Match day arrived again and there was great excitement in the hotel. As the match was not until the evening, I decided that after breakfast I would stroll in a different direction to last night and explore Wellington Harbour.
It was a warm, yet blustery morning and it made it difficult in knowing what to wear but that soon sorted itself out. Dress for sun but take a few extra layers in the rucksack. There was certainly much to see around the waterfront and I could only imagine what it would be like on a hot summer day.
As the morning drew on I went back to the hotel to change into battledress for the match later and then went into town to meet up with other Welsh supporters
First thing, where was my ticket? No problem, safe and sound
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| My actual match ticket |
So, into the city it was, loads of bars, loads of Welsh guys. I met 3 guys from Risca who now live in Hamilton. All dressed up in Dragons and Wales stuff. One of them had a Kiwi girlfriend who was duty bound to cheer for Wales that day.
There were many bars even a Welsh bar selling Brains, but it didn't taste like SA in Cardiff. Mind you, it doesn't travel well to Newport so what were we expecting 14,000 miles away.
And so it continued until I came upon the Rydges bar in the Rydge Wellington Hotel. It was heaving but I got a drink and joined a group of Kiwis at a standing table. They were great guys, Thomas would have loved them. They wouldn't let me buy a drink as they were a couple of guys taking their staff out on a corporate thing before the game. I protested of course but they would not let me buy a round.
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| Wade Brown, on my right and Sam Landor on my left owned the company. |
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| This was their company, Tupawa Consulting |
Their company, Tupawa Consulting, specialised in refurbishing and repairing the outside of office buildings but were looking to move into interiors of buildings. I think I was offered a job when they found out what I'd done previously.
Then it was time to get to the match. They had cut it so fine that they had only just made it and I'd missed Andrew's calls. He was waiting for me in a different pub. No matter, I caught up with him in the seats just before kick off and we were to have a few drinks together afterwards.
The Westpack Stadium is known locally as the Cake Tin due to its shape. Quite small, but a good setting for rugby. It is situated right next to the harbour where the cruise ships berth. It can get quite windy and cold there.
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| At the game, with Andrew and his boss |
The game turned out much like the Auckland test. Wales played well but we're just not good enough and the All Blacks were worthy winners 34 - 22 although Wales did battle to the end with two late tries.
After the game we went to the backbencher pub, opposite the parliament building. It was a strange pub heaving with rugby fans and ladies with dubious dress sense. There were also Grog like, but life size, carvings on the walls and ceilings.
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| I know who these two are |
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| But who is this supposed to be? |
Then, later than I expected, I made my way back to the hotel and bed!
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