Awards Night

The always dignified Awards/Christmas dinner took place on Saturday December 12 2009 at the Depot Pub in Gimsby.







Thanks to Bob Mavro for arranging the function and for the thirty or so who attended. The food and atmosphere was exceptional. We had some celebrities attend. Our only actual social member Eddie Viera and former Grimsby players Ian and Ross Matheson were there along with Melissa? a friend of Martin W. who he met that afternoon at a funeral. Nick Lemieux attended having just come back from Australia the day before. It was good to see Kevin Erb in attendance, he will be getting surgery on his knee in February and will unfortunately miss next season. And Prince, the player formerly known as Scully, was a hit showing his mutilated appendage to anyone who would look.

This year's player's awards which are voted on by the players themselves went to:

Rookie of the Year: Alex Stevenson
Most Improved Player: Jeremy Young
Comeback Player of the Year: Dean Gibson
Player of the Year: Jon Jeske
Clubman of the year: Bob Mavro

A new annual award was introduced this year and is called the Deer's Rear award and is intended to go to the individual who did something so outstanding that he represents the arse end of our stuffed deer head at the clubhouse.

The story behind this year's award goes back to our away game in Windsor in July. We are down 14 to nothing and with about 5 minutes played in the second half, Windsor punts which is retrieved by our side and we start the counter by giving to our center who makes a pass that is intercepted by their center who runs the ball in to score a try just outside the posts. This is bad enough, but our fullback chases gives the scorer a bit of a shove, which brings in their team to shove our fullback and this brings in our winger to help the fullback. The result is a converted try and two yellow cards. In the next couple of minutes of play, Windsor punts but our flanker late hits the kicker and gets a penalty which turns in to a yellow through arguing. Windsor scores quickly between the posts. The net result of this series of plays is two converted tries and three yellow cards (a new club record). So this year's Deer's Rear Award goes to the player who made the original pass that was intercepted, Mike Stuart.

This year the fun? awards were again given out by Bob Mavro and Kyle Wilson.

The Frank Shilte indispensable award was again won by er. Frank Shilte


Jon Jeske, Martin Wolfe, Kyle Wilson, Bob Mavro

This was the first year for the President, Bill S., who also took on the duties of Head Coach and so he announced a top ten list of things he learned this year. He noted that if you do not understand some of the topics on the list, then you are not around the club enough.

10 A kilometer of fence is a long distance.

9. Always listen to your elders, especially your parents who have a lot of life experience and probably know something about life. Your father knows a bit about rugby and so do not just tune him out when he is trying to get you to do something.

8. Always wear sunscreen, especially if you father has explained to you several times that you cannot put sunblock on once in a day and run around in the sun at a beach without a shirt. No wonder you get burned and can't play rugby.

7. Windsor is a long drive.

6. However in Windsor, you can earn enough money from older ladies to buy another jug by taking off your shirt and pants and dancing wildly in public.

5. Don't send an electrician and an accountant to put up a ceiling.

4. Don't let anyone stuff your ass with toilet paper and light it on fire, no matter how nice he seems.

3. Don't treat players like they are in high school, even though you are a former teacher and they act like they are.

2. It is never too late in a game to get a card nor too late in a career to get a drop goal.(as an aside Frank S. got a yellow at the 79th minute but was beaten by a former Grimsby member playing for St Catharines who got a yellow right after the final whistle and immediately retired from playing rugby)

1. Any "voyeur" joke is always funny (not).

At the end of the evening, as is our tradition, we went to the Legion to cheer up the veterans. In an unfortunate incident, Bob M. was escorted from the establishment and has already set the bar high for next year's awards.

The executive wishes everyone a good holiday and expect to see you for touch on January 1 for touch rugby.

Most Improved Player : Jeremy Young



Clubman of the Year: Bob Mavro



Player of the Year: Jon Jeske



Comeback Player of the Year: Dean Gibson



Deer's Rear Award: Mike Stuart



Nick Lemeux back from down under the day before and trying to keep warm with Australian ear muffs.

AGM 2009

We had just enough for a quorum for the 2009 AGM held on November 2 at the clubhouse.
Reports were given about the year and the following members elected as executive members

President: Bill Stuart
Secretary: Jon Jeske
Treasurer: Jeremy Young
Social Secretary: Bob Mavro
Club Manager: Kyle Wilson
Clubhouse Manager: Jon Millington
Fixture Secretary: Martin Wolfe
Junior co-ordinator: Martin Van Der Herk

Thanks to all who attended and ran for office.

