Crusaders away: Week Two

Grimsby Gentlemen 0: Oakville Crusaders IV 29

Venue: Crusader Park in Oakville their second pitch which was a lot muddy and very smelly

Referee: It definitely was not Steve Scott as advertised but Rose Labresche ***

Weather: not raining, cloudy about 18 degrees (the sun was shining after the game to watch the Crusader Firsts play.

Attendance: Andy had an extended group of encouragers and Mary was there (she must have found it chilly but the supporter's bus must have broken down.

Team: (18 players!) Nick Howe (20 min), Dylan Kinch, Nathan Rowbottom, Bob Mavro, Dean Gibson, Brendan Sculland (first game) Dan Wolfrack, Kyle Wilson, Nick Lemieux, Andy Breuls, Vic Blaney, Alex Millar (60 min), Jamie Scully, Trevor Trotman (60 min) , Derrick Weber,Jon Millington (60 min), Wally Cone (40 min), Martin Van Den Hurk (40 min)

President's Report: Crusaders IV were a bit of a surprise in that they are made up of some very good players who are still interested in playing but not in practicing as regularly with the club as they would need to. In fact this team is stronger (they claim) than their third team which plays in the TRU. So they had some talent with a lot of experience and a lot of players as the thirds did not play. We let them replace freely but are keeping track when we need to do the same. We are certainly not bitter even though this is the second loss and have not scored any points yet and we had to play a team with ugly uniforms.

Coaches Report: The Crusaders came out fairly confident and were much more ready for the game than we were. They moved the ball down the field until Tyler Legatt (who played a couple of game for us last year) let loose a drop goal after 3 min. We took the ball down the field and made an attempt for a kick at goal but missed. The Crusaders came back down the field and we spent much of the second half in our end. Tyler scored at about 10 min and again at 25 min. One more try was scored in the first half.

Half time score Grimsby Gentlemen 0: Crusaders IV 24

The second half was a little better for Grimsby and we were able to play part of the game in their end and came close to scoring a couple of times. Crusaders finished their scoring with one more try in the second half at about 65 min. Overall the Cru had players who moved the ball more quickly and got into position faster. We had trouble getting a continuous offence going and our defense was slow getting into position. They found gaps and took them with speed. We had some good runs and tried several plays but could not keep it going. Depending on how well they travel we could have difficulty with them when they come to our place unless we get more organized and fitter. Maybe we can blame the loss on their camouflage suits.

Close


Closer - but no cigar
The captains choice for man of the match was Trevor Trotman

Their choice was Andy Breuls for his tackles but they settled for Dean Gibson

We picked Tyler Legatt.

Next week (June 4) is our first home game this season and it is a derby game against St. Catharines and we are without our tree.

Note: Frank Shilte and Chris Brown have taken the Beamsville girls to their third OFSAA in three years and the Beamsville boys are going on Wednesday to Belleville to their first. Their coaches are Darren Moore and Dave Franklin have one of our signed up players on the team, Martin Colyn and hopefully a few more.

Warning : Do not get on a bus with the following man no matter how nice he is to you. Weird things will happen !!!!

Stratford Away: Week One

Grimsby Gentlemen 0: Stratford Black Swans 15

Venue: Stratford Nortwestern High School

(I think I saw Justin Bieber coming out of the bar)

Referee: Eric Ciezar ***1/2

Weather: About 18 degrees with a soft ground, overcast

Attendance: the Breules family (Melanie, Mason and Dylan) and Elizabeth.

The regular fan bus was cancelled.

Team:

F.R.: Wally Cone, Alex Millar, Dean Gibson, Jamie Scully, Andy Breuls, Nick Howe, Nick Lemieux

B.R.: Jon Millington, Bob Mavro, Trevor Trotman, Dylan Kinch, Vic Blaney, Kyle Wilson, Jeremy Young, Derrick Weber, Daniel Wolfrath, Stu English

Nathan Rowbottom came about twenty minutes later.

