Annual Dinner 2014

  

On  Dec 6th we held our annual dinner at the Alway clubhouse for the first time ever.  We have used Alway since the spring of 2006 ( in finally cleaning up we found dead flies dated from that time) but never thought it would make a good venue for the dinner as it is a long ways from town, what would we do after the dinner and the place was quite dirty . Vic felt we could put the dinner on (he knows a caterer) and it turned out very well.  First we had to put on a new roof (so things did not leak on us) thanks to Trillium, then we had to fix the water damage (thanks to Jim Barclay).  Then we painted everything that did not move and the paint made the place look good. We were hoping that the new floors would be laid in time, however they were not done and we had to make do with a good sweeping and washing thanks to Vic and Nick.  At least we know that we would have to be really bad to get kicked out of this place (but no need to try).

Thanks to Vic and his caterer (Vic did all the set up) and we had an excellent meal.

Vic and friend

We were ably served by the barkeeps.

Our Servers: Natalie, someone in the middle and Jared. Thanks!

Dapper Master of Ceremonies brought in at great expense.
(Has trouble remembering names)

The picture below shows Derrick Weber contemplating rugby in one of the 3 and 1/8 games he played this year.  He originally injured his ankle playing indoor soccer (co-ed) in the winter then went on light duty at work with a wrist problem.  He played the first two games then stepped on a piece of broken bottle and damaged his heel.  He missed only a couple of games but broke his toe after 10 minutes against Stratford.  He only made it back for the last league game.  Also he turned thirty this year (it does not get any easier Derrick).   For this reason he got the rarely given "thanks for coming out" award.  Surprisingly there was some competition this year with Nick Lemieux who broke his thumb after 5 minutes in the second exhibition game and Kyle Wilson only playing two games (shoulder).

watching last season go by

Dillion Trimble helped coach Beamsville High School last year and played club rugby for the first time. He had never played scrum-half but we had lost our experienced 9s through injury and we persuaded him to try it.  Playing about 7 games at scrum half and two at wing, Dillion scored ten tries in nine games.  He also took over the kicking duties and scored 82 points in total (this was 40% of our total points this year).  It is for this reason, Dillion was named as the team's Rookie of the Year for 2014.

Dillion: Rookie of the Year
Poker.... that's just like playing cards.

We had a trio of senior (experienced) players join the club this year.  On the left is Mark Woodgate who filled the required New Zealander position on the club which was vacated when Dean left last year.  To Marks right ( actually his left) is Adam Meehan who has played for many teams in Ontario.  Adam handles the ball the way he handles glasses of red wine.  The next person to the right is Milli who is photobombing the three amigos.  On the end is Alex Easton who came back to the"game played in Heaven"after 7 years playing soccer  (the game played in the lower town). Alex is a former club president and is our Comeback Player of the Year for 2014.

Alex: on right: Comeback Player of the Year.

Nick and Ross: Clubmen of the Year 2014
The picture of Ross on right is not out of focus - Ross is.

For the first time ever we are giving out two Clubman of the Year awards (we once did give one award to two people: Laura and Martin Van Der Hurk for their work with the flag program).  This year we are giving the award to two people for two very different but significant roles they played with the club this year.  This award could also be called the "unsung hero award". 

Nick was and continues to be the fixture secretary and did a great job in this position but he also spearheaded our application for a Trillium grant.  The whole process is a lot of hard work and we ultimately received $66 000 to renovate the clubhouse.  To this point we have put on a new roof, repaired water damage to walls and re-painted most of the rooms. We will be adding new flooring soon and later this winter change rooms with showers will be built.  He has also spend a great deal of time working to get the clubhouse ready for the dinner.  For these reasons Nick Lemieux deserves the Clubman of the Year for 2014.  

Not to lessen Nick's award but to recognize Ross Matheson's extraordinary work the past year in the area of coaching .  Ross returned to the club after about 15 years elsewhere (the local farm team) and although he wanted to be lower profile for the start he stepped up took over a big leadership role on the team. .  Ross attended most practices, lead fitness and coaching drills and was asked to be captain on the field in the absence of the regular captain due to injury.  Ross has also accepted the job as club manager for 2015.
Congratulations to both Ross and Nick. 

Club Manager and Team Captain presented Vic Blaney with the 2014 Player of the Year award as the main player on our side that other teams look out for in terms of hard running with the ball and devastating tackling. The mere fact that Vic is out there opens up lanes for other players.  

Vic does not normally dress like this - just after practices and formal affairs. 

