"Best Week Of My Life"

Charlie Smith said he had had the best week of his life since England beat Australia to get to the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup. "After getting stick from Aussies all week it was sweet to have a win and a bonus that the All Blacks went out at the same time" said Smith "which only made it a formality that England would beat the Frogs". Smith said with the England win over France he could now have another week of celebration. "I'm worried what will happen to my liver if England win the final" confessed Smith "as I'll have to celebrate for four years as repeat winners". Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall said he understood Smith's feeling's as "it had been a great fortnight".

Cao Complains

Zephyr Rovers Striker come utility players John Cao complained bitterly this afternoon that despite him being a good looking guy, the media kept using a dodgy old photo of him that wasn't flattering. "I prepared to pose for a reasonable fee" said Cao from his usual Saturday morning beauty therapy session "I mean with all this fuss about Beckham visiting Wellington I want to show we have a few fashion icons here but all I get is this grainy photo". Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall said Cao shouldn't be to concerned he wasn't being compared to Beckham. "I couldn't possibly comment on appearances" said Hall "but John is probably the quicker on his feet than Beckham". Hall said no one in their right mind would want to be hitched to Posh either. "Posh would be a handful I'd imagine" said Hall.

Hall For Fiji

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall offered to stand in as Fijian goalkeeper as their World Cup Qualifier was postponed after the Fijian keeper was unable to enter the country due to visa problems. "It's a mystery to me why I've never made my international debut as I've been available for England at all levels since at least 1972" said Hall "but if I get a chance for a bit of free travel to the islands then I'm in for Fiji any time". Hall said he looked forward to seeing whether the Government blocked the Fijian rugby team coming to the Wellington sevens. "It will be interesting to see if it is one rule for football and another for rugby". Hall said he would have approached Chris Killen for a match for Rovers but New Zealand will be playing Fiji in Fiji at the time of the next Rovers game.

Long Leash For Chopper

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall said he would be keeping Colin "Chopper" McIntosh on a long leash for the Rovers game next week against a team that included several referees. "I know it is rugby referees that aren't popular in New Zealand right now" said Hall "but we've had a few run ins with referees in our time so it is going to be good to have a match against them". Hall said he had entertained asking for a neutral referee but as it was a grading game Rovers would take the "rub of the green". Hall said he'd issue Chopper with no special instructions for the the match. "I don't think anyone told Vinnie Jones what to do before a match and I won't be having a word to Chopper either".

Bunch Of Bankers

Zephyr Rovers opened the season account in a late game at Shed 1 with a sluggish win over ANZ. "We got off to a reasonable start but didn't go on with it" said Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall (pictured) "although I did enjoy scoring a few goals for a change and I recall George, Col and John all scoring rippers". In the second half Rovers were 7 - 3 up before a come back and a controversial penalty saw ANZ get right back into it. "We got to our four foul limit and the sting went out us a bit" said Hall "and the opposition suddenly started getting a bit uppity for no reason I could detect". The game was killed of with a Nash special and Hall said the the good bits were pretty good but performance was a bit patchy. "We can do better but it blew out the cob webs" said Hall "but I'll give goal of the day to Col who scored one when not even a quarter chance seemed to exist".

Final: Rovers 8 Bankers 6

Out For Months

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall today confirmed that whilst Ben White was on the come back trail, Steve Boxall was now probably out for the season. "I think it shows the benefit of having a few extra players in the squad as we seem to be getting a few more injuries up in the top flight". Hall said he may yet have to look to the transfer market to strengthen the squad but it was too early to over react. "I know New Zealand has been in mourning since the All Blacks lost on Sunday" said Hall "so we might have a look at if any of them have football skills". Hall said Rovers had learnt from the All Blacks that any team could choke on the day. "We'll be on the look out for that when we play the bankers tomorrow" said Hall "and in the mean time we'll put Boxall on beer tasting duties". .

White Back

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall said this afternoon that he expected ben White to make an appearance for the club in the second grading match. "He won't make the game this week against the ANZ" said Hall "said something about not wanting to play with a bunch of bankers". Hall said he had selected a solid line up for the match although Rovers would rotate the goalkeeper role and were treating the ANZ as a pre-season romp. "We'll want to win it as you don't through away games in this league" said Hall "and rumour has it we're playing the ref eres team in week two. Hall said the return of fit White would add another dimension to the Rovers. "Ben always says he's a good player when I see him" said Hall "and we'll make him our marquee if he scores a few goals for us".