Awaken/Forgiven: 2017 Mitre 10 Cup finals review (+ Mexican GP qualifying review, Lewis Hamilton becoming Formula 1 world champion & Wanganui winning the Meads Cup)

Well, here is the review of the Championship & Premiership final of this year's Mitre 10 Cup season  but 1st here is the news report of the Championship final being played at Westpac Stadium in the nation's capital of Wellington between Wellington & Bay Of Plenty:

Wellington have claimed their first final victory since 2000 with a scarcely believable 59-45 extra-time victory over Bay of Plenty in the Championship final at Westpac Stadium.

Nothing could separate the sides after a thrilling 80 minutes with the scores locked up 40-40. But Wellington were too good in extra time with a rampaging Julian Savea try securing the win and their place back in the Premiership for the first time since 2014.

Although Wellington went into the game as heavy favourites, it didn’t take long for the Westpac Stadium faithful to realise they had a contest on their hands. The Steamers made all the running early in the first half to push out to a 14-5 lead on the back of two equally impressive tries.

The first was a genuine team effort finished by halfback Luke Campbell while the second was all down to the individual brilliance of Joe Webber. The sevens star fielded an aimless kick from the Lions on halfway and beat three defenders with pace and power to put the Steamers ahead by nine points.

But you cannot afford to let your guard down against this Lions side. Led by their rampaging forward pack, the Lions began to punch holes through the middle of the Steamers defence and tries to lock Sam Lousi and prop Tolu Fahamokioa helped the Lions to a 20-14 lead at the break.

It took the Lions just 14 seconds to get on the board in the second half when captain Brad Shields scored from a charge down to make it 25-14. A penalty to Jackson Garden-Bachop moments later extended the lead to 28-14 and the Steamers could have easily folded against a Wellington side that has looked near-on unbeatable in 2017.

But this Steamers team is made of sterner stuff. An intercept try to Canadian international Tyler Ardron was quickly followed by another stunning solo effort by Joe Webber to make it 28-28.

From there the game entered the Twilight Zone with the teams trading tries to make it 40-40 with time up on the clock. Wellington had the chance to claim the title when Jackson Garden-Bachop stepped up for a long-range shot at goal. Normally reliable with the boot, Garden-Bachop’s attempt went wide to send the game into extra time.

Playing an extra 20 minutes was always going to be a war of attrition and the Lions looked the more fitter and composed team in extra time. Tries to Wes Goosen and replacement hooker Sitiveni Paongo made it 52-40 to the Lions at the end of the first half of extra time.

When Julian Savea bumped off two defenders to score early in the second half of extra-time, the lead was out to 59-40 and the Championship title well in their sights.

Bay of Plenty didn’t give up throughout the entire 100 minutes and had the final say with a try to Mitchell Karpik to make the final score 59-45.

In the end it was to be Wellington’s night in a final that will go down as one of the greats.

Wellington captain Brad Shields said: “It’s been a couple of tough years. I want to commend Bay of Plenty – that was a hell of a match and the way finals should be played. I’m happy with the way the boys have put their hands up and played for the jersey this season. It’s very special to know we will be back up in the Premiership.”

Scorers: Wellington 59 (Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Sam Lousi, Tolu Fahamokioa 2, Brad Shields, Wes Goosen, Sitiveni Paongo, Julian Savea tries, Jackson Garden-Bachop 2 pen, 4 con) Bay of Plenty 45 (Luke Campbell, Joe Webber 2, Tyler Ardron, Jesse Parete, Terrence Hepetema, Mitchell Karpik tries, Mike Delany 4 con)
HT: 20-14

And it was a day later that Canterbury host the Premiership final against Tasman at AMI Stadium in Christchurch with another news report:

A Richie Mo’unga-inspired Canterbury has outclassed Tasman 35-13 to lift their ninth Mitre 10 Cup Premiership title in 10 seasons at AMI Stadium on Saturday night.

In the 2016 Premiership final between the same sides, it was Mo’unga who starred with two tries and he was even more influential tonight with a record 25 point haul for a Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final.

Canterbury completely shut out Tasman 39-0 when they met in round one, but it didn’t take long to see this clash would be a lot closer as the Makos took the game to the reigning champions in the opening quarter.