The last "official" award is the "Deer's Rear" which goes to someone who usually has a "brain fart" on the field and this year it goes to Jame D'Achille who while making a fine break manages to fumble the ball with only the try line ahead. Classic.

It turns out I don't have a lot of pictures of Jake

Other dinner guests enjoying the ambiance:

Chris and  Bill (life members): Scott and Dave (former players)

Jim(an original member of the team 38 years ago this spring), Martin (former player)  and Paul  (life member)

Elizabeth, Chantel and Mary

Kyle and M.P. (Kyle says he is going to get her more letters for Christmas)

A new player to the club this year Chris and Melissa

Brendan (clubhouse manager) and another Melissa. 

Bob and Vanessa (aka Melissa)

Presentation of the special Kylebob awards.  Always anticipated and enjoyed by some.
Introduction of the first Jian Ghomeshi award to Derrick

Jon and Vera

Martin is not sure he heard Milli correctly. 

Martin who has an amazing amount of knowledge about rugby floating around in his head pays careful attention to what others are saying especially when Jon says it.  Jon has a way of coining a phrase that Martin will then record. them and call them Millisims. For example (the suitable ones)

Milli
on education:  "You train a bunch of monkeys to do something but as soon as one starts throwing shit".
on his profession:  "I'm all over that like a fat screw salesman on a smartee "
on fashion:  "I always buy motorcycle tee shirts because they are so large you don't have to wear pants."
on something:  "It attracts me like a moth to a fly."

A special thanks to our team photographer, Jennifer Reichow, for her collection of pictures from the year and the comments.

We always wondered what we would do after the awards we given out if we held the dinner at Alway.  What would members do after and how would we get them back to town so they can go to the Legion and cheer up the veterans.  We solved these problems by running out of beer and so every one left.

Goodby:
(Bob is right beside the place where the no smoking sign is going). 

The End

I am not sure exactly where he is going to put  that phone (just don't ask to use it)

AGM 2014

The Grimsby Gentlemen Rugby Football club had their 2014 annual general meeting on Monday Nov 3rd.    Reports were tabled and a new board for 2015 was elected.  

 Bill Stuart was elected President (again)

What your well-dressed coach wears.

Vic Blaney is again Social Secretary

I really need a beer.

For his third year,  Dirk Reichow was elected Secretary

Do you have any beer in there?

Adam Meehan was elected for the first time as Treasurer. 

Beer!

  Ross Matheson became Club Manager.

I bet I can get that beer or am I hallucinating. 

 Brendan Vorstenboch is once again Clubhouse Manager

More Beer

 Nick Lemieux is repeating as Fixtures

If you all leave me alone, I will buy you a beer. 

James Vinneau is Junior co-ordinator for the fourth year.

This is how I hold my beer. 

This year we won three games while losing seven but gave some of the winning team some good games.  We added six new players (3 veterans (oldish) and 3 youngsters) but remained with about the same  number of players.  The hoped for women's team failed before the season started (not enough players) and we did not have any junior rugby.  The flag program expanded by ten or so players this year and looks good for the future. 

We are excited for our Trillium grant which gave us $66 000 to repair and add change rooms to the clubhouse. We have put on a new roof (almost) and fixed the water damage inside.  A new paint job is going on and the floors are being put in.   We also look forward to the start-up of a boy's rugby team at Blessed Trinity High School as a way of introducing rugby to young players in Grimsby. 

..

Norfolk at Home (last league game of 2014)

Grimsby Gentlemen 10: Norfolk Harvesters 24

Venue: Alway Field

Referee:  Ian Stewart (I guess we were lucky to even have a ref as on Wednesday they were saying that there were no refs to work our game).  Thanks Ian (also for ignoring the offsides).

Weather:  21 degrees with a bit of a wind from the North.

Sponsors: Thanks Steamwhistle, JJ Cores and Profast.

 Attendance:: A bit disappointing considering it was Fan Appreciation Day with free entry and parking but that is perhaps the fickle nature of our supporters (it was not a winning season). Those who did show (less than 500) saw a hard hitting, entertaining game that was very close until the last 20 minutes.

some of our supporters

Former president Chris Atkinson discussing Ross with Mr. and Mrs. Matheson

Team: 1. Ross Matheson, 2. Brendan Sculland3. Jon Millington, 4.Adam Meehan, 5. Martin Van Der Hurk (60 min : replacement), 6. Nick Lord, 7. Chris Fothergill, 8. Mark Woodgate, 9. Dillon Trimble, 10. Derek Weber(C), 11. Will George, 12. Vic Blaney (60 min: injury), 13. Martin Colyn, 14. Jake D'Achille (60 min: injury), 15. Jamie Farrell, 16. James Vienneau (20 min), 17. Nick Lemieux (20 min), 18. Dirk Reichow (25 min).