President's Report:

I got a nice chauffeured drive in a brand new Cadillac all the way up (thank you Wally). I thought the game could be cancelled because it was raining so hard on the way up but Stratford seemed to miss the afternoon rain.

We had three players play their first game as a Gentlemen. Wally "You don't quit playing because you get old but you get old because you quit playing" Cone is pictured below. Well done Wally.

Trevor Trotman who needs black socks

and Dan Wolfrath (We have a second Wolf on the club), here being lifted.

Also we welcomed back Andy Breuls who took a year off, Stu English who took two years off and Nick Howe who took three years off. I am sure the coach and captain were ecstatic when they realized on Thursday that they could have as many as twenty players for the game. A surprise change in the schedule a late as last Monday resulted in this game against Stratford and made the whole league more competitive with the addition of Stratford, St Catharines and Norfolk. After doing a lot of travel in the last couple of years, this is the farthest we travel this year. I recommend that the coach should run the team a few more laps to get rid of the weight we got from the food provided by the Swans. We at least won the man of the match drink off, the boat race anchored ably by Nathan, and the sing song.

Coaches Report:

The Swans came out very strong and kept us in our end for a considerable period, scoring after about 5 minutes and again after 20 minutes. We eventually got into their end and had some chances to score but could not finishing.

Half time score: Grimsby 0: Stratford 10

The second half was actually fairly even but they scored again at about 60 minutes. Near the end we had several lineouts inside their 10, but could not punch anything across. A lot of our inabliltiy to score and to stop them was rustiness from many players and inexperience from the new players who played better than could be expected. The scrums were good, the lineouts need work. It looked like we were just bashing against the other team without a plan. We need to activate our patterns and then make them happen. We did well for the first game of the season and so many new players. Stratford out agressioned (new word) us, especially in the first half. However, we did deny them a bonus point.

Coaches Man of the Match: Jeremy Young for getting around the field and putting pressure on the other team.

The other team's pick: Vic Blaney his play in the centers had may Swans avoiding that area. Vic won the drink off (but it was against an underage kid who then threw up in the urinals).

There is no under the willow this year because there is no willow. But we may have a third "Wolf" at the clubhouse.

New Year's Day 2011

The annual New Year's Day Match was played this year on January 1, 2011. A thawed pitch led to a lot of soakers.



Frankie pointed out that to his recollection he has never lost a New Year's game and he was on the winning side again.

Here's Frankie looking a lot like Jonah Lomu in that he has number 11 on the back of his All Blacks jersey.

This is Webs chasing again as Nick takes off.

Derrick and Milli tied for the Bob Mavro food preparation award for their renditions of chili.

A good time was had by all.

Letter to the Grimsby Legion

Grimsby Gentlemen Rugby Football Club

494 Ridge Ridge Road West

Grimsby, On

Royal Canadian Legion
West Lincoln Branch 127
233 Elizabeth Street
Grimsby On


Dear Sir (or Madam)

First let me congratulate you for all the work you and your group have done with the veterans of foreign wars and peace actions and also your work in the community. You are doing a wonderful job.

I am writing commend you on the actions of your security people who have worked the last couple of years when our group the Grimsby Gentlemen Rugby Football club have come in. Every year we have our annual awards night and the tradition is that after the awards we head for the Legion drink a few more beers at more reasonable prices (how do you do that?) and to cheer up any veterans and others who are present.

We now realize that you are not allowed to be on the dance floor with drinks and most of the members are aware of this rule. Warning a person 6 times and they still do not comply, I believe justifies their ejection and has nothing at all to do with their race. And thank you for not allowing him back in with his cigar, as we all know how dangerous fires are at the Legion. This year it seems to have gotten out of hand (I was not there), but I do accept that nudity should not be permitted in a public place (unless all agree of course). Now I am sure you realized that there was the alcohol factor and we have to look at the natural exuberance of young (well, middle-aged young) men. So I am glad your security did not call the police or anything like that and I suspect they had a good laugh later on. After all, you have to admit, when you think about, it "I dare you to tackle a naked man" is funny (maybe not right then but later).