Playing with high energy and enthusiasm, Tasman had Canterbury on the back foot and opened the scoring in the 10th minute when powerful midfielder Levi Aumua finished off a brilliant interchange of passing.

A Mitchell Hunt penalty soon after stretched Tasman out to a 10-0 lead – a fair reflection of their early dominance.

Enter Richie Mo’unga. The classy first five-eighth missed last week’s semifinal due to being assembled with the All Blacks but stunned Tasman with two brilliant individual tries in the space of five minutes.

In the first, he beat two defenders down the short side to put Canterbury on the board. The second was a spectacular 50 metre effort where he completely bamboozled the Tasman defence to put Canterbury out in front for the first time.

With regular front rowers Tim Perry and Kane Hames with the All Blacks Northern Tour squad, Tasman struggled upfront and Canterbury took advantage on the stroke of halftime.

Opting for a lineout instead of a shot at goal, Canterbury struck on a vital blow on Tasman as Tim Bateman crossed to put Canterbury out to a 19-13 halftime lead.

Canterbury dominated possession in the second half but struggled to cross the line as the Makos defence remained resolute. The pressure told on the scoreboard through Richie Mo’unga penalties in the 42nd, 55th and 64th minute to put the home side out to a 28-13 lead with 15 minutes to play.

Tasman looked to stretch the ball wide to the exciting pair of James Lowe and Will Jordan in the closing stages but the Canterbury defence was equal to the task and was not willing to offer Tasman a route back into the contest.

Fittingly it was Mo’unga who orchestrated Canterbury’s only second half try when he put Jack Stratton over to confirm Canterbury as the best team in New Zealand for another season.

Scorers: Canterbury 35 (Tim Bateman, Jack Stratton tries, Richie Mo’unga 2 tries, 3 con, 3 pen) Tasman 13 (Levi Aumua tries, Mitchell Hunt con, pen)
HT: 19-13

So that is my 160th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 80th this year (Only 40 blogs until I reach 200).

P.S. And don't forget, Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari is on pole for the Mexican Grand Prix with Red Bull's Max Verstappen starting on the front row while championship leader Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes will start in 3rd ensuring that he must finish in the top 5 to claim his 4th Formula 1 World Championship while Kiwi Brendon Hartley (Well he exactly hails from Palmerston North in the Manawatu region but he's a bit like Stephen Donald because he didn't have to go whitebaiting but he retired during the race) in the Toro Rosso is expected to start in 13th but in the end, the race was won by Max Verstappen in the Red Bull but the title goes to Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes after finishing 9th in the race (All he has to do that Vettel must finish 2nd or above to keep his championship hopes alive but Hamilton clashed both Verstappen & Vettel on the 1st lap) meaning that he becomes the most successful British Formula 1 driver in history to become the 4 time Formula 1 world champion because he joined the likes of both Frenchman Alain Prost & German Sebastian Vettel so he 1st did it in 2008 6 years before winning it again in 2014 & retaining it a year later in 2015 2 years before he clinched the title this year in 2017.

And I like to pay tribute, to the list of Formula 1 world champions spanning from 1950 - 2017

