Orange CYMS prop Chris Bamford packed up his family and left Christchurch at the end of 2016 to avoid earthquakes, the south island city, his home, prone to the disasters.
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So you can imagine the Bamfords when Orange experienced a 4.3 magnitude earthquake in April.
“We were ready to pack the bags,” Bamford laughed.
“But on a serious note, it was only a little one and the little fella didn’t feel it, and that’s the main thing.
“We’ve settled in now, the club has been really good to me. It’s one of the better clubs I’ve been to.
“The family is very lucky to get away from the earthquakes over there in Christchurch and we’re settled in.”
Bamford, who turns 34 next week, has been one of CYMS’ best in the green and golds undefeated run over the course of the opening six rounds of the 2017 Group 10 season.
Powerful but boasting some clever footwork at the line, the monstrous Kiwi has scored five tries this season – all of which have been followed by Bamford’s now trademark motorbike post-try celebration.
A genuine character, the former representative gun breaks into celebration after scoring partly because he’s never sure when his next four-pointer will come, but also to rev up his teammates, so to speak.
“I do a bit of a flick through (with the leg) and ‘on your bike, boys’,” he laughs.
“It’s starting to become a bit of a favourite here at home.”
The competition leaders are again at home, Wade Park, on Sunday when they take on Oberon on Sunday, another massive test for Mick Sullivan’s outfit.
The Tigers sit third having dropped just the one game this season, but Bamford is confident if the green and golds continue to improve then more competition points are their’s for the taking.
“We’re finding a way to win but I think our best is yet to come as a side,” he said.
“As long as we can do a job through the middle on the weekend I think we can score our points out wider. We’ll make sure we toughen up through the middle.”
Bamford says he’ll relish the challenge up front, with Tigers prop Ryan Verlindin and versatile Abel Faifua-Lefaoseu tough to handle for the visiting Oberon outfit.
“I’m a physical player from New Zealand and I’m really looking forward to playing against some of the Kiwis in the side. I’m keen to rip into my fellow compatriots and I feel it’ll bring out the best in me,” he said.
Kick off is at 2pm.