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Match Reports
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Monday, June 28, 2010
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It gladdened the heart to see a group of rugby players gather outside the H&WRFC clubhouse on a grey morning in June. Several were associated with the current first team and more had experience with the Sussex RFU or the club second teams. Sadly this was ‘The Lost Boys’ tour so these associations were mostly in coaching roles or in the far distant past. Had it not been for the last minute recruitment of Tom ‘Ned’ Keylock and Jeremy ‘My father made me’ Burdett the average age would have been close to 50 (as it was the range was 18 to 60, which is unusually wide for a veteran’s tournament). As it was the party was brightened up by the presence of Robin Hood and Rob Roy as tour mascots.
This being Britain the Eurotunnel was broken and subject to a two hour delay which meant that a well lubricated group arrived in Belgium to a warm reception from our host ‘Rugby Coq Mosan’ based in Berneau near Lieges. Tents were erected whilst tourists were still capable of rational thought and the ‘tour organisers’ quickly hid the BBQ and sold the sausages and bacon when they discovered that the weekend was fully catered for by the hosts. Belgium is famous for its beer and a great variety, and some say a great quantity was downed by the four teams in residence (the hosts, ourselves, Bergamo from Italy and some French visitors from Lorient in Brittany).
The French looked surprised that Heathfield had travelled with 15 front row
The crowing of the resident cockerel was not welcome at 6 am but no-one was able to get up and kill it so the party slumbered on until near game time (about 10 minutes before in the case of Jeremy ‘Free Beer Guzzler’ Burdett.
The tournoi was a 5 team round robin affair (Rugby Olympic Cambrai joined in after a 3 hour coach trip from France) held on the host clubs two pitches. A minute of silence was observed as a Rugby Coq Mosan club member had taken his own life only that week and the whole club was in mourning for their loss.
First up for Heathfield were the Cambrai team. Safe to say that our pre match plan (take it steady and keep it close to the forwards) was ignored as the ball was spun around leaving big holes for the grateful French to exploit. Twenty minutes and two converted tries and a penalty to the French later we were beginning to get an idea about the game to play.
About we started to hear Dave Jones utter his favourite phrase on tour. This was “Fellows! What happened to the rolling subs you promised me?”
The lost boys look content to let their talented back row take the next hit.
Last years champions Lorient were next up and that was a more comfortable game. We played steadily without scoring and they twice beat us out wide when we ran out of bodies in defence. The highlight was when Dave Jones showed that he knows how to sidestep and break a line, if only once a game these days, and the low point was when our youngest tourist ‘Ned Keylock’ buggered up his ankle. A few smiles and positive comments set us up for the game against the Italians.
Ned said this was a good game to watch and it must have been as it was end to end old man rugby. Half way through the first half stand in scrum half Brady Burdett called a backs move that worked (shock, horror, probe!). A scrum on halfway saw the ball spun wide to Simon ‘Big boys can run’ Hollingdale as he hit the line at full tilt, broke one tackle and avoided another to cross the line for a try that Burdett the younger converted. Shortly after came the surprise of the tour when most of the Lost Boys team stood waiting for an Italian score as three backs broke away faced only by two props and a winger. Gale hit the first, MacLeod scared the second and Lester not once but twice tackled the third leading to a Heathfield scrum after a knock on just over the try line. This led to Heathfield being 7-0 up at half time.
Ben "it was the food honestly" Western looks to break another joint
Burdett the younger knocked over a penalty early in the second half only for the Italians to come straight back to score an unconverted try. Seven minutes is a long time when defending a narrow lead but The Lost Boys dug deep and kept the Italians out to win 10-5.
The final game against the hosts turned out to be a half too far. A close first half saw Coq Mosan score first with a well worked converted try before Brady Burdett pulled out the old dummy to a new and appreciative audience and then allowed Burdett the Younger to convert. Sadly that was as good as it got. Tired limbs and lots of home substitutes saw two more converted tries and a penalty go against the Lost Boys before the final whistle blew for ‘beer o clock’.
What do you mean it's rolling subs.........Fellows!!!!
As we dressed for the evening a vote was held to decide ‘Dress for the Evening’. Was it to be Mike ‘Nearly my Stag Do’ Barber or George ‘I missed my surprise 60th Birthday party to come on tour’ Warren? Photographs prove that it was a regal looking Georgina Warren that wore the red dress that night (with fetching green tights and rugby socks). Some sources say that he really liked what he felt that night.
George looking surprisingly comfortable?
On to an evening of drinking, singing and general revelry. The Harveys Sussex Best went down well, the French brought ‘attitude’, the Italians brought cheese, wine and salami while the Belgians suggested there were a hundred more beers we had not sampled yet. A great evening was topped off by a BBQ at 6 pm for survivors only. Sadly the cockerel was not on the menu.
And then back to Blighty with a detour to Calais for a long and very satisfying lunch.
Report : Mike Macleod
Lost Boys Squad – Paul Squires (International guest star) , Mike MacLeod (2nd team 2002), Steve Lester (1st team 1990), Simon Walker (2nd team 2002), Dale Blackford (too young), Dave Jones (1st team coach), Bob Togher (2nd team 2008), Kenny Lewis (2nd team 2005), Tom Keylock (too young), Brady Burdett (1st team 1990), Mike Barber (who knows), Ben Weston (too young), Robin Gale (Sussex Ladies coach), Simon Hollingdale (2nd team 2006), Jeremy Burdett (too young), Mike Fellows (1st team 2003), Rob ???? (tour virgin), George Warren (too old to remember), Wayne ‘No Knees’ Prichard (1st team coach)
4th XV | Latest News
6/28/2010 10:35:17 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00) 
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
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On Friday 17th April The Clubhouse will again be the venue for the next fantastic Quiz Nite. Hosted by the Junior section of the Club, compared by the Dynamic Duo Helen Goacher and Alison Bending, pencils will need to be sharpened, thinking caps put firmly on and a rallying cry of 'oooohhhh I know this one' at the ready!
Everyone is welcome, the atmosphere is always electric with excitement and anticipation of not being on the bottom of the scoreboard!
To enter your team all you will need is 4-6 players, a silly name, a £20 note, and to notify either your Squad Manager, Helen or Alison. See Easy!
SEE YOU THERE!!!
1st XV | 4th XV | Development Team | H3 Girls | Latest News | Social Events | The Boars | U13's | U14's | U15's | U16's | U17's | U18's (Colts) | Vice President's
3/25/2009 10:18:30 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, February 05, 2009
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Forgotten Valentines Day is round the Corner???? Don't know what to get for your loved one? Can't be bothered to trawl round the shops for that special gift???
Then luckily Your Club has come to the rescue. Not only can you buy sexy tasteful lingerie, delightful jewellery and loads of other lovely things - but you can also have a pint (or two), see your mates, and whatever match is on the TV - whilst you buy!! BRILLIANT!(Rumour has it that Ann Summers will also be there!) So lads come to the pamper evening at the Clubhouse on Friday 13th Feb - where all your Valentine present problems could be solved.........
For the lovely ladies who would like to come along..... see all of the above plus there will be waxing and nails and even tarrot card readings!
See you there on the 13th February - 7.30pm onwards
1st XV | 4th XV | 50 Club | Development Team | H3 Girls | Latest News | Rugby Funnies | Social Events | The Boars | U13's | U14's | U15's | U16's | U17's | U18's (Colts) | Vice President's
2/5/2009 9:49:53 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
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