Golden Oldies brach for their big ordeal

No fitness regime is regarded as too severe for players preparing for this Sunday's Golden Oldies rugby competition at Hikurangi.
Old Boys' Craig Borrows (left) and Hikurangi's Rowan Lawson (right) spent some time in the Northland Rugby Union's gym earlier this week - not really hoping to get a jump on their opponents on Sunday - but rather to have some hope of still walking come Monday.
Lawson, who played for 12 years for his club in the premier grade - winning two titles in that time - said damage limitation was a vital part of golden oldies rugby.
"Your brain might tell you that you're still young and fit but the body won't be saying the same thing on Monday," he said.
"You don't really win, you survive.  There's always a few people, who don't realise they're no longer 15 but that soon goes away - thankfully there are rolling subs which is a relief for everyone."
Borrows, who was recruited by Eddie Dunn to play for Old Boys in 1982, said he enjoys playing Golden Oldies' rugby because the matches are surprisingly competitive.
Both agreed that having a good game and a catch-up with mates and old adversaries is the most important part of the day.
This year the Northland Rugby Union has taken over organising the tournaments, rationalising that's what good for the players and the clubs must be good for the union.
Organiser Hector Davies said the union is hoping to run at least three and maybe four of these Golden Oldies tournaments this season - with the next round of games locked in for October 11 at Old Boys.
"The tournaments generate plenty of revenue over the bar for the clubs and most of the players involved are keen supporters of their clubs either as volunteers and coaches and so on," Davies said.
He said the union is particularly keen to generate goodwill among the region's club rugby supporters in a year that will be so important to Northland rugby.
"It's an extra push to club members to have them support what will be a slightly interrupted Air New Zealand Cup season with the stadium not yet completed," he said.