
Local Legend: Francis ‘‘Dribbles'' Parker
Clutha cup-week's second Silver Fern Farms-Clutha Leader Local Legend needs no introduction and was not hard to find.
Clutha's prominent field-side commentator and sports corespondent Francis "Dribbles" Parker is notoriously camera-shy, but yielded to peer-pressure during the halftime break of the Steamers' final match.
Covering countless rugby and cricket encounters for your favourite publications, Francis Parker's prose ranges from frank and punchy to refined and thoughtful, the whole time walking-the-talk as an active sportsman himself.
"We'll get this on the spit tomorrow, eh boys?
"Cheers Silver Fern!" Clutha's latest lamb leg recipient announced.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Southland Boys' favourites for semifinal
It has been a near perfect season for the Upper Clutha rugby team who have the opportunity to complete a hat-trick of triumphs when they tackle Clutha in the Otago Countrywide final at Wanaka today.


Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Upper Clutha hold on to claim title
The season was almost five minutes too long for Central Otago's champion club Upper Clutha, who dramatically held on for a 39-38 victory over Clutha in the Otago Countrywide club final at Wanaka on Saturday. Ahead 39-24 with seven minutes to play, the Rams, despite being battered and bruised and seriously lacking a goalkicker, were seemingly coasting to victory. Oh, yeah — Clutha had other ideas. In the space of four minutes replacement winger Kurt Botting bolted in for a brace of tries, one after an 80m dash down the touchline. Ace goalkicker Sam Stratford converted both from wide out — giving him six successful kicks from six attempts, contrasting with Upper Clutha's two successes from nine attempts — and suddenly it was 39-38 with three minutes still to play. The Upper Clutha players who had probably been focusing on a cool beer at the conclusion of a long, demanding season, suddenly had to refocus on a fired-up opponent who wouldn't go away. They did it emphatically, pinning Clutha in their 22 through till the final whistle, much to the relief of coach Alex Dickson. "Things got a bit desperate there towards the finish," Dickson said. "But we've got a great team culture where everyone plays for each other and that saw us through in those final moments." It was a challenging final outing for Dickson, who before the game lost goalkicker Brodie Flannery with a hamstring tear, captain Lachie Garrick, bedridden with a 'bug', and flanker Arthur Boutillier with a shoulder injury. The injuries kept coming throughout the match, for both teams. Clutha lost flanker Sam Viliamu, who was taken by ambulance to hospital with a broken shoulder, while two Upper Clutha players, winger Dan O'Shea and flanker Joel Turnbull, both 'popped' their shoulders. Turnbull gallantly played on after having the shoulder 'popped' back in. Upper Clutha effectively won the game in the first half when they scored six tries, thanks to the speed and elusiveness of fullback Henry Schikker, centre Milan Martinovich and winger Jack East. East, who shredded the Clutha defence on many occasions without getting the five-pointer he deserved, claimed the man of the match award, which could just as easily have gone to Martinovich, who will be missed next season when he heads overseas. Midfielder Oliver Stirling, who took over as captain, No. 8 Jake Burtenshaw, who gave his all for 80 minutes and made some telling tackles in those desperate final moments, and front rowers Ben McKeich, Scott Cunningham and Blair Kennedy all turned in massive efforts. Clutha, whose best included lanky lock Tate Colley, flanker Viliamu till he came to grief, ace goalkicker Stratford, try-scoring centre Sylvester Reeves and winger Botting, who electrified the game after coming off the bench. So ends a fabulous season for Upper Clutha, whose trophy cabinet is now stocked to overflowing. The scores Countrywide Upper Clutha 39 Henry Schikker (2), Milan Martinovich (2), Dan O'Shea, Ben McKeich, Caleb Dixon tries; Martinovich 2 con. Clutha 38 Kurt Botting (2), Samoa Viliamu, Sylvester Reeves, Dallas Pickering tries, Sam Stratford 5 con, pen. — Bob Howitt

The Spinoff
25-07-2025
- The Spinoff
Review: Netball docuseries Game On is a heartwarming gem
Tara Ward watches Three's new sports series about a group of New Zealand netball legends who return for one last game. The nerves are obvious from the opening moments of Game On. Former Silver Fern Temepara Bailey zips up her suitcase before she realises she's forgotten to pack her netball shoes. Adine Wilson wonders aloud why she agreed to come on a TV show, while Silver Fern centurion Casey Kopua limps into an indoor netball stadium to warmly greet her former netball teammates. They all look as concerned as she does. 'What have I signed myself up for?' she wonders. What Kopua and her fellow netball legends have committed to is a daunting physical and mental challenge, with every second captured on camera. Game On is Three's inspiring new sports docuseries that sees a team of former Silver Ferns come out of retirement to play for a high-stakes netball tournament. They've been called back to the court by coaches Yvonne Willering and Yvette McClausland-Durie, who will guide them through the tough process of returning to top-level sport. 'We're here to provide the challenge of transforming the former Ferns into the elite athletes that you were in the past,' Willering tells the ex-Silver Ferns. 'Good luck,' Kopua replies. It won't be easy – Daneka Tuineau hasn't touched a netball since she retired 14 years ago, Wilson broke her neck in 2016, while Kopua is awaiting a double knee replacement. While they may still be as competitive and passionate as they were two decades ago, their bodies tell a different story. 'I did try playing social netball, but man, they just want to show you that you're not as good as you were 10 years ago,' Irene van Dyk laughs. 'No shit Sherlock, I know that.' Game On is similar in warmth and spirit to another local sports docuseries, Match Fit, but it comes with a new twist: not only are these players preparing to compete against teams of other ex-internationals, they're also mentoring a group of promising young netballers. These rangatahi have been nominated by members of their community, and after the first fitness test with the Ferns, they immediately rise to the challenge. 'I don't want to get outschooled by people double my age,' 16-year-old Brooklyn says. It would be easy for the former world champions to stay on the sidelines and let their achievements do the talking. Instead, they share moments of vulnerability and bravery as they're confronted with how their bodies have changed over the years, and reflect on what happens when an international sporting career ends ('netball is my life… when I retired, I realised, who am I? I'm no-one,' a tearful van Dyk says in episode two). This honesty and emotion makes their return to the sport all the more powerful. Not only do the Ferns want to prove to themselves that they can do it, but they're also relishing the rare opportunity to be back with their mates, playing the game that brought them together all those years ago. Game On isn't about winning; it's about the power of community. It's about women championing other women, no matter what season of life they're in, and it's impossible not to feel inspired and uplifted by their strength and resilience. Game On is a gem of a series, a heartwarming reminder that no matter your age, you can still do hard things – and that maybe, for some of us at home, it's never too late to try and become a Silver Fern.