At St Catharines August 29

Grimsby Gentlemen 7: St Catharines Tigers 20

Referee: Tony Kearsley

Conditions: Surprisingly nice considering it was supposed to be very rainy. Temperature about 20 degrees.

Attendance: Bubbles, Wolf, Kevin, Mark, Elizabeth, Jamie, two big black dogs

Presidents Report

It could have been better if we had come in and blown them away and won our last league game but St Catharines had a deserving win. Our problem was again a short bench and a few niggling injuries. We had several blocked kicks which led to complications and scores for the Tigers. At about 13 min a blocked kick resulted in a try and a lost lineout at 25 min caused them to drive over for a try. Derrick made a good play on a poor pass by the opposition and as little kick on resulted in a Grimsby try at 30 min and Dylan made a difficult conversion. The half ended with yellows being given to goth teams.

Half time score: Grimsby 7; St Catharines 10

In the second half the Tigers got their short lineout working well and we started taking a lot of penalties. A high tackle on the five resulted in a try for St Catharines at 53 min and a another blocked kick and pick up let to the fourth try at 68 min. Their coach (who was playing) got a yellow card on the last play.

Final: Grimsby 7; St Catharines 20

Team: Mark Hall, Dylan Kinch, Jon Millington, Jeremy Young, Kevin Murphy, Joel Leonard, Kyle Wilson, Vic Blaney, Jon Jeske, Derrick Weber (C), Alex Millar, Mike Stuart, Andy Breuls, Scott Walker, Alex Stevenson.

Subs used: Bob Mavro for Andy Breuls at 50 min.

The beer up was a an interesting place (a boat in the Port Dalhousie harbour) but the food was not good and it took a long time (one of the poorer beer ups).

Coach's report Once again we were struggling for numbers but put up a spirited effort against the Tigers. We did well defensively but had little real offence for a long period except for a period early in the second period when we recycled the ball about ten times. Vic did very well on the lineouts and we were a bit stronger in the scrum. It has actually been a long season since last March but I hope we will get a few more games in the fall.

Coaches Man of the Match: Derrick Weber

Their pick: Vic Blaney



final record: Won two (Kent and Stratford at home), lost twelve.

Family Day Aug 15 2009

We are amazed by the job that Laura and Martin did with a very diverse group (size and age) in introducing flag rugby to Grimsby this past season.
They had about 15 players in two groups and gave them what seemed to be the appropriate amount of instruction and playing time to keep them coming back. On August 15th we brought the group to the clubhouse for a morining session and hotdogs, icecream and showers. Also some players children who were not part of the flag group came and leared some rugby.

This was with the Niagara Flag Rugby group and next year Laura and Martin hope to double the size and hold practices and a tournament at the clubhouse. Thanks for all your work.


Martin commanding attention



Military precision



Laura and the smaller (but more active) kids



typical Grimsby score



It was a hot day



Parents wishing they could jump in the sprinklers



Andy, get behind the ball

Cambridge at home

Grimsby Gentlemen 7: Cambridge Pirates 14

Referee: Ranbir Dhillon

Conditions: sunny, soft ground, hard rain just before

Attendance: less than 500

President's Report: Missed most of the game and caught the last twenty minutes when the game was tied 7 to 7. It seems we had a very good first half but could only score one try by Derrick W. and conversion by Dylan K. We could not finish and kicked the ball away a lot. With ten minutes, we were pressing and Jon M. had the ball over but was held up. At the end we lost composure, got unnecessary penalties and did not complete simple passes. Cambridge scored with 5 minutes to go. It was the second week in a row we lost in the last few minutes against a team much higher in the table than us. Once again, we just have enough players. Thanks to Bubbles for helping out by running touch and bringing water and cooking the hamburgers.

Team: Jeremy Young, Dylan Kinch, Jon Millington, Alex Millar, Dean Gibson, Kyle Wilson, Bob Mavro, Vic Blaney, Jon Jeske, Jamie Scully, Derrick Weber, Andy Breuls, Joel Leonard, Scott Walker, Frank Shilte

Their Man of the match pick: Derrick Weber

One game left.

Highland at home

Grimsby Gentlemen 13: Highland 14

Referee: Eric Ciezar

Weather: Clear sunny day, a bit warm (28 degrees but felt like 38 degrees)

Attendance: Jamie, Kalie, Bubbles and family returned from down under, Jim Levens visited a few of his former players. About 500 in total for a hot day.

Presidents Report: Highland came down with about 20 players to play a second game in Hamilton at noon and a first game in Grimsby at 3. It was a hot, energy sucking day and the players felt it. The chance was there to defeat the best team in the league but we came up short again at the last minute. After about 25 minutes Highland scored first and converted. At 32 minutes some good offloading and rucking kept the ball alive and gave Bob M. a run down the side line to score but the kick after hit the upright.

