Good evening all… one topic on everyone’s agenda round here is the weather… I think yesterday was the first day in about three weeks we haven’t had “that” much rain. The flooding earlier in the week was something I don’t think I’ve seen round here before. Well apart from last week that is when I ventured over to Ottery in floods all the way! I woke up on Tuesday to hear the local radio report giving the river Gisage as one of the rivers on the flooded list! For those of you who don’t know where that river is, it’s the stream that runs past the Holt near my estate… Well, I was out of bed like a shot to check! Luckly it was further upstream and the flood defences out the front have held firm but the river was running under the High street bridges at the highest level I’ve ever seen it. I also noticed on the news that in the county we were second top for the highest recorded rain fall and there is still more to come!

So on to Rugby…. What rugby? There was none last weekend and it was unsurprisingly a big wash out. Talked to our council chums during the week and realistically we all knew it just wasn’t a starter at all. It’s always a difficult thing to call any games off because we rely on the games to earn money from the bar and from the sponsors lunches as well, as both give a life line for our coffers. Chris our Chair spoke with James and Jonathan Willis about the Blamphayne Saw Mill sponsors lunch and they both very kindly agreed to still go ahead with it, even though the game was off. So the club was still open and It all went very well and when I got there, it was obvious there’d been a modicum of quaffing and despite no rugby there was a really nice atmosphere. We also managed to get the Chiefs game on the telly as well… so, big thanks to everyone who attended it all helps muchly.
I watched the chiefs game and sadly we lost but it wasn’t much of a spectacle because the weather was atrocious and no one could catch the ball and it was scrum after scrum. The 3-8 score line says it all really.

It was still raining on Sunday so like many other clubs the home games at Tonsville were off. Our 8’s went to the Bradfords Festival which was organised by the Chiefs community team and it was held at Greendale but it was very wet and unpleasant. We only managed one game before all the youngsters were too cold. … so despite the efforts of the organisers it was a bit of a damp squib. Now, success! James Vince our long suffering Junior fixtures Sec managed to jig things about and was able to get our 9’s 10’s 11’s and 12’s games up at Yeovil where they have grass on their numerous pitches and they seem to have avoided the deluge. It also didn’t rain on the day and it was in fact great rugby conditions. I can report that all our teams won each of their games which is great news for us as they are a big club compared to our little old one.

Ok, what else? Just a quick heads up and thanks to Stuart Pike from Honiton Glass as he kindly donated the glass frames for some of the team pictures Stopper has been reviving. A kind gesture and I must say they are always very helpful whenever I go in there.

This week then…. Pitch inspection after pitch inspection….

Friday night is junior quiz night at the club so again, if you fancy it I’m sure if you show up we could squeeze you in and on that note, I only have four in my teams so let me know if you’d like to join Jules, me and our other halves. All for club funds and it’s always a good night. Anyone got any unwanted Christmas items for the raffle? All helps.

On to this weekend, oh god…. More rain forecast which is just great news!
We are supposed to have a biggy as we are/were at home playing local rivals Withycombe in a double header of league and cup competitions. As we speak, it’s on but as I say, with one eye on the forecast it’s definitely going to be touch and go as the ground is saturated even with our new drainage in place… 2.30 is the kick off time if goes ahead but we also have a Ladies lunch taking place as well which all start from 12 onwards. Our wives/ girlfriends and Ladies have answered the call to make sure we at least have something going on at the club and what started as a “hope to get a few” for a Ladies lunch has now snowballed and we have sold 50 tickets which is amazing. There’s a comedian of some notoriety coming down to murder a few jokes and I think he’s called Jethro Cooper who is now cr*ping himself given the numbers and that’s not to mention it is also his debut gig as well. We also have a female singer performing and she’s called Sara Searle.… game or no game it will be fun and a laugh which is really what’s needed at the mo. Our chair Chris Gould has also agreed through his family company “Brendon Stoves” to sponsor all the Prosecco, hurrah… Come on down everyone plenty of room at the bar as well . Actually if anyone could offer to help with the serving up of the nosh that would help. We’re just not used to these sort of numbers!

The seconds are playing The Engineers down at their place but they are struggling as well and he’s keeping me in the loop as to the games “on/ off” status.

So Sunday….who knows? Poor old James is pulling his hair out. We were going to Taunton for the majority of games but I’m sure many of you on Social meja would have seen the floods they’ve had at their ground it’s fully under water so it’s definitely a no go over there . I can’t give a up to date list of games as the exact details are just bound to change. Check the Junior face ache pages or look on the websites.

Ok …. Had enough? I guess so….. so #UTT

Lord Jez