February sapper mag:Layout 1 21/1/09 16:19 Page 47
line, a try was eventually scored in a team effort which finished with the second row
diving across the line in the right corner. With seconds left on the clock there only
remained a conversion attempt before the final whistle. We had beaten the New
Zealand Army in New Zealand 8-10 and the spectators had witnessed a very tense
and exciting game. The New Zealand Army hosted us fantastically and friendships
formed in 2005 when they toured the UK were rekindled in the mess and later when
the party hit town.
Our next destination was Rotorua. Rotorua is a hot-bed for geothermal activity
and is known for the distinctive smell of sulphur, plumes of steam, bubbling mud and
hissing geysers. We sampled the local spa and scenery and visited the Maori village
to learn more about their culture and traditions. The village incorporated the National
Arts and Crafts Centre where young Maori men can train to become traditional car-
penters. Other original methods of making the traditional dress and cooking are also
taught and maintained in an effort to keep this interesting culture alive.
Our final destination was Auckland where we would play our last game against the
New Zealand Navy before flying home. Both the Navy and the Army uphold Maori
traditions and the Navy welcomed us with an original greeting ceremony before feed-
ing us biscuits (surely tactics) upon our arrival the day before the game.
The Navy has only recently formed a Women’s Team and this was the beginning
of the season in New Zealand. This put us in a good position at the end of our season
and we had high hopes for the game. As expected for Kiwi’s, the girls hit us hard and
it was again a very physical game. Unfortunately, we failed to play to our strengths
and got sucked into their game. At the end of the first half, the score was 0-20 and it
did not change until the end of the game. After much silly dancing in the club house,
we again ended up in town and forged some new friendships with the Kiwi girls.
The last few days were mostly spent shopping,
eating and bungee jumping off Auckland bridge
(twice for some people). On the last night we had
an end of tour dinner in a beautiful restaurant over-
looking the harbour. Everyone was sad to leave the
next day but also eagerly awaiting the upcoming
Rugby League season. However, everyone was
er
bound in different directions and likely not to meet
again for a while.
New Zealand – we travelled from
Christchurch on the South Island up to
Auckland on the North Island via
Wellington, Palmerston North and Rotorua.
The Maori people of the village performed
some of their traditions to us.
White water rafting on the way to Rotorua.
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