Karori. Six million dollars and still under water. With conditions perfectly suiting toe hacking, BNU played football instead.

On the BNU side, John the “who’s got something to say” coach, Mo the “I’ll have beer with that” number one supporter, Henri the “naughty” dog (and surprise midfielder), and Richie the “socks in slacks” ref.

On the Karori side, a young and impressionable team. On average they were 1.268 m tall and 15.01 years old. There were three subs, one coach, 8 parents, and 2.5 sets of grandparents on their side-line. Luckily for them Karen "it’s only Karori” O'Leary was away so they didn’t learn any new words, but Richie taught them about mud avoidance by tucking his jeans into his socks.

In the pre-game talk, ever-observant John noted a large puddle in the middle of the circle; "avoid the puddle, don't pass through the puddle, chipping the puddle won't work either."  The backs spent the game running around the puddle and Bron and Mel retrieving Kaori balls out of the puddle. As forwards, Cush and Cat were seldom near the puddle and so, with Cookie, decided a post-game mud slide was in order. The puddle stunk as did the players who emerged from it. The puddle stunk, as did the players who emerged from it. Our socks may never be white again. And if they are, they'll be too tight to put on.

BNU got off to a good start with two early goals before a young wipper-snapper got pushed in the box after a miscommunication on the left (she was half your size Bron). Karori penalty 2-1. Another goal to BNU shortly after 3-1.

Twenty minutes in BNU took a break while centre back Jo spent five minutes on the left of the field - forward, back, forward, back, forward - then a lovely through ball for who else but Cush. 4-1.

Obversly impressed, Niki tried the same tactic - but unfortunately the ball skidded. Its not the same when you're in goal. 4-2.

Mo, arriving twenty five minutes late, missed Cush's first hat trick... so she got another one. Half time 6-2.

A pattern emerged in the second half; Kaori kick-off, BNU win the ball, BNU shoot. BNU score.

BNU's game plan was to play some nicely weighted passes, to send accurate through balls through for the strikers, and to fire stinging crosses into the danger area. These were normally provided by Anya, who was enjoying the air pressure of the ball, 13 psi (she has a finely tuned foot you know). Cat even headed the ball from a corner.

Karori's game plan was simple - place the ball with precision into the wettest part of the field and hope that the opposition would eventually retire from blisters.

The last thirty saw Karori threatened about twice – a scrambling post slide with a defender ?8?-3 (abacus not working) and a slow motion keeper crawl across goal. Meanwhile, BNU scores 5 times.

Despite not being invited back for a fanta (possibly due to Cookie’s man-handling of players or perhaps Cat’s head-patting incident – but more likely because the coach was probably the only legal-drinking age person on the team), BNU spent a couple of hours drinking flash beer, discussing young/short player wipe-out tactics, comparing bruises and scoffing salted full-fat deep fried hot chips, in the nice, new, white clubrooms/cafe/pavilion/bar. Some players stuck to water though. Obversly they hadn't enough during the game. Alternatively they were pregnant.

Brooklyn     11

Karori           3