I would also like you to congratulate the D.J. She played some gay (joyful) Greek Island dance music (gay) for the our members. She did not have to do that.

While we are on the topic, we were thinking that next year we might rent a room for our Christmas/Awards dinner in 2011 right at the legion and save the travelling. Perhaps I could come in and get the types of meals you provide and costs. This would not happen until next December so you have lots of time to consider it (I think we would like to avoid Santa Claus Parade Night).

Thanks for all the good works you do and please remember to give my personal congratulations to your security for their restraint and tell them if I ever need any security, I would hire them. Same goes for the D.J.

Yours sincerely,

Bill Stuart

President

Grimsby Gentlemen Rugby Football Club

Awards night 2010

For the second year, as we haven't pissed off management or the waitresses yet (almost), the Grimsby Gentlemen RFC Awards night was held at Nathan's Depot Pub in Grimsby with about 300 attending.

Jon Millington on the left below was presented with the Clubman of the year award by last year's winner Bob Mavro.

Player of the year for 2010 was Derrick Weber on left, presented by Club Manager Kyle Wilson

Comeback players of the year was Martin Van Der Hurk being presented with the award by President Bill Stuart in the great vest and tie.

Most improved player Jamie Scully honoured by Captain Dereck Weber.

Michael Stuart won the rarely given out Fall-Down award as he got hurt before the season started and did not play a game.

The coveted Deer's Rear Award was won by Derrick Weber for his perfect pass to the opposition St. Catharines which allowed them to score when suddenly he realized that we might win the game after all. Derrick had he promised to buy a keg if we won. His scheme did not work and we won anyway.

Some table surfing was tried later on. (no winner was declared)



Later on we all went over to the Legion (see next blog) to wish the veterans there a happy holiday. Unfortunately no pictures are as yet available.

In Sports History (Club dinner 2009)


In the following picture, one of the following things is happeing.

a. The person on top is demonstrating a Greek wrestling hold.

b. The person on bottom is getting a Greek lap dance.

c. The person on top showing his latest Greek expilation procedure.

d. Or you many not want to look.

Warning this picture is rated only for mature members over 14 or with parent's permission.

In other words (d) is the most correct answer.

St. Catharines away (home); Week Fourteen

Brooker Cup Result for 2010

Grimsby Gentlemen 0: St. Catharines Tigers 0

Referee: Scott Flemming ***

(in a fog)

Venue: Alway School Field

This is from the field looking at the clubhouse about 20 min before the game.

Weather: Wet, foggy and dark. (British Rugby Weather)

Attendance: Not the 500 expected, many must have got lost in the fog.

We had a few ladies in attendance who must have lost a bet.






And Frank who must have lost a fight.



And Martin who was just lost.



And Andy who was lost in the fog.

President's Report:

So to explain this all quickly, St. Catharines won the Brooker Cup last year and got the right to defend it this year at home. However their field at Ridley College was taken away from them and so they wanted to do it Thursday night at Ridley instead. We agreed but at the last moment they took away the field at Ridley again. So it had to be played as St. Catharine's home game at the Grimsby field.

And of course it had to be a rainy day with lots of fog. No wonder our attendance is down, we come up with a boring no score tie game. This means that St. Catharines retains the cup, (I made the rule up last time there was a tie and could not change it this time) and will defend it again next year.

We actually had two subs on the sideline and it was wonderful that Nathan and Bob thought it was more important to play rugby with Grimsby rather than do their job which was to attend a grade 9 parents night. What is even better is that they managed to persuade a vice-principle the same thing.

