Old Yardleians RFC: Club News
NEW YEAR HANGOVERS STILL EVIDENT
Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:37
Senior Rugby
New Year, Same old story. Arriving 5 minutes before kick off (a bad habit picked up from Chicken) meant parking on the grass which is not a good place to park. With 3 home games the large crowd was spoilt for choice. In my case watching a bit of each seemed the decent thing to do.
I began with a look at our First team playing a league match against local visitors Woodrush. Two early tries, the second by Adam Walker being particularly good filled me with hope as I departed to the top pitch to watch a sort of 3rd team take on Old Salts and while I was watching we seemed to be comfortably the better team. Also watching and keeping to Chicken's timekeeping was one of my old mates from the Referees' society, Mr Peter Morgan. Not in the best of health it is good to see Pete still very much involved in local rugby as an 'advisor'. I will offer the ref some hope for the future and that is that you will almost certainly improve considerably (think about it). Next was a stroll to the Development team also playing Woodrush. Individually, we have enough talent to beat most teams but the ever changing line up makes life a little more difficult. While I was watching the all-round skills of Ian walker were clear to see but not quite enough to bring us victory.
Final scores
First XV lost 10-34
Dev XV lost 14-26
Third XV lost 11-18
Under 16 Rugby
With the younger teams on a training date, the under 16s welcomed Tamworth and what a game we saw. The Ys were forced to defend for much of the game as a strong and well-drilled Tamworth pounded away at us. But our defence was determined and organised. Time and again the visitors were held up over or just short of the try line, which combined with some impressive clearance kicking kept us in the game. Not for the first time, our opportunism led to three good tries. The speed and awareness of Tre'rail scored the first try and, I think, Charlie and Alex got the others to earn us a hard-fought win by 15-12. A big thank you to our visitors and to referee Mr Sidwell.
Fixtures this weekend
Sat 15th Jan First XV v Redditch (League) away
Dev XV v Redditch home
Vandals v Redditch away
Sunday 16th Jan U16 v Stratford on Avon away (CV37 7DP)
Social Stuff
This time last year the weather forced the extended closure of the club and with that went financial problems. But this year, New Year's Eve saw the club firing on all cylinders as Tom Collins and his band got everybody dancing or bar diving so the rumour has it.
The Quiz to beat all quizzes made over £400 for the chosen charity, 'Soft Power Education' a British registered charity that provides access to education to rural communities in Uganda by the building, decorating and resourcing of new schools, with much of the work being done by British students who are required to raise £600 each towards the purchase of materials.
With 15 teams taking part and coming from as far away as Ireland, the battle was on. The lead changed hands many times and the final score saw 5 teams in equal 2nd position but the winners were the team led by the Thomas Aquinas wonder teacher, Clare Jordan and reinforced by Haydn Rees and his better half.
My thanks go to Luke and Sharon, Mike and Jackie on the bar and Shannon for his P.A.system skills.
She who knows all the answers (but still didn't win) enjoyed the evning and cannot imagine what happened to the three bottles of wine that were on the table in front of her.
And Finally
Who wrote the music to, 'here comes the bride' ? The first correct answer given to Graham Davies wins a pint.
Remember, Mr Wenger know best. What a story and Villa in the next round.