Finally the season kicked off on Saturday as the Old Yards first xv travelled to newly promoted Cleobury Mortimer for a North Midlands Shield match. The selectors made the tricky decision to leave out of the starting line long established stalwarts Steve Grainger, Ben Honey, Pete Butler and Phil Painter and although their strength and experience were certain to be missed it was considered the right time to blood younger players. Mike Brennan and Chris Rhodes won a lot of good lineout ball and Luke Harris ensured that the scrummage ball was secured. As would be expected the home team fresh from winning promotion played with great desire in front of a large crowd and probably edged the first half. However, the Yards made 3 changes at half time including player-coach Gary Robinson, who as an impact player is well worth his weight in gold. Superior fitness combined with speed and mobility ensured that the visitors would come out on top. Tries for Andrew Pearce and Adam Walker with 2 conversions and a penalty from Max Gimson were enough to give the Yards victory by 19 points to 11.
The Ys Vandals xv played at home against Tamworth. Full match report below. Last season’s success story continued as Lee Coates with 3 tries led the way to a win by 43 points to 5. The return to the club of Tony O’Keefe from Doncaster and John Kitchen from West Midlands Police will make the competition for places even fiercer, starting with this Saturday which sees the First XV begin their league programme at Old Leamingtonians, the Development XV entertain Aldridge Firsts and the Vandals are also at home against Yardley and District.
On Sunday 18th of this month the club are inviting any interested youngsters from age 6 upwards to an open day at the Tilehouse Lane club starting at 10.30. Newcomers to the game as well as more experienced players are welcome to come along and to have a go at some basic skills or even just to have a look at what goes on, and remember we are only 4 years away from the next world cup!
Social stuff
Not everone likes Welsh front row players but personally I think Mark Baldwin is a good bloke and when he invited me (and she who knows how to leave the club dry of wine) to his 50th birthday bash I felt privileged (o.k. I had nothing else to do). The bar take must have been massive and it's a shame that we didn't have the vision to put on breakfasts. One or two mentions, Junior, you are a better scrum-half than you are a dancer and what a thorough job was done by Peter (the Fridge) Butler of 'Buffet demolition services'. Thanks Mark, the Peter Pan of props.
Old Yards Quiz Evening
Friday 30th September, at the club, 7.30 start, teams of up to 6 players, cheating not allowed, £2 per player, super prizes, bar open etc, previous winners 'The Erdington Educationists' (a contradiction in terms I would suggest). Open to members, players and friends of the Old Ys.
Friends of the club
It was good to see Pembo at the game last saturday. Nice suit mate, Blox said he thought it was your Demob special
What a great bloke Bill Burrows is. Why don't you get mentioned too often? simple reason Bill, you are a prop! But we do think you are a good lad and You can impress us all at the quiz.
Vandals v. Tamworth - 3rd September 2011
Very much as case of business as usual on a cool Autumnal Saturday with the Vandals' first game of the season against our old friends Tamworth who must be quite frankly, sick to death of seeing us, this being the eight meeting in 2.1 seasons. The Vandals this season under new ownership in the form of Steve "Sid" Sidwell took the field though under the captaincy of Mark "Gethin" Baldwin who on the 31st August notched up his 18,250th day on this mortal coil (and no I can't be ar5ed to factor in leap years).
Anyway with the digital voice recorder consigned to the kitchen drawer, it'll be just scores on the door from now on....so the Major's never gonna get a f**king mention!!
Starting line up then Shannon "Steps" killarney, Steve "Sid" Sidwell & Mark "Gethin" Baldwin, Andy "trained all Summer" Killarney & Phil "BMT" Gouldbourn in the engine room, with a back row of Marcus "Shark" Hope, Nick "the Assassin" Levey on the flanks and Roger "the Dodger" Lazenby at No.8.
Halfbacks Phil "the General" Evans at scrum half and Ian "Nev" Neville at fly half, with Nick "Barrel" Palmer partnering Lee "Coatsey" Coates in the midfield, with Egg Male on one wing and rugby debutant Alex Mears on the other with Dave "Ralph" Rollins directing traffic at the back.
Large bench in Rick "Swing" Lowe, Chris "Golf ball" Rowe, John "Casper" Lonie, Peter "Fridge" Butler, Nigel "Boothy" Booth, Kevin "Bolt" Coles, Mike "Nearly" Neary, "Tattooed" Tim Russell and Bob's mate Cedric Farrell, plus two former Old Yards in Tony O'Keefe & John Kitchen
We opened the score with, yes a penalty despatched cleanly by Dave "Ralph" Rollins 3-0, before Coatesy opened his season's account with a try close to the sticks, making Ralph's job that much easier for a 10-0 lead. Shortly after Coatesy doubles his account, again giving Ralph the easiest of conversions 17-0. At which point Sid swaps with Rick, and after about twenty minutes in Shannon and Alex make way for Fridge & Boothy.
Just before half time Coatesy's monopoly is finally broken when he puts Egg in for one close to the posts after doing most of the hard work and Ralph goes three for three and a lead of 24-0 at which point Coatesy comes off muttering something about competition and Kevin "Bolt" Coles comes on to partner Barrel in the centre. The younger than usual Tamworth side begin to chat destructively amongst themselves.
Halftime 24-0 Mike comes on for Ralph, as does Cedric for Egg.
Boothy rolling back the years opens our second half account going over in the corner increasing our lead to 29-0 but it's a little too wide out for Nev. Casper comes on for Andy K.
Nick "the Assassin" Levey goes over next under the posts following a neat sleight of hand Roger the Dodger, Nev makes no mistake this time 36-0 Coatesy swaps with Nick and goes onto the flank, Barrel comes off, Boothy moves into centre with Bolt and John K comes onto the wing. Rog makes way for Tony, as does Gethin for Tim.
Tamworth's plucky youngsters finally & deservedly get on the score sheet with a drive over try wide out right, much to their delight 36-5
Coatesy rounds off his hat trick late on which Nev converts 43-5 and Slow comes on for the last two minutes, and immediately the General tees Slow up with a flat pass, he bulldozes through two and promptly falls over, forward rolls and is pinged for holding on...game over 43-5
This notched up the Vandals' 38th win on the trot, we know it ain't gonna last forever but it's some achievement for any side.
No idea of final age sorry, will work it out shortly.
Slow