1950: Giuseppe Farina
1951: Juan Manuel Fangio
1952: Alberto Ascari
1953: Alberto Ascari
1954: Juan Manuel Fangio
1955: Juan Manuel Fangio
1956: Juan Manuel Fangio
1957: Juan Manuel Fangio
1958: Mike Hawthorn
1959: Jack Brabham
1960: Jack Brabham
1961: Phil Hill
1962: Graham Hill
1963: Jim Clark
1964: John Surtees
1965: Jim Clark
1966: Jack Brabham
1967: Denny Hulme
1968: Graham Hill
1969: Jackie Stewart
1970: Jochen Rindt
1971: Jackie Stewart
1972: Emerson Fittipaldi
1973: Jackie Stewart
1974: Emerson Fittipaldi
1975: Niki Lauda
1976: James Hunt
1977: Niki Lauda
1978: Mario Andretti
1979: Jody Scheckter
1980: Alan Jones
1981: Nelson Piquet
1982: Keke Rosberg
1983: Nelson Piquet
1984: Niki Lauda
1985: Alain Prost
1986: Alain Prost
1987: Nelson Piquet
1988: Ayrton Senna
1989: Alain Prost
1990: Ayrton Senna
1991: Ayrton Senna
1992: Nigel Mansell
1993: Alain Prost
1994: Michael Schumacher
1995: Michael Schumacher
1996: Damon Hill
1997: Jacques Villeneuve
1998: Mika Hakkinen
1999: Mika Hakkinen
2000: Michael Schumacher
2001: Michael Schumacher
2002: Michael Schumacher
2003: Michael Schumacher
2004: Michael Schumacher
2005: Fernando Alonso
2006: Fernando Alonso
2007: Kimi Raikkonen
2008: Lewis Hamilton
2009: Jenson Button
2010: Sebastian Vettel
2011: Sebastian Vettel
2012: Sebastian Vettel
2013: Sebastian Vettel
2014: Lewis Hamilton
2015: Lewis Hamilton
2016: Nico Rosberg
& 2017: Lewis Hamilton

And finally we did it! Not only because Wanganui retained the Meads Cup for the 3rd consecutive year (It's the 6th time we have won the Meads Cup because we 1st did it in 2008 then a year later in 2009 2 years before we went on to win it in 2011 then 4 years later in 2015 a year before we retained it last year in 2016 before winning it this year in 2017) because we managed to beat Horowhenua-Kapiti 30 - 14 in the Meads Cup final of the 2017 Mitre 10 Heartland Championship at Levin Domain in Levin (And winger Cameron Crowley (Who was the 2008 Heartland Championship player of the year) was that star of the game setting up several tries as well as scoring one).

Getaway/Lightning Bolt: Mexican Grand Prix preview (+ An action packed finals rugby weekend & All Blacks squad for the Northern tour)

Well, the Formula 1 circus is heading to Mexico at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez over in the nation's capital of Mexico City as Lewis Hamilton still leads the championship hoping to regain the title so here is the circuit guide which will host round 18 of the 2017 FIA Formula 1 World Championship at the Mexican Grand Prix before it heads to Brazil (Interlagos) & the season finale at Abu Dhabi (And it's only 3 races left in the 2017 season) in the UAE (United Arab Emirates):

''Challenging track within a park not far from the centre of Mexico City. Colourful & controversial from the 1st Grand Prix in 1963 to the last of that era in 1970. Revived on a shorter version between 1986 & 1992. Returned with more revisions in 2015.''

So that is my 159th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 79th this year (Only 41 blogs until I reach the double hundred because I have broken the record for the most blogs in a month, unbelievable! Well, believe that!).

P.S. And go Wanganui tomorrow against Horowhenua-Kapiti in the Meads Cup final at Levin Domain over in Levin tomorrow so I'll be watching tomorrow's game with Pops live on Sky Sport 1 at 2:30pm (The Mitre 10 Cup Championship final is on tonight with Wellington taking on Bay Of Plenty at Westpac Stadium in Wellington with the winner taking Waikato's place to play in the Premiership next year then it is all business as Canterbury (One of 2 teams along with Auckland to have never been relegated) taking on Tasman in a repeat of last year's Premiership final in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final at AMI Stadium in Christchurch & finally it is the Lochore Cup final between Mid Canterbury & West Coast over at the Methven Recreational Reserve in Methven to wrap up an action packed weekend of domestic rugby finals weekend) but I've got the new Project CARS 2 game that I've got on the PS4 yesterday (It is much better than the 1st Project CARS game).

And finally the All Blacks squad has been named for the Northern tour (3 tests against France, Scotland & Wales as well as both uncapped games against the Barbarians & France XV) just several days after our heartfelt & gut-wrenching defeat against the Wallabies in the last Bledisloe Cup test for 2017 so here's the full squad:

Forwards

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Wellington, 0)
Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes, 55)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs, 9)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders, 26)

Props
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury/Crusaders, 68)
Kane Hames (Tasman/Chiefs, 6)
Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau/Chiefs, 10)
Tim Perry (Tasman/Crusaders, 0)
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Wellington/Hurricanes, 1) *3
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland/Blues, 11)

