It took 17 years, but Mark "Pole" Crawford finally has a tall story to tell son Thomas, 2. Photo/Supplied
It took 17 years, but Mark "Pole" Crawford finally has a tall story to tell son Thomas, 2. Photo/Supplied
Seventeen years is a seriously long time between drinks.
But the floodgates opened in the Border clubrooms on Saturday after lanky lock Mark Crawford scored his first try since his beloved rugby team's inception in 1996.
The epic five pointer came in the second half of the Tasman Tanning seniorcompetition clash with Tech at Dallison Park in Waverley as Border chased down a 15-0 half time deficit.
"To be fair it's not our job, is it?" the 1.94-metre tall No4 quite rightly pointed out in defence of his 17-year drought.
"We were on attack and I moved around the side of the ruck and pinched the ball off an opposing player and dotted down. I'd like to say I sprinted 20-metres with the ball, but I didn't. And I was probably off side, but the ref was on the other side and didn't see me," Crawford, affectionately nicknamed Pole, said.
The 37-year-old contractor, who owns and operates Waverley Harvesting with brother Phil, has played for Border since it began in 1996. While he has played many a match for the premier side even when it competed in the Taranaki competition, Crawford claims he is in semi-retirement and content to play in the senior grade to satisfy his love of the game. His company are naming sponsors of the premier Border team.
"It's a bit embarrassing really to score my first try after 17 years and I did get a bit of stick from my teammates. It also cost me a fair bit in the clubrooms afterward. Thankfully, the A team was playing away otherwise it would have cost a fair bit more. The other bugger about it was we lost," he said.
"After I scored the try I was gripped by cramp and couldn't get up for a wee while and they laughed about that. I was also asked why I didn't convert my own try because in the past I've done a bit of kicking when they were short, but I couldn't - I couldn't get up," Crawford lamented.
Longtime teammate Syd Wyatt was quick to voice what others may well have been thinking at the after match function.
"Syd's played for Border bloody nearly as long as I have and he's always said we can both retire when I finally scored a try. On Saturday he said 'well, we can hang up our boots now.' I'm not sure about that, but I guess the time is coming."
Being named Player of the Day may prove to be addictive and keep Crawford in the game a bit longer yet. "Well, that was a jack up," the big man said.
