An excellent turnout for the annual match on top of Terrey's Hill. The wind certainly fooled our Ealsie in the first match against Dee Why, with him helping their kickoff over the touch line. He then redeemed himself by winning their lineout only to be disheartend by their intercept try. Take two. They kickoff, he lets this ball go only to watch it funny bounce over the touch line 10 metres from our try line. They then score. We have now had 45 seconds play and we are down two tries. I am thinking that this is going to be a long afternoon. However the boys rallied and made a game of it. From my very safe position on the sideline I thought Dee Why was far softer this week but maybe thats just writers privilage.

It was good to see some 2011 virgins such as Kevin Turner, Chris Perry and Peter Baker. Where's Johnny Courtney? Pete being the oldest man on the field was particularly vicious in defence head highing one of the Manly boys. When I took him aside and tried to explain that not everyone is as tough as him, he replied "it wasn't a head high it was just above his chin".

I thought Nigel excelled, taking the ball up countless times into the swaming, bone crunching, tenatious defence until someone sat on his arm and he took himself off for a massage and a rub. Nigel you know that in Japan it is legal, almost manditory, to have a rub n tug after the game. You'll enjoy Japan.

As the matches went on we changed opponents and ref's frequently, I agree with Marks coment about ref's policing the rucks and mauls and stopping blokes lying on the ball makes for a better game. Some of the ref's forgot. To everyones credit we kept the rucking and punch's to a minimum, limiting ourselves to only one per maul. Who broke the old Dee Why "Red Shorts" blokes nose? Although, he didn't seem to mind too much.

Hey did everyone see Mr Rugby in full flight, he made the break, passed!!!!!!! then backed up to receive the ball again then run 30 meters to score. I think we can make him outside centre next week. It was great to have the President back, with only cameo appearences too date, with his trade mark clean, crisp clearances from the rucks, mauls and srums. Someone suggested he is so quick cause he is either scared or smart. Dicko we know its the latter. Special mention must go to our Man of the Match, Greg Allen who made more breaks up the middle than I had beers on the sideline. I think he scored one try and set up quite a few more. In the end we played three games, aquitted ourselves magnificently and had some great stories tell standing around the still afterwards.

A short break before we host the 'Black n Blue Old Fellows' at Melwood in two weeks on July 24th. I will confirm times after I find out the juniors draw.