Hornby 13 Southbridge 34
It has to be said: The only person keeping Hornby in this game at halftime was Daniel William Carter.
All Black saviour? Ha. As it stood, Southbridge captain and halfback Michael Sheat was probably wondering how to manoeuvre Carter out of the kicking duties without embarrassing the poor soul as he missed his first four shots at goal.
Some good-natured jeering from the crowd would have reminded Carter that he was firmly embedded in "grassroots" country.
"It was a bit shoddy, wasn't it? I'm not too sure what was happening there. I felt like I was striking them all right but they just weren't going over," Carter said of his wayward left boot. "It's one of those things. I'll go back and continue on with my kicking practice. I've only been training on that for a couple of weeks so there's plenty of work to be done there."
The bottom-of-the-table Hornby players fired a few barbs as well. After all, it's not that often you get a rugby legend to the unprepossessing Denton Park.
"When you can, you always stick it in to someone like that - well, you can try. He expected it because I had a couple of words to him before the game, so it was all right," said Hornby captain Steve Lees-Goodwin. There was no "targeting" of Carter, as must have been initially feared when 150kg prop Horomona Manuel was appointed the first five's on-field minder.
Carter's take: "A little bit of banter but nothing too serious. It was good fun."
The 27-year-old first five-eighth, who was signed by Perpignan on a lucrative six-month deal worth a reported $88,000 a match, has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon while turning out for that club against Stade Francais in February.
Yesterday, he was playing for considerably less as he pulled on the blue and white hoops of Southbridge but his progress will be anxiously monitored. Despite Stephen Donald's improved performance against the Wallabies last weekend, the pivot has been a problem position for the All Blacks this season, with muddled performances from both Donald and Luke McAlister against France and Italy.
Carter, though, does not want to be rushed.
"I haven't really thought too much about the All Blacks," he said. "I just want to get back into rugby. Obviously, today was a start with Southbridge, then I'll get back into some Air New Zealand Cup and then whatever happens from there, I'll try to find some form and if it [All Blacks selection] happens, it happens."
There is some talk Carter could be available as early as September 12, when the All Blacks host South Africa in Hamilton, but Graham Henry has publicly stated he would rather not take that risk.
As it is, Carter has thoughts only for Canterbury.
"I'll see if Pens [Canterbury coach Rob Penney] wants me but after that performance maybe not," Carter said. "I guess I'll know a few things [tomorrow] when I join up with the Canterbury team."
Canterbury begin their Air NZ Cup campaign away at North Harbour on Saturday.
Yesterday, Carter was the star attraction as a crowd of close to 3000 rocked up to the Hornby ground for this Ellesmere sub-union clash.
"To have a chance to put on the jersey and play for the club that has given me so much - I played all my age-grade rugby there - to be able to play for them again was awesome," Carter said. "You can do as much rehab, get in the gym, do your speedwork and plan your games, but until you get on the field it's a bit different. It's a start. I really enjoyed it and it's a matter of progressing from here. It's a start."
Carter played a conservative game, with the odd flash of class interspersed with catch and pass and the occasional bomb.
"Obviously, I was playing within myself a little bit. I wanted to earn the confidence to get back and run with the ball and control things. It was good in that vein but, as you probably saw, I was playing within myself but I got through it OK and had no problems, so that was the main thing.
"I was just happy to get through 80 minutes. The Achilles and rest of my body felt good."
It should be noted, too, that Carter had a leading hand in two first-half tries and finished the match by scoring a try between the posts.
