Our old way of thinking started to rear it's slightly ugly head at the start of the game. A bit of a panic about numbers started to creep in and concern, bordering on paranoia about Burnside Div3 players running out for the Blackadders. These are minor distractions that can be put aside until the after match beersies and training next week. I do put my hand up for making the coach aware of the situation, but we calmed down soon enough to focus on the matters at hand. Such as not giving up the Challenge Shield.
As I said to Chief after the game, if we start to focus on individual players in individual positions, then we lose sight of the fact that we're a team with depth and cunning and guile and the ability to fill any position with any player. Maybe not as well as some players are typically in some positions, but fill them we can and will.

Tam had a blinder of a game for his 50th club appearance and a well deserved MVP. Even taking over from Chief as lineout chucker in person didn't prove problematic. Chief however, had problems of the "Burnside at Burnside Curse" variety. The last three games against Burnside at Burnside Park he's done his calf. We may need to call in an exorcist.

Dene was Dene, but Dirk was Dirk on steroids. I am so disappointed that Muncher was not there to see him score. It was lovely to behold. But then, it was also nice to not have Muncher there lumbering about awkwardly getting in everyone's way. So it all evens out. Alex seems to have managed the transition from front row to Number 8 without problems and his efforts on the field are inspiring if you feel yourself flagging in energy. His efforts off the field are also valuable and good for the team.

Lopeti is playing in typical New Boy style, eager to claim an award at the end of the season, but he does have competition from both New Boy forwards and New Boy backs. Rowdy surely at this early stage must be up in contention for an award, as are probably Gus and Alex and maybe Jack. Or maybe not. Hard to play rugby when you're out of the country.
Speaking of, it was Toms last game for the year as he returns to the United Kingdom for an extended time. So naturally he celebrated with some high tackles and a bit of argy bargy costing him 10 in the bin. Nothing unusual there. As mentioned, Jack has gone for a few weeks, with Muzz also disappearing to be with family overseas. Not the best of excuses, but the one he's going with. All will be back for next season, or so they say.

Injuries are a wee bit of a worry, with a couple who've just gotten over a twinge, giving it an extra too hard of a push making recovery even longer. With no game next week due to Queen's Birthday Most hopefully should recover in time to play against Suburbs. If not, we'll work it out. We always do.

There's a few milestones still to come this season. 250, 200 and 100 games are, baring serious impediments, going to be achievements worthy of remembrance to follow on from Muncher and Kev's 100 and Tam's 50. Looking forward to the piss up. If the prision bar staff allow it, that is.

Training this Wednesday as usual.

There was talk, as there always is about a new team, right from the start of the season about what sort of game we'd have against the Heroes. There were theories from the less enlightened that took their cue from their grandparents generation of how rugby should be played to theories that normal regular people have about rugby and sport and life in general. All of them postulated that we'd absolutely demolish the Heroes on the scoreboard, and no one was wrong on that. However, don't let the final score fool you. They are good opponents with a lot to learn, but they never held back in their tackles or attacking runs.
Exactly what you'd expect to see from rugby players eager to learn and grow.

Kevin trotted out for his 100th Keith appearance in the same manner he trotted out for his 1st. Never one for the limelight, but always noticeable on the field. All for good reason. Powerful crashing runs with ball in hand and a shock of flowing luxuriant golden hair. Although golden is now greying. Congratulations Kev on the milestone.
Helping celebrate were Toad and Poacher and Leyts whose skills still are with them even in their advancing years. Trout came prepared to play but only if someone gave him a pair of boots which he conveniently didn't bring himself. To his great chagrin, a pair was produced, but he never managed to get on the field being even older than I am.

Speaking of getting on the field, the Heroes only managed to bring 14 to the game, due to a high level of injuries, so we kindly lent them Colin who had driven down from Nelson to play with Kev, not against him, then Sonny Phil, Flannel and Mossie also pulled on the rainbow jersey and showed them what's all about, albeit, out of position. Kudos to them for helping out the opposition and here's hoping it's not a regular occurrence.

One part of the game that didn't sit well with us was the golden oldies scrums. Our front row didn't eat all those pies for nothing, so it was a bit disappointing to not see our scrummaging fully in action. But safety first I guess.

