….emmm… not a lot of local rugby to watch is what I’d say firstly. There were no games on Saturday for us and in Honiton’s league, there wasn’t one league match played. There were a few games in other divisions which were on and they must have been played on artificial pitches or at clubs that really don’t mind trashing their pitches or, they are somehow waterproof ones.

So…. it was a case of watching the internationals last weekend and big thanks to all who came down to support the bar at the club think we had about 50 there. I see the Scottish and Italian game was played in a swimming pool as well, so it’s not just here where it’s raining. There was a big cheer in club when the Italians just held out to win. Everyone loves an underdog but I don’t see them as huge underdogs nowadays and any side that takes them for grattage will do so at their peril.
As for the England game, it was a bit one sided which I guess is good in someways but Wales are just lost on the international front now adays and I fear for them this weekend against the French. I’m still not happy with the ariel game we are playing as it’s not very entertaining but I guess it’s working for us so, I’ll keep quiet and put up with it.

Sunday we did send teams to Bridport (which I couldn’t believe) and the 7’s 8’s 9’s 10’s and 11’s all got games which was good. Judging by the photos it was more of a canoeing fest and by all accounts we did trash the pitches, it was very wet. Still all the teams performed well and they enjoyed it. Not so sure about the supporters as there were several down pours in the morning.
The 12’s also had a game and they have somehow managed to play most weeks. This time they were off to a mini festival over at Dorchester and despite the quagmire conditions they played four of their games and there is a very funny match report on the junior Facebook page by Chris Baily and there’s also a great video of a lad scoring a try from a trundle from a long way out.. “get in there!”.

Ok… now there is a lot of angst amongst the ranks as we try to cope with this unprecedented weather situation … it’s now rained for ever as far as I’m concerned. We are trying to keep sprits up with training taking place anywhere and everywhere bar the pitches. So big thanks to all involved with this nightmare scenario. Unfortunately it does sometimes cost money if we end up hiring places at sports halls etc and we are also up against every other club who does outside sports as we all scrabble to find suitable places to train. There clearly is just not enough provision in East Devon but then there never has been.
I must say a big thanks to Adam Smith one of our hard pressed committee members who has managed to get some help from the Honiton Round table who gave us ?500 to go towards some of our training bills which is very kind. So, big thanks to them it really does help.
On the money note at the committee meeting this week we reflected on our accounts and with our goings of some £7k in bills last month things are tough when you main method of generating money is the bar on match days. Our ethos is “not for profit and any generated income goes back into community sport”. But with no income, things get very tight and our Treasurer is in full panic mode. Especially as I mentioned two leaks I’ve found in the ceiling in the club house! I’ll try praying…. do you think that will help?

If any of you know anywhere we could borrow for a runaround please get in touch we are pretty desperate at the mo.

Anyway …. To this week, as you all know it’s STILL BEEN RAINING all week and I did a thorough walk of the “field of dreams” today. The top pitch is still a right off and the bottom one which is much better, is still not looking good to hold any games this weekend. We haven’t fully called it yet but I doubt our twos game will be on or the Sunday fixtures. Its really getting depressing for sure. Our coaches did also all meet up on Monday to discuss the blinkin weather and it was a positive meeting as we tried to work on a contingency plan for next year as this now seems to be the norm…. planning ahead, whatever next!

I’ve been in contact with Tavvy for our first team game up at theirs on Saturday . Obviously being on the moor it’s bound to be bone dry me thinks. Anyway …they will let me know tomorrow and hopefully if it is ok, it will be an early kick off so we can all watch the international afterwards.
Our Juniors were mainly over at Sidmouth but the call has come in from them they are off. Think it’s safe to say our gmes are off as well. Which leaves as it stands, the 13’s away at Argum the 15’s away at Tivy and the 16’s away at Torrington.

Right moving away from rugby I was able to watch the tin tray event in the Winter Olympics. Not sure if you knew but have a Honiton lad in that. He’s called Marcus Wyatt and I remember years back going to a fund raining event to get him to be able to afford to get on the circuit. He’s now ranked third in the world at the mo but he didn’t have his best runs today and is currently 7th but the other lad in first place is also a Brit…. Could we get our first medal? I can’t help watching it in awe of any of the competitors. What would ever possess you to go head first down a mountain on a sheet of ice at just under 80 miles an hour with you head first and it being only an inch off the ground… na!… not for me… I think you need to be slightly mad to do it.
The final is in the morning so I’ll be watching through my fingers as it’s all fine margins, 1st to 31st was 1.45 seconds difference.

Ok sorry for moaning about the weather perhaps I’ve got sad syndrome… look it up it is a thing especially in Scandinavian countries.

#UTT

Lord Jez… (maybe I’ll drop the Lord given all the negative press at the mo!)