Ian's second jaunt to Linwood ,New Zealand on 23-7-99.This time he actually got to play!

The Diary of events.... Well it's the 23rd and I fly out of Sydney and into Christchurch tonight. I have a match against Christchurch tommorow and I'm happy just to get a game (Its been so long!) My flight leaves Sydney at 7.45.

I show up at the airport at 7.40! ( damn crap bus driver ) I miss my flight to Christchurch,go home and wangle another flight with Qantas the next morning at 9am, I may still make the kick off...

The next morning I leave at 6am, I will NOT miss this flight!!

I catch the flight in sweet time. The flight takes 3.5 hours to Christchurch so I should land at 1.30pm and the match kicks off at 2.45. EASY PEASY!!

We land in good time, I have no luggage ( 'cept my kit ) so I make a bolt for immigration... To find a flight from Korea has just landed and the place is awash with tiny yellow people, BIG QUEUE!!

2.30 I run out of the airport and into a waiting cab!"

"TO LINWOOD RUGBY CLUB!! CUNTO!" I cry out whilst leaping into the back of the cab. I get ready in the back of the cab and get there with 2 minutes to spare. I get put on the wing..

Here We go. A good game was had by all and we won 55-23. I got one and set up the rest! For my trouble, I was forced to scull a pint of beer in the changing rooms and later in the Club house I was actually named man of the match!! So I had to scull a glass full of every spirit behind the bar!

I did it and after much singing and merriment... I was Pebble pie. The last I remember I was in some pub in Christchurch then....

I woke up on some blokes couch and it was 8am!!

I was TOTALLY pissed up!

I quickly made my getaway to the airport. Heres some pics from that fateful day out...

This is me Behind the bloke with the ball..

Heres me sculling the man of match drink, It wasn't easy. Notice how I threw the empty cup away in disgust! (too easy, only every spirit behind the bar in it!)

Me in full Linwood battle dress before the game with the club corner flag. They call themselves dog bollocks!?!?

This is me and some of the boys in the club afterwards. I was soon to swap my green Linwood shirt for a Hawaii one just Like everyone else.