Locks
Scott Barrett (Taranaki/Crusaders, 14)
Luke Romano (Canterbury/Crusaders, 29)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland/Blues, 15)
Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders, 93)

Loose forwards
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs, 50)
Vaea Fifita (Wellington/Hurricanes, 3)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland/Blues, 81)
Kieran Read (Captain, Counties Manukau/Crusaders, 107)
Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes, 22)
Liam Squire (Tasman/Highlanders, 13)
Matt Todd (Canterbury/Crusaders, 10)

Backs

Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato/Chiefs, 27)
TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes, 39)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu/Highlanders, 68)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes, 59)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland/Highlanders, 13)

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders, 32)
Jack Goodhue (Northland/Crusaders, 0)
Ngani Laumape (Manawatu/Hurricanes, 4)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato/Chiefs, 19)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau/Blues, 43)

Outside backs
Matt Duffie (North Harbour/Blues, 0)
David Havili (Tasman/Crusaders, 3)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues, 10)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato/Chiefs, 9)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders, 15)
Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki/Crusaders, 3)

Players unavailable due to injury, personal reasons or sabbatical
Jordie Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes, 1)
Liam Coltman (Otago/Highlanders, 1)
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay/Crusaders, 66)
Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders, 95)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Manawatu/Hurricanes, 11)
Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders, 31)
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay/Chiefs, 68)
Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders, 64)

One: United States Grand Prix review

Well, the United States Grand Prix ended when Lewis Hamilton (The self proclaimed king of qualifying because he was on pole for the race) won the race but didn't claim the title (Although Mercedes have won the constructor's war by clinching the constructor's championship) because his rival Sebastian Vettel finished 6th or above to claim 2nd with Kimi Raikkonen rounding out the podium in 3rd after Max Verstappen stripped of his podium finish due to a 5 second timed penalty for cutting the corners & what a debut for our very own Kiwi Brendon Hartley in the Toro Rosso, as he finishes 13th in the race in an impressive display after starting at the back of the grid due to a grid penalty.

So that is my 158th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 78th this year.

P.S. And did you know that it is only 8 weeks until Christmas? Oh yes indeed.

Diamond In The Rough/Rock The Casbah: Mitre 10 Cup Championship & Premiership semifinal highlights

Well, here is the review of the Championship & Premiership semifinal of this year's Mitre 10 Cup season because we are heading into the finals of both the Championship & Premiership:

Two giant-killing efforts in eight days – that's what it will take if Tasman are to claim their first Mitre 10 Cup Premiership on Saturday.

Taranaki's bogey team did it again when fourth prevailed over first from the minor premiership by claiming a 30-29 win at Yarrow Stadium.

Tasman first five-eighths Mitchell Hunt, who has seamlessly stepped into the role played for so many years for Tasman by Marty Banks, must have wondered if he had let the dream slip through his fingers when making a near-fatal kick to the corner for a lineout three minutes from the end of the game.

The kick missed and Taranaki had a final chance to clinch the win that would have kept alive their hopes of a Ranfurly Shield-Mitre 10 Cup double.

But fortune stayed with Tasman who now face the daunting task of breaking the stranglehold Canterbury have enjoyed on the national championship for a decade.

Canterbury had prevailed in the final quarter, predictably as that has been their norm, to beat a gallant North Harbour 35-24 in Christchurch.

Any fears they would miss first five-eighths Richie Mo'unga, who was required to stay with the All Blacks in Brisbane, were soon allayed as Brett Cameron stepped up to the plate.

Canterbury have made an art form of throwing off most challenges and there is a feeling that while they may have let go of the Ranfurly Shield, the return of skipper Luke Whitelock has been timed perfectly in their Premiership quest.

In the Championship all the signs point to Wellington finally exiting the lower division after putting away Northland 49-21 in the capital.

Complacency would be their biggest problem although they only need to think back to last season when similarly favoured in their semifinal with North Harbour only to be sunk by the side that went on to claim the prize.

Northland had a marvellous season after some time in limbo and have created a fine platform to build from in the future. Wellington look the part and will take some effort to be beaten.

