At the end of the day - rugby was the winner!!!! Many games were played on a hot and balmy Saturday afternoon, where most of the rugby was played in good spirit, with some wonderful touches and running lines there for all to see, and many more friendships were made and one or two were undone - but more of that later!!!
Before I mention the games, this is the perfect opportunity to thank all the main players within the rugby circles that made this day possible. Most notably - Sean “Mr Plumbco” Davis, Richard “Tough Tackler” Armitage, Jeremy “Mothercare Boy” Armitage, Nick “I can’t think of a nickname for you, you lucky git” Harvey, Ashley “Lord have mercy, I love my food” Fenn, Pete “Mr Slimline” Croot, Dale “When the bleeding hell am I going to go one flaming season without getting a yellow card” Pearson, all the trainers who look after the Junior Section, and anyone else prominent I failed to mention that had
a hand in organising it! A special thanks must go to all the Kuwait Exiles players that came from far and wide to give up their time to play in the tournament. Without doubt, they certainly added some real flavour to the whole day.
The days festivities began with The Lads versus Dads game which proved to be a real hit - I hope the same will happen again next season. Among the dads to feature in the game were Bob “I can’t stop effing swearing” Osbourne, Kevin “Ronald” McDonald” (former first team number 8 in the late 1880’s!!!!!), and Alan “scrum half for tea” and “rob we rob” Barnes who has now reached the grand old age of 52. For anyone that does not know Alan, those were his trademark sayings when he used to play for the OG’s. He used to play hooker, and along with these dumbarse sayings, believe it or not, he used to wear carpet down the front of his legs instead of shin pads. How weird is that!!!!! Silly old duffer!!!!. The dads had to dress up in fancy dress, and it looked as if everyone enjoyed themselves.
At about 1.30pm, the “business end” of the rugby began , and the first game that the Old Boys featured in was against a rather determined and youthful - looking Oundle side, and it was clear from the outset that they just had not come to make up the numbers. Bearing in mind that all the games were 30 minutes long, each game was played at a fast and frenetic pace. However, the major factor for the Old Boys was the dominance in the forwards, particularly in the scrums where they pushed Oundle back almost at will. This allowed the halfbacks of Jon “Loadsamoney” Dyer and Gary “I’ve never got any bloody money” Craddock an armchair ride to show off their talents. Early on in the game, Dyer fed the ball out from a ruck to the backs, expecting to pass to Donks, but who should be standing in the number 10 channel - that dumbarse hooker “Wedge” who really thinks he is a certain Jonny Wilkinson!!!!. Needless to say, he didn’t catch the ball (twat) but it fell into the hands of the “evergreen” (or is it “ever black!!!”) winger Mutty who set off on a mazy jinking run to the line, only to be stopped just short. From the ensuing ruck, James “I am Alun Rees’s best friend!!!!” Hinde burrowed over and the try was converted. In the second half, Oundle decided to make a tactical substitution, which resulted in uncontested scrums (Hmmmmmmm!!!!) which was designed to neutralise the Old Boys threat. But they began to gel together, and a sweeping backs move saw Gary “Brain of Britain” Craddock go off on a superb solo run, hook up with old adversary Mutty who cut a lovely (running!!!!!!!!) line towards the whitewash. The winger was caught just short, the opposition began to infringe and commit offences, and eventually another ruck was set up, and came out to full-back Jamie “Ding-Dong Chicken Legs” Bell, who drew the last man before popping it to Mutty who strolled over. It was an encouraging performance and certainly bodes well for the season. The most pleasing thing was that we stopped them from scoring.
Some of the other games were equally as entertaining including Kuwait v OW’s wherby the score ended up 28 -24 During that game , kicking the ball was a last resort, which showed that everyone was keen to show their attacking flair. If anyone wants to submit any comments about any of the other games, please feel free. Unfortunately, I missed the second OG’s game, but did manage to catch the following incidents before our final game:-
1 Dale Pearson getting yellow carded - no surprise there!!!! At least he is consistent.
2 Same person dropping the ball with the try line beckoning. Twat.
3 Brad “Bad Boy” Burridge with his new hairstyle, looking like it had been cut and styled by David Blunkett!!!!
4 Bubba looking like an oversized basketball player!!!!
5 Ashley eating yet again!!!!
6 Jez Ammo turning up to play in his new under 4’s sports kit - which incidentally was too big!!!
7 Hindey running away from his support, and then throwing off his scrumcap in disgust and crying like a baby!!!
8 Richard Ammo tackling - not!!!!!!
9 Mutty looking just as slow!!!
10 Alun Rees with some strange refereeing decisions!!!!
11 Nick Murphy looking like a tall “Mr Muscle” (from the TV advert you idiots!!!!!!!)
12 Paul Bush still looking like Nigel Havers!!!
13 Frosty acting the twat.
14 Nigel Ogden and Snowy looking like a pair of bald eagles!!!!!
15 All the players leering at the women!!!!!!!
16 Reesy yellow carding nick Harvey from the touchline.
17 Mr Muscle and Mothercare Boy having a difference of opinion at a ruck!!!!
The final game was the Old Boys v Kuwait, and both teams had a lot at stake. Once the game started, the old Boys were under tremendous pressure as the Kuwait side game out with everything and scored a try within the first 2 minutes, and the signs looked ominous. But this seemed to spur them into action, and they started to apply pressure of their own. It was around this point that Hindey and referee Rees began to undo their friendship as Hindey’s interpretation of the law seemed poles apart from the refs!!
The Old Boys then hit back with a rtry of their own and as half time approached the Kuwait scored again and the game was balanced. The Old boys then scored a brilliant backs try , finished off by David “Mr Royal Navy” Bedells. About this time, Reesy had run out of patience with dynamic flanker (or is it w…er) Hindey, and sin-binned him. This was closely followed by Nick “Mr Muscle” Murphy for a stupid infrigement which left the game finely balanced. With time running out, the Old Boys attacked once more and Andrew “Big Fat Wedge” Wetherill burrowed his way over from about 5 yards taking some defenders with him . The conversion was missed,but it made the score 15 - 12 to the Old Boys, and Kuwait had it all to do, but they managed to hold on for a famous victory. Kuwait still won the tournament, but rugby definitely was the winner. The players then proceeded to mingle with each other and a lot of alcohol was then consumed. A good night was had by all, and we look forward to next year. Just 1 final thank you to the contingent of w’boro players who helped to make up the numbers for Kuwait where necessary.
