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)

Cambridge at home: Week Twelve

Grimsby Gentlemen 17: Cambridge Pirates 24

Referee: Jeff Dahl ***, very patient with the other team.

Venue: Alway Field

Weather: nice, 25 degrees, strongish wind to the north (made a difference to the game)

Attendance: Not the 500 expected

Celebs: Donny MacPherson made a surprise visit and intends to play this year. Looks fit as in the photo with a possible new young player, Ryan Henderson, Steve Catagin, Greg Russell and Donny.



Also present was former president Dean Nasby. who was immediately put to work as a line judge which was difficult.



Also in attendance was Frank Schilte, former social member Eddie Vieira, Larry Jaraslawski, Jim Leavens, Adam Wilson and Ben. Also seen around were Alex Easton and Sean Padulo. Andy did not show.

President`s Report: Cambridge is at the top of the table and beat us 66 to 10 in the away game last June. We expected a good set of quick backs and they did score early. They would really have been dangerous if they could have passed the ball well. Strong center work led to a second converted try in the first half but the Gentlemen took over near the end of the half by dominating in the forwards.

Half time score: Grimsby 0: Cambridge 14

Second half, new game. With confidence building with a strong scrum, we came back with a nice run and a try early on in the half touched down by Vic. The convert by Derrick was off the post. Continued forward possession and pressure and a few soccer kicks by the centers led Derrick touching down and which he converted. With less than twenty minutes to go, against the run of play and a scrum we pushed over, Cambridge jumped on the ball when it came out and quickly scored. Convert missed. A nice elusive run set up a try under the posts for Grimsby, but the conversion was missed (down 2). Cambridge scored near the end under the posts and missed the convert.

Final Score: Grimsby 17: Cambridge 14

Team: Nathan Rowbottom, Dylan Kinch, Jon Millington, Jeremy Young, Scotty Walker, Joel Lenard, Bob Mavro, Phil Sullivan, Jon Jeske, Derrick Weber (C), Jamie Scully, Vic Blaney, Alex Millar, Nick Lemieux, A. Nother

Coach`s Report:

It feels good to have a full team to start unlike our past 4 games and with the added bonus, the other team had to play one short. But even with dominance in the scrum and a good lineout and an extra man, we still could not capture the win. We did not have the killer instinct to put away a team that was essentially falling apart, complaining to the ref and trying to delay the game. Our skills and fitness let us down. It looks like Cambridge will forfeit its last two games in September to support their two other teams in the Jones division. This will give wins to Kent and Bruce. It is better we played and lost than not have played but the forfeits by the leading team does not look good for the league. Anyway it was nice to have Joel back for the first time this year and Alex for the first time since June.

Coaches Man of the Match: Vic Blaney for strong running and tackling and a try

Other teams pick: also Vic Blaney



Scotty getting lifted.



Jeremy getting stepped on.



Mystery try scorer.

Grimsby at Bruce: Week Eleven

Grimsby Gentlemen 0: Bruce County Barbarians 28 (Default Score)

Referee: Their coach

Weather: Humid, with a light rain, 25 degrees.

Venue: C.A.W. Park in Port Elgin



My wife selected Inverhuron Park for camping in March (I did not know where the place was), and the league schedule came out in April with us in Bruce in June and them in Grimsby in August. Bruce asked for a change in May as they had all away games at the end of the season and we agreed. I still did not know where we were camping or when, but it turned out that the last day of camping was August 21 about 20 kms from the field. It looks like the gods wanted me at the game, unfortunately they did not want many of the rest of us at the game. It is a good thing some players showed the flag as it is important for us to do that or you would be looking at my vacation pictures instead.

I showed up late about 10 min before game time and it was a forlorn five sitting on the sideline. Then at about game time, the Profast truck showed up four as they took the more scenic route probably gazing at windmills and cornfields. By the way, if you want to listen to a rant, just ask someone from the county about wind turbines. Sometimes you don't have to ask, they just tell you.



Proud players but a lot disheartened as the team did not come through for them:

Jeremy Young, Jon Millington, Phil Sullivan, Scott Walker, Kyle Wilson, Vic Blaney, Derrick Weber (C), Jamie Scully, Andrew Jolly

Andrew was supposed to stay another week but had to go back to Scotland (something about finishing a paper, but maybe to get rid of us) He did say he would be back next year despite the weather, the travelling and the number of players. Thanks Andrew and good luck in Dundee.

Anyway, we borrowed a few players and our guys played a strong game although were a little let down by the tackling of the borrowed players especially in the backs, but whose complaining. Half time score was 4 tries to Bruce to 2 for our side. My man of the match goes to Jon Millington who scored and ran with the ball, always attracting attention from the Bruce tacklers.

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Derrick had a great game and was excited to be at number 9. He had to make a lot of tackles, but scored a try and a conversion. This is actually a picture of the girl in the black dress but Derrick got in the way.



We had a few players hook this game, the ref who got hurt, Phil who got hurt and
Jeremy.



Also special mention to Vic and everyone else who spend a lot of the time tackling.



Derrick says they had a great beer up with lots of corn and he was sorry we couldn't stay later as it looked like to be a great party. Too bad for Bruce about the game but what do they expect when you bring scaffolding to record it.

O what the hell, some holiday pix.

Grimsby Gentlemen vs Kent Havock Week Ten

Nothing to report as Grimsby did not have enough players to make the 3 hour trip to Chatham. We had to default, which I think is the first time for the first team in the modern era. I hope everyone enjoyed their rugby free weekend with a little guilt.

I thought I would update a little on the history of Grimsby Rugby since I have the time. These historical moments are in no particular order and are only published when I think of them ..or I should say research them.

It seems many years ago up at Alway school a few of the boys were kicking around a ball when William Webb sent the ball accidentally onto the road presently known as Ridge Road (then too) where it got run over by a hay wagon with eight work horses, each of whom stepped on the ball with each foot. The others chided William for his incompetence and lack of skill. William defended himself by saying he meant to do it as he now had a ball no longer round but in an oval shape.

He said " There are thirty of us and I will take half and we are going to run this oddly shaped ball down the field and touch it down in the endzone. Try to stop us you scrummers." This was a word that William did not know what it meant but it sounded bad.

The words were barely out of his mouth when he was hit by a number of opposing players and only just managed to offload to a supporter who did a DSP to make a break and with help managed to put the ball down in the endzone in about 10 phases.

A passing school teacher observed what happened and called the boys together. "Gentlemen" (some say this is how we got our name), he said, " You have just invented a new game and I think we will call it Alway after the school."

Unfortunately he was not very bright and lived with his mother and didn't get out much. It was, in fact, 1978 and rugby had been invented some hundred and fifty five years before at Rugby School in England. Its a good thing William Webb Ellis had not gone to school in Penetaguishene. I only mention the whole incident as it was one of the few times Grimsby Gentlemen has had 15 players on the field.

Flag Rugby Celebration Aug 9 2010

We celebrated the almost end of the flag season, with a party mainly organized by Laura and Martin Van Den Hurk. It did not look good at the start as the weather was not cooperating. But about 20 kids, 15 parents and 1 dog showed up.











After a meal the weather improved and it was a full field game of the slower but crafty parents against the faster but with better lung capacity kids





At some point I found a new setting on my camera that had sports on it, so I tried it but without my glasses I could not see what was happening. So I got some interesting pictures, some good and many bad.







And Andy was no help in getting in my way.