Bay of Plenty, similarly to Northland but less so in terms of desperation, have performed well. They have an exciting team, strong, rugged forwards capable of mixing it with the best while their backs have pace and class as Otago found out when beaten 48-32 in Tauranga.

There is no doubt that first five-eighths Mike Delany has brought some tactical nous to a young team and he will need plenty of quality ball if he is going to be able to set his side up for the challenge in Wellington at the weekend.

Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final
Friday 27 October, 7.35pm
Wellington v Bay of Plenty at Westpac Stadium

Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Final
Saturday 28 October, 7.35pm
Canterbury v Tasman at AMI Stadium

So that is my 157th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 77th this year (Only 43 blogs remaining until I reach the 200 mark).

Down Under/Great Southern Land: Making Australian rugby great again

Well, unfortunately, the result last night says it all as the Wallabies topple the All Blacks 23 - 18 (By 5 points (Well, Australian coach Michael Chieka might have helped the Australian Super Rugby coaches by holding a special meeting with Australian rugby) so this means that for the 1st time in 2 years that Australia had to win (Well New Zealand have blown it (Although they were missing both star first five Beauden Barrett & dynamic world class lock Brodie Retallick) as the Wallabies joined the British & Irish Lions to become the 2nd team to beat the All Blacks in 2017 because New Zealand are now 8 wins, 2 defeats & 1 draw this year) because they were the real improvers) in the 3rd & final Bledisloe Cup (Well the Bledisloe Cup is still in New Zealand's hands since 2003) test at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane meaning that they have made Australian rugby great again (Well it looks like Australia are the All Blacks main challengers for the 2019 Rugby World Cup along with Ireland & possibly England) just like Donald Trump became President of the United States by making America great again.

Disarm/Drum + Fife/Today/Zero: All Blacks lineup against Australia & United States GP preview

Well, the All Blacks team has been named to play against our old foe the Wallabies (Who'll try to end our New Zealand dominance because the last time Australia won against the All Blacks, it was 2 years ago way back in 2015 in a winner takes all match at ANZ Stadium in Sydney to claim the Rugby Championship before we retained the Bledisloe at Eden Park in Auckland, effectively beginning our 6 game winning streak) at Suncorp Stadium (Flashback hint: It was the site of our 29 - 28 win for New Zealand against the Wallabies way back in 2014 with Malakai Fekitoa scoring the last try of the game right at the death then Colin Slade successfully took the match winning conversion resulting the then Australia coach Ewen McKenzie being sacked for good allowing the current Wallabies coach Michael Chieka to take over the job where Chieka has been ever since but they have worked together with Super Rugby coaches in a special meeting with the ARU (Australian Rugby Union) to topple the All Blacks on Saturday night) over in Brisbane for the final Bledisloe Cup test for 2017 so here is the starting lineup:

FRONT ROW
1 (Loose head prop): Kane Hames (Tasman/Chiefs)
2 (Hooker): Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes)
3 (Tight head prop): Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau/Chiefs)

SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders)
5 (Lock): Scott Barrett (Taranaki/Crusaders)

BACK ROW
6 (Blindside Flanker): Liam Squire (Tasman/Highlanders)
7 (Openside Flanker): Sam Cane (Bay Of Plenty/Chiefs)
8 (Number 8): Kieran Read (Captain, Counties Manukau/Crusaders)

HALVES
9 (Half-back): Aaron Smith (Manawatu/Highlanders)
10 (First five eighth): Lima Sopoaga (Southland/Highlanders)

MIDFIELD
12 (Second five eighth): Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau/Blues)
13 (Centre): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)

OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues)
14 (Right Wing): Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Damian McKenzie (Waikato/Chiefs)

And in the reserves are:

16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19. Patrick Tuipulotu
20. Matt Todd
21. TJ Perenara (Who replaces La Rochelle bound halfback Tawera-Kerr Barlow)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (Who replaces Lima Sopoaga (Who is elevated to the starting lineup replacing Beauden Barrett because Barrett has been ruled out due to the effects of concussion) to cover at the midfield)
& 23. David Havili.

