GO THE BAY: No match for watching footy live

Watching a game of rugby on the television is a great thing.
You can see the instant replay moments after an action is played.
You can hear the referee's comments seconds after the whistle was blown at a crucial time of the game.
The high-definition television filming means you can even see every expression on the players' faces, from fury when they miss a tackle or the sheer joy and happiness in their eyes when a try is scored.
Seeing a rugby game on television is a great thing but watching a game live is something that is beyond this world.
Watching the magic unfold in front of my eyes was an indescribable feeling and it was something I experienced yesterday for the first time alongside 100 of the Bay of Plenty Steamers' most loyal sponsors and supporters.
From the first whistle to the end hooter my skin had goose bumps, the hair on my arms stood on its end and chills ran down my spine. I cheered and clapped. I even stood on my seat and whistled a few times.
Until now I've always supported those in maroon and black but on Sunday, amid a sea of blue and yellow, surprisingly, I felt at home.
On Saturday if you had asked me where my loyalties lay, I would have told you it lay with my home province, North Harbour. But less than one day later, my opinions changed when I watched the Bay of Plenty Steamers take on Counties Manukau Steelers at Bayer Growers stadium in Pukekohe.
Until Saturday I didn't understand the magic of rugby.
Today, I do.
And so do the people around me, who have also travelled on the Bay of Plenty supporter bus on the Speights Road Trip to watch the Steamers' first game of the ITM Cup season.
About 100 men, a handful of women and one child gathered at Bay Park Stadium at midday last Sunday and began our three-hour adventure to Pukekohe on Bethlehem Coachline buses.
We each get given a goody bag full of Bay of Plenty Steamers merchandise and a few beverages thanks to sponsors Speights.
I park myself in the front seat, behind the driver.
I'm just about to get comfortable when Chris Downey asks if the seat beside me is taken. Mr Downey is from Staples Rodway, chartered accountants, and they're one of the Steamers jersey sponsors.
Mr Downey tells me how being a Steamers sponsor has been great for the company and how he's excited to be on the bus trip.
"This is a really exciting idea and it's great we can be involved," he said.
"Part of the value of this is we get to see our name on the back of the jersey, it's great for the staff to do some team building outside of the office... but with events like this we get to mix with other sponsors and that's also very important," he said.
Behind Mr Downing and myself sit avid supporters Roger Blakey and Terry Hurdle. They begin to tell me the joys of watching a rugby game live and how the atmosphere in the crowd is pure magic.
"I've always supported them, probably for about 10-15 years," Mr Blakey said.
"This year the team is strong, they should go well and with it being a centenary year, I do hope it goes well for them," he said.
Mr Hurdle will be following the team and will attend all the home games.
When he can't make the away games he said he would be watching with great interest on the television.
"I'd really like the Bay to do well this year, and I'm particularly keen on following the likes of Colin Bourke and other players from the Mount club," Mr Hurdle said.
"Watching them play is spectacular. It's a perfect day for playing and you're going to love it," he tells me.
I'm psyched and ready to go.
About 15 minutes and lots of note-taking later, my stomach begins to feel a little queasy so I move to the middle of the bus where I can stretch my legs and calm my thoughts.
It's not pleasant feeling car-sick in a bus full of people but the rising excitement and eager anticipation of the upcoming game soon occupied my mind.
The blazing sun beat down through the tinted glass windows and overhead skylights.
Outside it's warm but inside the air conditioning is blasting on high and I shiver.
Perhaps I'm cold. Perhaps I'm nervous and excited.
I've forgotten my sunglasses and I squint at the road ahead.
A lively conversation soon takes my interest and I begin to chat with representatives from BNZ.
They're also sponsors and have been invited on the trip.
One of the group members, Kerrin Barns tells me about the numerous road trips they've been on to support the Steamers.
"Bloody oath we've been all around the place. We went and watched the Ranfurly Shield match in Christchurch, that was about five years ago," he said.
"We were there when the Bay won the shield and we were there when they didn't."
Mr Barns loves the thrill of watching live footy and said half of the fun was in the bus ride before and after the match.
"It's all about the team having a win and the anticipation of that win but especially with away games, we've got to show our support to our local team."
I ask Mr Barns what would be his message of support to the team and he replied: "I don't want to do the whole cliché thing and say go the Bay. I think we're not a champion team but a team of champions. It's about the feel of the team and they went through adversity a few years ago but they've stayed strong and I wish them all the best."
Rotorua couple Philippa Wills and Tony Pihera have also joined the bus trip to Auckland. Mr Pihera claims he's one the Steamer's biggest fans and said watching the team win the Ranfurly Shield in 2004 was just narrowly behind the birth of his children and grandchildren.
He's a huge fan and he's full of heart.
"We're the only ones from Rotorua that have come on the bus today," he said.
"We don't have anyone from Rotorua in the team this year... but I like to follow them around. I'll definitely see all the home games, I'm just trying to convince [Philippa] to go to Invercargill [and watch the team play] but it all costs money," he said.
About three hours after we first set off from Baypark, bus driver Chrissy Jamieson tells us we've finally reached our destination. The sun is still shining and the weather is temperate.
Dressed in blue and yellow we get off the buses, which have conveniently stopped in the middle of the road, directly outside the gate.
Some are wearing blue and yellow wigs and others are holding Steamers flags.
Some are wearing scarves but most are wearing blue and yellow striped jerseys.
We collectively settle in the centre of the stands and look down at the two teams below.
In a crowd of about five thousand our small group of about 100 are outnumbered.
The whistle goes and it's game on. Cries of "Go the Bay" echo around the stadium for 80 minutes and even though it's red and black territory, those in blue and yellow sure make themselves heard.
For the majority of the match I swear the Steamers support was louder than the Steelers. Perhaps I'm just biased.
The score is tight and the game is close. I sit on the edge of my seat, engulfed in the thrill of the game.
Eight-year-old Tommy Rowlands is also excited and the look on his face tells it all. His eyes are open in awe and his head darts back and forward, following the ball and players around the pitch. He's painted his face blue and yellow - he's a true Bay fan.
The sun goes behind the stadium and it suddenly gets cold. Crisp wind whips down into the gully and circles around the grandstand and onto the playing field below.
I shiver and pull my jacket tighter.
The 30 players below don't notice the cold and continue running at a million miles an hour, side-stepping past each other, running through gaps and tackling hard with determination and strength.
As the game ticks on, things get frantic and the shouts of support turn into unrecognisable sounds. There's gasping and lots of ahhhhh sounds. It's a mixed bag of emotions.
Behind me are the two management boxes where Counties Manukau and Bay of Plenty staff analyse the game below.
Counties Manukau coach Tana Umaga stares at the field, blank faced. Bay coach Sean Horan looks the same.
No one knows what the outcome of this match will be before the final hooter goes.
But before I know it, the game is over and it's back to the bus for the long trip home.
The supporters are buzzing and everyone's thrilled the Bay have won the game. The trip home was quicker than the ride up and the mood was a lot more relaxed.
The drinks were flowing and a few outrageous characters at the back of the bus beginning to pipe up, singing and chanting and embracing the occasion.
For others, the day's excitement has been too much and some try to sleep on the way home.
Regardless, everyone on board has had a fantastic time.
Yesterday was my first experience at a ITM Cup rugby match and it was something I'll never forget.
I look forward to next weekend's game when the Steamers take on North Harbour at Baypark stadium. My loyalties no longer lie with those in maroon and black. All I want to say is "GO THE BAY".