We did not have time to get a license for a beer up at the clubhouse, so we went to the Depot but St. Catharines must have gotten lost in the fog and did not show up. There are rumors that one player was roaming in the back fields for several hours, having been separated from the group.

Team: Jeremy Young, Dylan Kinch, Jon Millington, Bob Mavro, Dean Gibson, Martin Van Der Hurk, Kevin Cooper, Phil Sullivan, Jon Jeske, Derrick Weber (C), Vic Blaney, Alex Millar, Jamie Scully, Mark, Nick Lemieux.

Nick lasted one play so Nathan Rowbottom came as prop, Jeremy to lock, Bob moved to flank and Martin went to winger.
At sixty minutes, Kyle Wilson came on at lock for Dean Gibson

Captain's Report:

What can you say about a 0-0 tie except that my defensive systems worked perfectly. My offensive systems not so much. Although we played mostly in our end it was not inside our 22 very often and the first actual threat came in the middle of the second half when St. Catharines took a long penalty which overmatched the kicker. In the last twenty we spend some time deep in their end and had one kick at goal which went wide. We had a couple of lineouts and scrums on their 5 m line but could not get it across. Thanks to Mark and Kevin, who played their first game for Grimsby, we actually had 17 players for the game.

Coaches Man of the Match: Vic Blaney for his straight ahead running and crushing tackles.

Thus the season endth, not with a bang but a wash.

Wilmot Away: Week Thirteen

Grimsby Gentlemen 0: Wilmot Warthogs 36

Referee: Eric Ciezar ***

Venue: Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School




Weather: cooler that our last bunch of games around 20 degrees with little humidity (expect the boys to run better)

Attendance: 1 (Jes as seen below)

And she wasn't actually watching the game but studying.

President's Report:

Well the wish that they would have lost a lot of good players to university, was just that. They were the same as us and only lost one. The good news is that Wilmot is getting older and looking more like us as a club. But of course we are much better looking.

We started with fourteen as per usual but really hoped for fifteen. Wilmot, against the wind, had most of the ball and scored after 10 min just before our fifteenth player arrived. Wilmot scored again at 20 min. Then we had a burst of rugby which kept us within 15 m of their goal for about 10 min. However we could not put one across. The closest was a 40 m penalty attempt. A turnover and poor coverage ended with them making a long run stopped by Webs. The half wended with Wilmot scoring again with Kyle off injured and Webs on the ground injured.

Half time score Grimsby Gentlemen 0: Warthogs 21

The second half was similar except we played most of it with fourteen players. Offensively Wilmot had more ball and more push, defensively Wilmot had good coverage and put us on our back foot for most of the time.

Final Score Grimsby Gentlemen 0: Warts 36

Team: Nathan Rowbottom, Dylan Kinch, Jon Millington, Scotty Walker, Jeremy Young, Bob Mavro, Dean Gibson, Kyle Wilson, Jon Jeske, Derrick Weber, Alex Millar, Martin Van Den Hurk, Jamie Scully, Nick Lemieux.

Coach's Report:

After the hot, humid weather we played in for much of the summer, I expected a burst of energy from the players but maybe I have been watching the university boys too much and we looked slow out there. We did run our patterns a couple of times but we were slow to set up. Bring on St. Catharines.

Coach's man of the match: Nick Lemieux for a number of big hits on some big bodies.

Michael has complained that I write too much and he has to scroll down and he gets out of breath. He thinks it is because I think that no one really reads me (except 5) and so I ramble. I think it is because I am putting in more pictures. Hope you don't hurt your arm Mike.

From under the willow:

Bob made two punts in the game, one of which actually cleared the zone and was not returned. Stick to running with the ball Bob.

Webs has more stitches.

If Kyle had known about the nurse at the start of the game, he might not have lasted through the kickoff.

Nice ball

Nice mall

Nice wall

Nice place

Nice ruck

Nice lift

Nice team

Nice team as they all look up my shorts. (And they call me the voyeur)