Evenin all… blank page….ummm, what to chat about? I know I’ll start with the Orange B… no! Not going there…. Ok, Politics.. no, not going there either! Just Rugby then… !

So, last weekend… Saturday up early to sort out ut club … get there and I’m third on parade, beaten by Corrie and Brad, lots of prep in the kitchens, loads of cleaning, general sorting with the usual match day stuff, except this Saturday it was no ordinary match day! It was the “Giles Bamberger” Saturday which for the club is a biggy. His guest arrived in full Christmas fancy dress… and in an attempt to try to avoid the infamous “Giles” fines, everyone bought into the dress code and this meant we had Christmas crackers, Mary and Joseph, Jesus’s (is that how you spell more than one Jesus), Santa’s, Elves and even a reindeer (I will just add, he was fined for taking his head gear off to eat his lunch. School boy error!) Great atmosphere to say the least.
We also invited our chums Mark, Adam and Philip from the council, not the clip board types but the guys who have during a challenging year, done everything possible to make sure we could play rugby on the field of dreams. Sterling bunch of chaps and all grateful for the invite but they were forgetting one thing, the aim was to actual thank them for all they have done for our community rugby in Honiton, which believe me, is a lot. Marking lines when you can’t really stand up is one such example. We meet up once a week if not more and generally moan about the state of the pitches but believe me, they are on our side for sure. So.. thanks once again.
Anne Marie served up the lunch which was very nice indeed and thanks to the servers as well. Food was eaten, beer and wine were quaffed and the merriment began. Then it was on to the raffles and whilst I was a bit of a bystander I don’t think I’ve laughed so much for years when Giles did the raffle. Giles made it so funny, highlight for me was the guy who won a set of 4 combs, he didn’t really have any hair, he was delighted.
I kid you not, everyone present dug deep and between them they raised a lot of spondulicks. There was a 50/50 split between Hospice care and the club so technically it was all for charity. We are still finalising the monies raised and I’ll post as soon as I know. I must say a big thanks to Giles and his hench men, they truly do a wonderful job for the old girl and put in a lot of time and effort not to mention their own money as well.
Our committee and I are truly humbled by the generosity and kindness of our Ex-players, supporters and friends of the Ton. I can assure you we operate on a shoe string budget unlike lots of our neighbouring clubs but it’s fair to say that without this kind of support we just could not afford to keep going and you may ask, “what’s it all for?” and the answer is simple, we’ve been here since 1883 and we all just want to be here, doing the same thing for the community in 2083… Alas I fear, I won’t be here then but I’ll be watching!

The game… nearly forgot… lovely Sunshine, Crediton the visitors and a strong Ton line up and bench. We scored fairly early on but the visitors bounced back and put us under a lot of early pressure but we weathered that early storm and shifted through the gears and frankly we just started to run in tries from everywhere. They were not helped by their restart bod continually kicking the ball to the same person on our side. He duly accepted the gift, caught it, did a bish bosh, off loaded it then it was a dink, dink with the hands and another try. As the make shift lines man on the day it was hilarious listening to Crediton’s “behind the post” analysis of what just happened, things like “we’ve got to try and match their physicality, stop kicking it to the same person and we’ve got to stop them off loading the ball ffs!” Well, half time came and we were 43-5 up. Job done but there was no let up and we ran in tries from everywhere. Now, last weekend against Topsham, I thought they were poor but we only won by 46 odd (admittedly the game was cut short because they were upset) but I felt Crediton were a better side this week but for me, the difference was, we scored some great team tries, catch, drive, run, pass, break, draw a man, off load, try, repeat… proper team rugby, no line fever this week…. Clinical is my opinion. I have to say it was slightly disappointing not to have reached the 100 mark at 97-10 and as one Tonite commented “Honi-not a ton.” A wonderful game for the large crowd. John the Beard and his Christmas cronies gave the Man of the match award to the whole team which was expensive for him but a good decision.
Now … the after match stuff… more quaffing… drunk the club dry, broke the cooler, (more expense!) heyho. I did manage to sneak off but got side tracked and had to nip in to the Vine for a night cap on the way home.. Bumped in to a blast from the past! Mark Vinall he was staying at Paul Coates house. Not seen him for years and for lots of you you will probably remember him from his days running the Carlton nightclub. We reminisced… he as the chair at the time was instrumental in getting out a regular Third team side no mean task … We had a nice chat and I think I signed him up to coming down to watch.. I think he lives down in Torbados. … I eventually left there and got dragged into the Volly after that…no… a long day and an even longer Sunday!

Brad n Corrie were last to leave along day for sure big thanks to them Hannah and Ross and all who helped cope with the volumes of revellers …

All Ship shape for Sunday… well bar a problem with selling beers with out a cooler. It was yet another busy day at Allhallows but the Sun was out yeah ha! The 8’s somehow took on Exeter Athletic and Bradford on Avon who were supposed to be at Exeter place (cock up with not enough pitches)…we coped and had a great game. The 9’s were at their festival in Totnes and played well, 10’s had a tough time at home v Athletic and we just lost, 11’s were at their festival way down in Kingsbridge I’ve read the reports… county champions I’d say, played 7 games won 7, boom!!
12’s had an exciting game also against Athletic and I think we were just piped for the result but a good one to watch. The 13’s played their county festival over at Tivy. The 14’s beat Plymouth Argaum away by a comfortable 5-55. The 15’s played Bedwas a touring side from Wales Dafid Jenkins of Exeter and Wales fame Dad coaches them, they were good and we went down 12-55. The 16’s were last up and had a close game against Crewkerne we went down by 39-7 and were undone by some strong runners but we had our chances and were camped in their 22 for long periods heyho a good game. Yet another busy day so big thanks to the Kitchen crews… we still managed to sell bottles of beer despite the cooler not working.

So this week… cooler condemned! New one arrived and has been fitted. The old one did make the fitter chuckle as he said it was out of the arc apparently.

So this weekend last league game of the season. We are second with 3 more points that Bideford… so it’s a “second place decider”… We’ve organised a supporters bus which is leaving at 12 noon and will be back at 7.30pm at the latest.. Places left if you want to come, it’s a tenner. Email Chris or text him so we know we’re waiting for you. His number is 07730781235, his email is gouldchris1963@gmail.com
When we played them on the first day of the season we were all over the shop but we’ve regrouped since then and hopefully we will give ‘em a run for their money but this is going to be a stern test for sure… see you there or on the bus. Don’t forget we have the best away supporters in the league..fact!

Now, this week I also had a note from Devon asking us to put forward names to play for Devon in the level 8 and below category against Cornwall for the D&C plate… on the 9th May.. brilliant! that’s when we have our cup final game.. how crazy is that as I feel sure we would have had several of our players in line for places. I did register my dissatisfaction but not much we can do about it given the fuss we went through to get the cup final game on!

Juniors two weekends to go! So, this weekend no rugger at Tonsville at all. The 8’s are away at their festival at Ivybridge, 10’s are at theirs at Athletic, The 12’s are up at Bideford for theirs the 14’s are at Plymstock. That’s a lot of festivals. The 7’s 9’s and 11’s are playing at Exmouth. Watch out for the sneaky traffic wardens there, you have to pay! The 13’s are away at Chard and the 15’s are on Tour in Hereford playing Greyhound Rugby club a new one on me. There no 16’s game.

That will do… but once again, thanks for everyone who helps the Ton.
#UTT

Jez