I've known these two particular Keiths for many years, one of them 2 decades, and still they panic about numbers ten minutes before anyone's supposed to be at the sheds. But that tells me that they still care and still want the best team on the field every week. But I do suspect the Uli and Toad will welcome Troutys return from the United States.

Low numbers meant we had a shortage of front rower and locks, but luckily, Div 2 lent us their Chilean import, Phillippe who deservedly won the MVP. He was everywhere, man. Goober, who wasn't slated to play, shocked his hand again, while Kevs ankle showed him it still wasn't ready. Sonny Phils hip gave him trouble (from last week) but thankfully, Psycho's cuts and bruises did not prevent him from playing in the front row.

Returning to the fold of the forward pack was Freddy and H who looked older, but played wiser.
The backs had moments, but mostly faltered due to lack of support. The forwards too had very little second phase help, but that seemed to not be so serious a problem in the second half.

Having New Boy tactical and place kickers in the team has given us an option that we were not able to fully utilise last year and it's taken the pressure off our part time kickers.
What made things easier on both sides, and made them able to sustain the effort being put into the game, was a referee who knew what he was doing and could control the play well. So the low score does not necessarily reflect a badly run game, but reflects the strong and determined attack and defence of both teams.
Unluckily, Suburbs suffered a horrendous loss of one of their layers via ambulance right when they were putting pressure on our line.

Unusually, some Old Coves came out to watch; Chops, Crack, Soak and as usual, Boner, although it turned out they were watching Blind Man's team play further on down the fields.