injured: Alex Easton, 
away (Vegas - but not together):  Bob Mavro, Kyle Wilson
wedding: Jeremy Young
working: Sam Berg, Colin Comfort
not sure (call home): Alex Millar, Pat Brown


Game: The Harvesters were in first place in the league and needed a win today to maintain first place. Grimsby was looking to spoil and stay in 6th place ahead of Waterloo and St. Kitts. The Gentlemen took the lead after about 3 minutes with Dillion hitting for a three from about thirty meters.  We had withstood a lot of pressure from Norfolk from our opening kickoff and with the help of a couple of penalties got the ball down the field for Dillion's kick.  About three minutes later a similar kick bounced off the right goal post.  Norfolk were playing hard (but not well) and had a great scrum which pushed us off our ball and disrupted our play repeatedly. We played most of the half in our end and at about twenty-five minutes, our scrum was pushed back into the endzone and they fell on the loose ball.

Half time score:  Grimsby Gentlemen 3: Norfolk Harvesters 5

Opening the second half we put the pressure to them which eventually led to a penalty just to the right of the posts and playing dangerously, kicked for the lineout at the five instead of a sure penalty.  The drive at the front collapsed fairly quickly but with the ball out to Webs, a dummy switch to Vic and a pop to Martin, who really had to stretch,  we scored. Dillon converted and we were firmly in the lead.  The next twenty were pretty even until Norfolk broke through on the edge and scored an unconverted try to tie up the game. Norfolk kept up the pressure and managed to score two tries in the middle to take and keep the lead.  They deserved the game but maybe not the bonus point.

 drive

tick

tack

Congratulations to the Norfolk team (8 -2)  for a successful season winning the "C" division championship by two points over Wilmot and 3 over Stratford.  Grimsby (3-7)  came 6th ahead of Waterloo IV (who had an enhanced team when we played them) and St. Catharines.

Mark (Kiwi) was selected man of the match (Vic stood in for him) by Norfolk but a special mention goes to Chris a player who played in the forwards for the first time ever but looked like an experienced pack player by catching lineout ball and putting a lot of pressure on the opposition.

Mark coming down with the ball

Vic doing Mark's job (who knew the guy on the right was a pro)

Chris securing a well caught ball

Norfolk kept Dillon from scoring a try but he got a penalty and convert for 5 of our points. This would be only the third game this year he did not score a try, having scored 10 in 9 games and along with kicks scored 81 points this season.  A new club record (for as long as records have been kept)  for tries and points in a season.

Dillon adding a couple of points to his total. 

Hopefully some games will happen in the fall but all the best to the players going on to play at college and university.  Jake is at Trent, Will is at Humber, possibly Sam at McMaster and Chris is at Mohawk along with Ross, Dillon and myself who are coaching at Mohawk.  Jamie is at UBC but too busy to be playing rugby.  Overall it was a fun season and although we lost by some large scores we did not get depressed and angry with each other for it.  Thanks to Ross for making the huge effort to be a most practices and help with the coaching.

Anyone recognize this guy found at a flag rugby tournament?

This visitor said she would park her brand new 5 day old Toyota away from the clubhouse so it would not get scratched. 

Being male is a 

matter of birth, being 

a man is a matter of age, 

being a Gentleman is a 

matter of choice. 

Flag Rugby final BBQ. Aug 18th.

To finish off our very successful season our last practice included games and a bbq.  Thanks to all the kids, parents and coaches.

Fist that traditional rugby warm up: the parachute

Then a game where the kids allowed the parents to play.

Then Brian shows off his anti-aircraft bottles. 

 

Once again I missed getting all the parents and kids into one picture but this was a few of the players at the party.

Thanks to all who contributed and came out.

flag rugby championship

 Final Championship at Grimsby Aug 16: a lot of players and parents

 Lots of trying

 and lots of crying

Hey look, a spider

some of our younger group

The sign is getting a little old.

and our older group

so is the guy in the back. 

a player of the game

A couple more talented players with new shirts donated by Ruckwear 

Well done players, coaches, parents.

Clubhouse Announcement

July 31, 2014

GRIMSBY, ON - The Grimsby Gentlemen Rugby Football Club is pleased to announce that they have been awarded a grant of $66,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. 

