Scott leaves a winner

28/7/2009

Scott McKee (1999-2003) was inspirational at the weekend in guiding his Dunedin club side to its 10th premier rugby banner

Scott McKee (left) with Southern skipper Jed Vercoe prior to the weekend's premier rugby final

Scott, who leaves shortly for a northern winter playing in Scotland, led from the front as Dunedin took an 11-nil break into halftime, before defending stoutly and holding on for an 11-10 victory.

An abrasive, combative loose forward, Scott showed the same never-say-die qualities for which he was renowned during his time in Otago Boys’ rugby colours. While it most definitely wasn’t a one man show at Carisbrook on Saturday, Scott’s generalship was instrumental in Dunedin’s success.

The Otago Boys’ 1st XV of 2003 had a strong representation in this year’s premier ranks with Scott being joined by James Cooper (Zingari Richmond), Willie Lawson (Kaikorai), Tom Davie and Ben Kerr (Taieri), Craig Sneddon (Southern) and Ryan Grant (University A). A number of other players from that side are now plying their trade elsewhere, including Ben Nowell (Japan), Stephen Sasagi (Wellington, ex-Tasman last year) and Matt Larson (Scotland).

While Tom has represented New Zealand in track & field and bobsleigh in between leaving school and returning to rugby this season, several others from that 1st XV have also branched out …

Craig Anderson is in Canada where it is reported cricket is on the agenda, Brice Ritani-Coe is a successful mixed martial arts fighter based in Las Vegas and Jerram Huston has also represented New Zealand at Arafura Games track & field level.