CHARTWELL NETBALL TROPHY ENGRAVED '2022' — NOBODY NOTICES FOR FOUR MONTHS
The trophy has been on a Rototuna mantelpiece since July. Per the plaque, it's from a season that ended before the winner had her braces off.
A Chartwell Netball Club trophy handed out at the July prizegiving has been sitting on a mantelpiece engraved with the year 2022. Roughly 80 people have held it, photographed it, or drunk out of it. Not one has said a word.
The trophy went to the Wildcats' captain, 16, at a function at the clubrooms. Present were parents, coaches, and three committee members. Absent, in spirit, was the Napier bloke who sent the wrong plaque to the wrong island.
Coach Rhonda Kelleher said she'd looked at the trophy "about forty fucking times" and never clocked it. "Too busy watching the mums size each other up in the carpark. Someone's husband called the ref a tosser in June and we're still not over it. The year on the cup was the least of it."
The error was spotted by the captain's nan, visiting from Te Awamutu, who put her glasses on and said, quote, "That's not right, love, you were eleven." The family has since checked the photos. The '2022' is visible in every one.
A club spokesperson said the trophy would be sent back to Napier "at some point". The Napier engraver was "carrying on like a pork chop" about who was paying the courier. The engraver, contacted separately, said the club signed off on the proof. The proof has not been located.
The trophy remains on the mantelpiece. The captain has been told not to touch it, which she described as "honestly fine, it's ugly as".
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Reader Letters
★ Trev_Hornby
Bet the trophy's a kiwi as well.
★ JoannePetone
Honestly, it's more funny than scandalous. At least the kids are having a laugh. Fair enough if they keep it as is. My teens would be rolling their eyes.
kiwi_bloke
Mate, the real shameful part is that some poor engraver stuck with the courier costs. Shouldn't he pay if he botched it?
tired_referee
That ref was a tosser!
★ Margaret_F
Back in my day, we'd have taken the time to check these details before handing out anything. Gerald would never have let that sort of mistake pass unnoticed, even in the 80s.
★ BarryBishopdale
Honestly, not one person noticed? What are they putting in the water up there? This country's standards are going soft!
frustrated_fern
Did no one bothered to read the plaque or what? Disgusting.
couchgremlin
Lol
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