I should probably talk about the elephant in the room. Thomas "something shiney distracted me" CLARKE and Nick "my kids aren't watching me so it doesn't matter" PERCY both coughed the easiest of tries. All they had to do was fall forward and hit the ground but somethings are more difficult than at first glance. I wont mention at all how Kev coughed the easiest of right out in front conversions as that would take some of the gloss off his centenary achievement. But here's a photo of his attempt.

Not everyone scored today, but 16 tries is still a lot. Rowdy getting 3 with Perce and Tom almost getting a 3rd each was good to watch. Alex got 2 with a shit ton of other boys lining up for points. It's good to score but better to share.

After the match in the packed clubrooms we chatted and mingled laughed casually about rugby things with our opposition who it seemed, appreciated it. But in all honesty, it was not more than what we do for any team who comes back to share in a beer or two with us.

Looking forward to the re-match next round.

I've been proved right. Again. We're a team that despite not having so called "essential" players available on the day, we still have the depth and the skill set to have others fill those positions and to fill those positions well and with skill. While having players who are attuned to the minutia of a set position is a good thing, oftentimes the opposition can be outwitted by a player who does the unexpected because he's not quite in tune with what he's "supposed" to do in that position. We showed that in the front row and in the backline and it was good to watch.

Andy led from the front, right up to the end without flagging which some of you younger men not yet in your 50's could take notes on. Other than the usual suspects playing their usual hard game, no one however, stood out as a star today. Which means either we are now a fully fledged cohesive team playing for a clear and defined goal, or people were off the boil. I choose the former.
We look like a team now. We're training like a team now, We're playing like a team now and we're winning like a team now. Except we don't all have team gear. Which I'm told is coming.

Was a nice surprise to see Georgie with his TinTin haircut show up to try and take the gloss off Mossie's try scoring ability but Mossie will be able to return to Ireland now and gloat in front of Paddy LUCEY, and proudly proclaim he is a try scorer! We all knew it was coming and he did it with style. Unlike his first attempt of the day which was abysmal. But seriously folks, it's been a journey for Mossie and he's finally hitting his rugby straps and getting close to 100%.

The less we talk about Webby's efforts to get his boys from the works registered as rugby players the better, but at least he did his POD back at the clubrooms where all six of us enjoyed the beer.

We've got the Heores next week, who, as you know, are a team mostly composed of novice rugby players, so let's treat them as such and not as anything else other than the sideshow many other teams have. We are above such childishness, are we not?

Don't be fooled by the score. We had the shits all over Belfast from the word go. Except for the couple of times they ran in 70 metre tries because backs can't tackle. Which is the easy version. The real version is much more complicated as always.
Momentary handling errors plus missed zigs (instead of zags) plus mind boggling rule interpretations from the ref plus those lucky breaks some teams just happen to get were what really occurred. We should have won, but didn't. One of those Saturdays when everything and everyone seems to be going right, or at least, in your favour, but quickly slips away out of your control.

I for one was very happy with the manner in which the boys played, the skill set, the commitment and the game plan. No longer do we simply turn up and see what happens on the day. Our new way, will see us to the final, I'm sure of it.

We are still lacking a little bit of depth in the backs. One, followed by two serious injuries and we'd be hard pressed to field a solid backline up to the standard we currently are. Mossie and his ever growing confidence with the ball is helping matters, but we can't rely always on Muzz or Flannel or Rowdy or Tom et al to provide 24 hour a day cover. If you're currently injured, recover fully and get back into it. If you're lazy about turning up, decide one way or t'other.

Backs today though, brought their A- game with Flannel, Rowdy and Muzz carving things up. Jack and Mossie are growing in confidence and that always translates to top performances when it all clicks together. Cam and Tommy played slightly out of position but did so well.

Forwards are dominating numbers wise as they usually do, but Dans broken ribs from last week caused some change ups in the hooking dept. Which made for a HUGE front row towards the end of the match. We really did have it all over them up front, but Dick POWER'S fijian girlfriend had trouble understanding what scrums are all about. Like most refs in fact.
Dene and Dirk locked well with Jezza and Gus on the sides playing exceptionally well. Earning Gus MVP. Tam was a close contender for that award too, in my view. Not necessary to be flashy and fast and jumpy and runny etc. Good solidity and technique with an 80 minute commitment also are criteria for that award.

With a reasonable but still not nearly enough showing back at the clubrooms, we helped Peter CHAPLAN celebrate his 200th Div 1 game. One can only aspire.

Bollocks next week.