Half time score: Grimsby 5: Highland 7

At about 46 minutes Derrick W. hit a long 40 m penalty and then with 10 minutes left, Mike S scored to put Grimsby up 6 as the convert was missed. Unfortunately, with 5 minutes left we couldn't get out of our end and Highland scored and converted.

Final Score Grimsby 13: Highland 14

As president, I would like to get a team picture, but no one shows up in time to take it at the beginning and I forget at the end.

Team: Mark Hall, Andy Breuls, Jon Millington, Jeremy Young, Bob Mavro, Kyle Wilson, Joel Leonard, Vic Blaney, Jon Jeske, Derrick Weber, Jamie Scully, Mike Stuart, Alex Stevenson, Alex Millar, Frank Shille

Sub: Ross McBride came on for Alex M at about 15 min and moved to flanker with
Bob M on the wing.

The sprinklers were a great hit.

Coaches Comments:

An energy sapping day but most of Highland had already played a game and we need to be in good enough shape to play in the heat. Scrums looked better and we did well in the lineouts. We played as well, but they took the ball on the burst and gave us problems in the backs with our tackling.

From under the Willow:

Good game, both teams played well but Highland had better field position most of the game and could not finish.

Could have won but not should have won.

Good game against the best team in the league.

Waterloo (a close second in the Jones division) plays their seconds (Cambridge) in the NRU A and their thirds in the Jones because they consider this division more difficult. We play Cambridge next week at home.

Coaches Man of the Match: Vic Blaney

Their pick as Man of the Match: Vic Blaney (who had left) then Mike Stuart who cannot drink as proven last week.

We picked their fullback.

Highland Away

Grimsby Gentlemen 12: Highland 54

Referee: Jeff Dahl

Weather: Soft day with light drizzle towards the second half. About 22 degrees

Attendance: 13 players, 1 coach, 1 rabid supporter (Jamie) and a bunch from the other team.

Presidents Report: Highland agreed to give us two players but only after they were sure of beating us. Even with thirteen, it took them thirty minutes to get four tries and the bonus point. We helped them score in the first five minutes with a hands in penalty on the 20 m line, they took a quick tap and we could have been called not 10, but in the ensuing ruck we did not roll away and they again took a quick tap and scored and we got a talking penalty. Oh My God! We got better but Highland scored again at 10 minutes with a ruck at 10 m from our line and our flat line was ball watching and not covering the players. Their winger eventually scored on the other side, a problem with being short-handed. They scored again at 20 min and at 30 min. At this point, they offered us a player to give us fourteen but our Australian friend hurt his leg covering a kick deep in our end and they scored off that play at 36 min. Back to 2 players down, but we pressured them after the kick off and Alex Millar (playing as lock) put the ball down at 39 min.

Half time score; Grimsby Gentlemen 5: Highland 35

Highland gave us a couple more players and Colin (and if you try to make me do a Zulu you will get a taser and a night stick stuck up your ass as far as it will go and you will get a parking ticket every day of your life, but don't worry you may not live long) Maisonneuve scored at 47 min with Dylan converting. However, Highland did not seem worried and scored again at 52 min, 54 min and at 39 min.

Full time score: Grimsby Gentlemen 12: Highland 54

We went back to the Goofy Newfie (they are still working on their clubhouse) and they were generous with food and beer. Thanks Highland.

Team: Colin Maisonneuve, Dylan Kinch, Jon Millington, Dean Gibson, Alex Millar,Matt the Australian footie player, Bob Mavro, no one, Jon Jeske, Derrick Weber, Scott Walker, Mike Stuart, Alex Stevenson, blank, Frank Shilte.

Coaches Report

It is difficult to criticize when we do not have good practices or enough players but we did well in the scrums considering we were down players and all right in the lineouts with different players in different positions. We still need to improve fitness which everone can do on their own and be more mentally prepared for the game itself. Individually, a number of prople did well. Colin played in his first complete game at loose head and was competitive. Dylan did very well on the penalty punts. Derrick was all over and we welcomed Frank back after a long time. Congratulations to the team for playing hard right to the end.

From under the Willow

It was certainly better than not playing.

We need more fitness and more players willing to travel.

We need to train more in beer chugging.

Coaches Man of the Match Colin Maisonneuve (good job at loose head, around the field, scored)

Their Pick: Mike Stuart for his couple of long runs and his drinking ability (they claim have already picked him for next week)

We picked their lock (the one who outran Webs for a try)

Highland next week at home. Kids day at 10:00 to noon.