And the Formula 1 circus heads to Austin, Texas in America with Lewis Hamilton (Who appears in the brand new Gran Turismo Sport game exclusively for the PS4 as both the mentor & maestro who'll lead & guide players) in the Mercedes needing a win to seal the title with both Sebastian Vettel & Ferrari struggling meaning that Mercedes has the far, superior car which is fast & quick enough to win a championship due to its blistering pace (And I mentioned about that Kiwi driver Brendon Hartley making his debut in Formula 1 on my previous blog).

And finally here is the circuit guide which will host round 17 of the 2017 Formula 1 season at the United States Grand Prix before it heads to Mexico (Mexico City) then Brazil (Interlagos) & the season finale at Abu Dhabi (And it's only 4 races left in the 2017 season) in the UAE (United Arab Emirates):

''The USA finally produced a permanent track worthy of inclusion on the F1 schedule in 2012. An excellent combination of corners & sweeps, falling & rising to give good viewing. Well appointed & enjoyed by enthusiastic crowds. The vibrant city of Austin threw itself behind the race from the outset.''

So that is my 155th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 75th this year (Only 45 blogs left until I reach 200, that's all).

By The Way/Dani California/Tell Me Baby/The Zephyr Song: All Blacks rugby & Formula 1 news update (+ facts about Paige that I wrote today)

Well, it looks like that Beauden Barrett has been ruled out of the 3rd & final Bledisloe Cup test between the Wallabies & the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane due to concussion because he is suffering symptoms from the head knock he sustained against South Africa last weekend so Canterbury's dynamic first five-eighth Richie Mo'unga has been called into the squad immediately meaning that Lima Sopoaga would have to start at 10 & fullback Damian McKenzie to cover at first five.

And All Black openside flanker Sam Cane has signed on with New Zealand rugby until at least in 2021 on a 4 year deal meaning that he is still committed with both the Chiefs & Bay Of Plenty because he at least played 49 tests for New Zealand since his debut in 2012 & has become the regular starter in the number 7 jersey since the retirement of Richie McCaw after the 2015 Rugby World Cup but Cane has also captained the All Blacks twice, against Namibia during the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and to another victory against Italy in Rome last year.

And finally twice Le Mans winner from New Zealand, Brendon Hartley (Well, he is only 27 years old at the moment because he will be 28 next month) will make his long awaited Formula 1 debut driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso at the United States Grand Prix over at the Circuit Of The Americas in Austin, Texas...meaning that he is the 1st Kiwi to compete in Formula 1 since Mike Thackwell 33 years ago replacing the young Frenchman Pierre Gasly who is competing in Super Formula (Which is Japan's answer to Formula 1 as well as Indycar) over in Japan with Russian Daniil Kvyat coming back into the fold after originally being sacked with the team, replacing the Renault bound Carlos Sainz (His ex teammate since last year when he arrived back at Toro Rosso, replacing the Red Bull Racing bound Max Verstappen).

So that is my 154th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 74th this year (Only 46 blogs still remaining until I reach the big 200).

P.S. And we went to Caroline's today to have dessert there (We had hot dogs for dinner but Buck is a garbage disposal unit).

And finally today that I have written the facts about my cousin Paige Williams so here are the facts for her:

1. Paige lives in Upper Hutt with Jarrod Ahearn not Lower Hutt.
2. She & her boyfriend have a house down Te Puni Grove
3. Paige went to Auckland for the weekend with her mother Cathey for a nice holiday
4. She listens to any music - usually just what is on the radio (Well I listen to both alternative rock & heavy metal music as well)
5. Paige is a big fan of decorations (Compared to Sophia Ong being a Final Fantasy fanatic)
6. Paige went to Sacred Heart School & got her full drivers licence at 17
7. She had a party in town for her 21st in 2015 & she made a black & white theme
8. Paige worked at Kiwibank doing a customer service role in the call center when she was 20 way back in 2014
9. She only watches All Black test matches because she doesn't watch any Super Rugby (Only her boyfriend watches Super Rugby games)
10. Paige went to an All Blacks game against the Lions in Wellington with Jarrod in a competition to get tickets on Facebook that they won
11. She graduated in May last year after studying for 4 years
12. Paige loves her brothers Nico & Luca Mitchell
& 13. She's a Japanese food & salad lover (Well I'm an Italian food lover by the way).