Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer.
All Kiwi Super Rugby final
A weekend of semi-finals in the Super Rugby Pacific competition saw the Canterbury Crusaders and the Waikato Chiefs triumphant to advance to next week’s final match-up in Christchurch. The Crusaders not only overtook the Auckland Blues’ healthy first half lead but held out against unrelenting attack and a marauding 37 phase advance at the end. The Waikato Chiefs simply took the ACT Brumbies to task and never let up with a kicking masterclass from Damian McKenzie.
The final will be a fantastic game. The Chiefs topped the table but will be playing a team that has never lost a play-off game at home in 29 years. The Chiefs coach, Clayton McMillan, said he wasn’t perturbed by that record and was looking forward to his team taking it to the Crusaders in the final.
“‘We don’t have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders,’ McMillan said. ‘We’re one team that’s had our fair share of success down there. We know it’s not going to be easy. They’ve got a formidable record and are a quality team. They demonstrated that last night [with] real composure when the Blues were sort of inching their way back into the game. You know you’ve got to be at your best.'” (Source: “Chiefs power into another Super Rugby Pacific final after beating Brumbies,” by Joseph Pearson, June 14, www.stuff.co.nz).
5 stars – while it’s hard to not feel for the Blues, the final will be a hard and fast game by two fantastic teams.
Kiwi underdogs take on world’s best clubs
FIFA’s Club World Cup in the United States is the meeting of the biggest football clubs from around the world with US$125 milion up for grabs. Teams such as Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City will be competing along with the Oceania representative, Auckland FC. While nearly all the other clubs are made up of highly paid professionals playing in some of the biggest leagues in the world, Auckland FC’s players are amateurs who either work or study full-time.
“From forklift drivers to soda salesmen and real estate agents, the rise of the small New Zealand side to the apex of the global club game has been likened by some to the narrative of a Hollywood script. Having been crowned as the Oceania Champions League winner last year, Auckland City booked its place at the tournament and became the continent’s sole representative in the process.
“Drawn in a group featuring 34-time German champion Bayern Munich, Portuguese giant Benfica, and iconic Argentine side Boca Juniors, the Auckland City squad will look to create soccer history as they compete against some of the sport’s greatest players over the next fortnight.” (Source: “Meet the amateur New Zealand team aiming to topple soccer’s biggest names at the FIFA Club World Cup,” by Rory Fleming, June 13, www.edition.cnn.com).
5 stars – with the All Whites’ qualification for next year’s World Cup, Auckland FC’s inclusion in this tournament is great for New Zealand football!
Contractor finds 1500 year old tomb complex
A Syrian contractor clearing rubble of a destroyed home accidentally made a very significant archaeological find when he unearthed an ancient Byzantine tomb structure.
“After the contractor found stone openings during a reconstruction project, locals contacted the authorities, who then dispatched a specialised team to inspect and secure the site. Images of the complex show that a pit next to a damaged building leads down to the openings of two burial chambers, each containing six stone tombs, with the sign of the cross etched into the top of one stone column
“Hassan al Ismail, director of antiquities in Idlib, said that ‘based on the presence of the cross and the pottery and glass pieces that were found, this tomb dates back to the Byzantine era.'” (Source: “Syrian contractor discovers ancient Byzantine tomb complex during construction,” June 9, www.news.sky.com).
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