Graeme Taylor: Keen and eager players make fans proud

Well  it would have taken a bold man to predict such an emphatic win over North Harbour but there it is and at last the elusive bonus point.
Hawke's Bay do not have a great record against Harbour and in their 11 encounters. Harbour have quite a lead in the head-to-head battle, having won seven of the 11 games, Hawke's Bay three and one drawn.
I can remember one of those games back in my tenure as coach and Harbour kicked a late drop goal to deny us the chance of a bonus point for being within seven points. That actual result had a defining effect on the whole season. So last night's game and a Hawke's Bay bonus point gave me personal pleasure.
Going into last night's game Hawke's Bay were sitting in fourth place in the Championship section and North Harbour one spot below them.
Hawkes Bay's position was as a result of not getting bonus points in their preceding games.
Not having the opportunity to travel away to watch the game, I again snuck off to the "cave" and I must say it was a pleasure, well maybe a change, to hear the commentators, Johnson and Mexted, actually commentate as if it was rugby. I have become sick of hearing commentaries that sound like a league game, with phrases like "first receiver" a "great carry" and so forth.
As for the game, well there is plenty to enthuse about. It was pleasing to see Hawke's Bay again have an early game plan of not trying to play too much rugby in their own half and it was only when the real opportunity presented itself that they moved the ball from deep in their own half. There was a good assortment of pick and go, combined drive by the pack and straight hard running by the backs. Tua Saseve's try midway through the first half was an excellent example of this play.
Just before halftime, when Tu Umaga-Marshall dropped the ball cold with "white line fever", I thought that could be influential on the outcome. It was, however, pleasing to see minutes later the team play through to the halftime whistle and Taumalolo dot down for his now expected try. Going into halftime 17-3 up must have given the team confidence.
As the game proceeded I couldn't help but notice the totally different emotion of the two teams. Here was Hawke's Bay keen and eager, looking like they were enjoying their work and, on the other hand, Harbour looked lethargic, devoid of ideas and basically going through the motions. But I don't want to take anything away from Hawkes Bay.
They didn't allow the opposition to get into the game.
Individually in the backs I thought Ryan McLeod again showed he is a midfield player with some real potential, and Gillies Kaka gave an outstanding contribution.
But probably the most pleasing aspect was the fact that, despite several injuries to key players, the team still functioned well.
This was also the case in the forwards, with the reshuffle of the pack as a result of Mike Coman's injury, and the players who came from the bench all performed with distinction.
It is a tribute to the coaches and their team preparation that these changes can be made without a major influence on the team performance.
We are seeing in both divisions that the teams with the depth of squad are the ones who are rising to the top.
A record winning margin, bonus point and continued momentum in the championship: What better result could we have wished for?
Bring on the Makos on Tuesday and let's get down and support this team.
They are making us proud.