Well, let’s look back on a busy weekend for the club… Firstly, Friday night was the senior’s presentation/ dinner and dance night but of course we had the small matter of the SW cup final on the Saturday so despite it being a good evening it was a little tame as our first team squad were very sensible and the quaffing of beer was very well self-limited. I was impressed and couldn’t help wondering, back in the day, would the players I knew have been that restrained.
Our Chair Chris Gould did his thank you speech to all and sundry and I mention this as he also had an important announced to make which was some great news for the club.
I will say a huge thank you to both Dave Vallander and Chris as they have worked tirelessly to put together a grant bid to get some help from the council for some money to improve facilities down at the field of dreams. They went to endless frustrating meetings and spent hours on putting the bid together, to get the approval…. and hey! Guess what? Their endeavours have paid off and we have been given a grant to put in new drainage for the pitches at Allhallows and also to put up floodlights which means we can use the pitches a lot more and train in acceptable conditions and possible even have some evening games. A game changer for the town and for future generations wanting to be involved with Rugby. Hurrah I say!

So, moving on…. Saturday, the big cup game. Anne did a pre match breakfast for the team down at the club and they set off at 9.30 Bristol bound. Then at 10.30 our supporters bus set sale along with an army of others in cars and another mini bus. Everyone was ready for the big day out.
On arrival one of the other finals was already in progress and there were two lots of fairly keen supports hollering and hooting for both sides. The club house and pitch looked immaculate and I was a tad envious not to have ever had an opportunity to play on one of these pitches. Can you imagine if we had one… no cancelled games, no pitch inspection every again ( a lie in on Saturday mornings!)… still from small acorns …and you never know.

Now, when I arrived I was a tad hungry so I thought as it was the “Papa Johns” trophy I’d have a Pizza which I duly did but it was rather ironic as there was no Papa Johns Pizza on sale and I got it from another Pizza firm… did they miss a trick? Surely if you were sponsoring the whole thing you’d think they’d sell their own Pizzas.
Now another slight moan on what was generally a good day out was as this was around the fact that in the blurb sent out to the clubs, there was a note saying 10 VIP’s from each of the clubs could come for a pre-match “meet the opposition officials and the RFU bods with refreshments”. Nice touch I thought but,,,,, we then got told this was in fact a “post-match” invite event. As several of our officials had to scoot early we then had to prime others to go to this event. Unfortunately for all involved this was really a non-event and it was just a side room with tea and coffee making facilities and bourbon biscuits and there was no one in this room to greet or meet anyone. I will add the after match food was a bit poor as well but enough of this moaning, the big event was the game.

The atmosphere was good several of our ex-players from around the country turned up and there was a half decent crowd in the stands and pitch surround. The pitch was as mentioned, stunning.
As predicted there was a fair spattering of South Sea Islanders in the opposition ranks and their input was a key factor in the game as they were good. We got off to a cracking start with an early penalty and a well worked try out wide soon followed. Back came the Cheltenham North side and they snuck ahead and added to it, to go 18-8 up. They looked dangerous especially one of their wingers but let’s be fair, so did we and it was clear both side had an attacking intent. We clawed our way back into the game and at half time it was anyone’s game. We got ahead again they scored and got their noses in front and with end to end stuff and just 7 minutes to go we scored to go 32-31 up but then, heart break for all of us supporters they scored again. We thew everything at it and it was a nail biting final play but alas, the whistle went and it wasn’t to be and we went down by a narrow one try, losing 38-32. For a neutral it must have been a cracking game to watch and there was little to separate the two sides. I was gutted for the lads as they were clearly crestfallen when the whistle finally went. Sport is some time so cruel, to the victors everything and the vanquished you have to trudge home with a runners up medal.

Hey….Let’s not be to down beat about this, the game could seriously have gone either way and I guess it was their day and not ours. I for one can say our boys gave it their all and everyone who plays, coaches and manages in our senior section can be proud of what has been achieved this year and we’ve had a great season with lots of great memories and several great tries have been scored.
Still no news on the promotion malarky which is poor and I will let you know when I know.
Whilst the trip back was tinged with a bit of sadness I’m sure the beer numbed the pain and as they say in Rugby “we go again next year”.

So….Season over, no time to rest, Jules Hoyles went to the meeting for the new registration system to be used next year. The diggers fencing and trench work started on Monday and we also bought down a load of tables and chairs which were kindly donated to us from our chums at the golf club.
Pete Burrows has kindly offered to sort out the putting up of the donated subs shelters and if over the summer you have an hour to spare we can always find you a job or two to do help for next season so it’ onwards and upwards.

As there is no rugby for the summer break I might have a week or so off from writing this drivel each week , I’m sure you’ll be pleased about that but….I’ll be back!!.

Finally…… #UTT

Yours

Lord Jez