The grant will allow the club to redo the roof, create home and visitor change rooms with showers, and to finish off the main hall which will create a functional community space for Grimsby. "This grant will help our club with much needed improvements," said Bill Stuart, President and Coach of the Grimsby Gentlemen Rugby Football Club.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities throughout Ontario by strengthening the capacity of the voluntary sector, through investments in community-based initiatives. "The team is extremely appreciative of the Ontario Trillium Foundation for recognizing our application as a priority," said Nick Lemieux, Director for the Grimsby Gentlemen Rugby Football Club. “We cannot thank them enough for their support.”

The rugby club has been working closely during the application process with Bruce Atikson, Director of Recreation, Facilities and Culture at the Town of Grimsby, to ensure the Town’s support for the project. “We wouldn’t be here without Bruce’s continued support," said Mr. Stuart.

The majority of the work will be completed by Marty Vorstenbosch of D.F. Gerow Plumbing and Heating and Sara and Reg Perry from Your Electrician along with the club’s many volunteers. “The club would also like to thank its sponsors on the project, Paul Rohner from Permacon, Any Colour you Like, Aqua Flow, JJ Cores, Profast and Rikochez Pub. Your help is truly appreciated,” said Mr. Stuart. The club has twelve months to complete the work and report back to the Trillium Foundation on progress.

What the clubhouse looks like at present.

What the president envisions it to look like when finished.

Stay tuned to see progress on this next phase of the club's history.

Vic arrived at the clubhouse with new t-shirts. They are fetchingly modeled by Brendan and Chris.

the back says "80 minutes, 15 positions, no protection. Wanna Ruck"

Come and see them, he has them in different colours and styles. 

Wilmot away

Grimsby Gentlemen  26 (4 tries: good) Wilmot Warthogs 59 (9 tries: bad)

 

Venue: Waterloo Oxford High School.(somewhere between Waterloo and Stratford) at 2:15 p.m.

,

Referee: ? (There was an announced shortage of refs on Saturday)

Attendance. ? (There was an announced shortage of supporters on Saturday)

Weather.  Mid twentiies, partially cloudy

Team:  1. Ross Matheson (c), 2. Brendan Sculland(60 min) 3. Jon Millington,  4.Jeremy Young , 5. Martin Van Den Hurk 6. Adam Meehan (20 min) , 7. Nick Lord, 8. Mark Woodward, 9. Dillon Trimble, 10. Martin Colyn, 11. Will George (Sassy), 12. Vic Blaney, 13. Chris Fothergill , 14. James Vienneau 15. Jamie Farrell , 16. Dirk Reichow (60 min)

Game:  I missed the game so any information is actually hearsay and probably made up.  I was with the Niagara Rugby Union under 17 sevens teams at the Ontario Summer Games in Windsor ( I am the director of representative teams for the NRU).  After a Friday in which all four team (boys and girls, A and B, ) went undefeated, the finals on Saturday led to a Gold and Bronze for the girls and a Gold and fourth place for the boys.  (last year at the interbranch, the NRU got one silver by the boys).  The tie in to Beamsville  High School is that Annie Berg would have made the girl's team but made the Ontario team instead and Dakota Unrau who made the boy's squad but could not go to the tournament due to work. 

Anyway back in Wilmot, there was a slow start as usual and we did not score until near the end of the first half when Martin touched down.  The conversion was missed. 

Half time score: 1 try by Grimsby and 4 or 5 by Wilmot

At about 56 minutes Martin got a yellow for a little hockey but we scored at 60 minutes when Nick made a run and fed to Dillon (tenth try this season).  Dillon made the conversion.   At 65 minutes a long run by Vic led to a try and which Vic converted himself. At the end of the game a tripping penalty on Martin gave us  a penalty try which Vic also converted.  

Final Score:  Grimsby Gentlemen 26: Wilmot Warthogs 59

Congratulations to the Canadian Women's team who made it to the final of the world cup by defeating France by 18 to 16.  Canada was up 11 to 6 early in the second half but France had a scrum on Canada's 5 meter line.  A great push by the Canadian left side caused a steal and Canada were off running the  ball out of their end.  A pass to the very fast Magali Harvey send her flying down the wing and with a Milliesque head fake on the fullback and she was gone.  Harvey is short listed for the IRB Womens Player of the Year. 
Canada plays England for the championship on Sunday.

Another player learning from the master was Dillion who after a difficult post-game reception and while observing a poker game on TV said:  "Poker - that's just like playing cards!".  Milli you will live forever in the young men and women of this nation.