and chicken are the first thing you smell as you walk into the house, followed by the short sharp smell of freshly cut summer grass filling the air. I quickly take a right turn into the living room. Only to see presents engulfing the whole room, coloured with every type of wrapping paper imaginable. I manage to find a place to sit amongst the family, laughter and of course the presents!

 Anxiety builds up as the presents are dispersed around the room to their new owners. I glance away for moment, only to turn back around and find I have two presents sitting patiently in my lap waiting for me to open them.

 My fingers and hands quickly get to work ripping, tearing and pulling off the paper, to reveal batteries. This didn’t make sense why would some one give me batteries. But before I could properly think about my body had already made a move on my next present. The last piece of paper is removed to show a pair of walkie talkies. It suddenly made sense to me now; the batteries were for the walkie talkies. Before I could get the walkie talkies case off. My next present had arrived. My fingers warm and craving more destruction of wrapping paper, started all most immediately, tearing the paper off in a mere matter of split seconds. To reveal… a fly wheel. I quickly rip it out of its cardboard and have a quick test drive. It veers out of control and heads for the door. In a sudden thump, against the door, it stopped.

Dodging all the wrapping paper, flying everywhere, I get up to retrieve the wheel when all of a sudden, I see a square; (coloured in wrapping paper) appear right in front of my face. I quickly take grasp of it, and then retrieve my fly wheel. I find one of the little empty spaces left on the floor. Before I can sit, I begin ripping paper off. Ripping, ripping and ripping to reveal… more wrapping paper. I take one look at the new layer of wrapping paper and set to work on it. “Rip” I pull off the last piece of paper only to reveal a third layer! I’m mad now my fingers hit the paper in a blur taking off all traces of paper. Finally the last piece of paper is off and I can see what was hidden inside. A crazy frog C.D. I know who this is from. I look over to mum and dad.

“Thank you mum and Dad”

25^th December or Christmas, the best day of the year. Everyone exchanges gifts and there are smiles and family all round Relatives come from everywhere. From Te Awamutu to Dunedin. All coming to a little town called Te Aroha. To the house where every Christmas has been held for the last decade in my family. The house of many great memories and people. The smell of freshly cooked ham and chicken are the first thing you smell as you walk into the house, followed by the short sharp smell of freshly cut summer grass filling the air. I quickly take a right turn into the living room. Only to see presents engulfing the whole room, coloured with every type of wrapping paper imaginable. I manage to find a place to sit amongst the family, laughter and of course the presents! Anxiety builds up as the presents are dispersed around the room to their new owners. I glance away for moment, only to turn back around and find I have two presents sitting patiently in my lap waiting for me to open them. My fingers and hands quickly get to work ripping, tearing and pulling off the paper, to reveal batteries. This didn’t make sense why would some one give me batteries. But before I could properly think about my body had already made a move on my next present. The last piece of paper is removed to show a pair of walkie talkies. It suddenly made sense to me now; the batteries were for the walkie talkies. Before I could get the walkie talkies case off. My next present had arrived. My fingers warm and craving more destruction of wrapping paper, started all most immediately, tearing the paper off in a mere matter of split seconds. To reveal… a fly wheel. I quickly rip it out of its cardboard and have a quick test drive. It veers out of control and heads for the door. In a sudden thump, against the door, it stopped. Dodging all the wrapping paper, flying everywhere, I get up to retrieve the wheel when all of a sudden, I see a square; (coloured in wrapping paper) appear right in front of my face. I quickly take grasp of it, and then retrieve my fly wheel. I find one of the little empty spaces left on the floor. Before I can sit, I begin ripping paper off. Ripping, ripping and ripping to reveal… more wrapping paper. I take one look at the new layer of wrapping paper and set to work on it. “Rip” I pull off the last piece of paper only to reveal a third layer! I’m mad now my fingers hit the paper in a blur taking off all traces of paper. Finally the last piece of paper is off and I can see what was hidden inside. A crazy frog C.D. I know who this is from. I look over to mum and dad.“Thank you mum and Dad”