Weekend

Saturday was yet another rugby day.
Bangor 3 V Civil Service 2nds. After beting them last year in the cup with Bangor only having 14 men, after one get sent of for punching out 2 of the Civil Service players. I thought it was going to be a tought match.
And I was wrong, it was a white was, in fact it was worse than that.

It Started off with Civil Service trying to play mind games with the pitch, one minute telling us we are on a shittie out of the pitch and then next thing moving to the better of the two pitchs.
They kicked into us and Bangor come out hard and fast. The first 10 minutes where intense, we faught well and wone and lost ball, then after about 15 minutes bangors back broke though Service and where in the frist try, which was converted. 5 minutes later the same thing. It went on like this for most of the first half. Bangor where in control.
Then minutes for the end of the first half I chipped a lost ball (from the lineout) and it when over the head of my oppisite number, bounced right in the hands of Services number 10 who had time to get a drop goal attemp and hit. 1 of 15 wasn’t bad.
going into it half time it was 30 odd to 3.
By this point Civil Service was broken, they had to replace prop because I landed on him badly whe he tackle me and he recked his shoulder.
Bangor then took full control on the running in try after try. Service did fight back on a few occations and on one even looked link scoring, but alis the Bangor defences was to strong and we heel them.
The Subbed prop decided with only 5 minute to go that he had, had enought and walk off the pitch. This guy was about 20 to 25 stone of fat, and was twice the size of our prop he was againts. He said that our prop was lifting him in every scrum, in reality what was happening was he was lifting his left and our prop was just lifting the other.
It was an amazing win.
On a personal note, i had the worst game of the season so far. I was involved in a few things, a few hit one which reminded me I was carrying neck and shoulder mussel injuries. But I was disapointed with my game, I thought it was on the way up after Shorts and Carrick. At least I have this weekend off to try and rest the mussels.
I also heard that Carrick were say we feilded a compination of 1st and 2nd player agains them. Truth of the matter is we didn’t. We just had a team that day and we showed them why we won this league for 2 years in a row and only two teams have betten us in nealy 3 years.
Carrick when your at oru grounds we’ll bet you again and you can piss and mone all you like. This our leauge.

Rugby season so far

I’ve not said much about the rugby season this year. So how has it been going??

I missed the first game of the season as it was Lyn’s birthday. Bangor sent an understrength side to ballyclaire and where taken appart on the field.
Next was Grosvenor 3’s, I was on the bench for this one and it was Bangor back to winning ways and taking teams appart. I didn’t really do much in this game most support role and some tackling no major. Although Bangor did banash an ghost from the previous week.

Two weeks later was Donaghadee, these are always gruge matches as they are our local rivals only been 3 miles down the road. To say it was a white wash might be a bit of an over exageration. 0 – 38 to bangor. It was tough first 15 minutes, but Bangor never really got out of second gear, we coast. At half time we where about 15 nill up. the scond half seen some amazing paly by bangor, the Dee couldn’t hangle the pressure from Bangor and we run in try after try, converted by an on form Dougie Gorden. Personly I had a better game, I has hitting hard in the tackels and my support play was good, getting involved in few moves and making some good runs.

I missed the next two matches due to my holiday’s but bangor won and its all good.
next up was Ballynahinch 6th. This was to be our first really test of the season as the Hinch are a tough hard hitting cuntry team. First the second time this season I was starting, I played well, not backing down from tackles and racking the make tackels, but with a new pair of boots and only back from holidays, 10 minutes in the second half I could hardly run and was glady and rightfully sub off. Agian we should why Bangor are the team that everyone what to bet by running out 31 – 6 winners.
Next up Shorts. Again an energy sappy haevy pitch. Bangor dominated as we did last season against them. The scoreline dosn’t do justice to this match. It was tough and I managed to pickup my first shoulder injury of the season. Luckly it was just brousing and mussle, bangor played amazingly, a few minour mistakes but never the less we managed to pick up are game and play in a higher gear than the last few. Personly I had the best game of the season so far. My tackling and work rate where both uped, but support play was uped as well. Serveral times I was involved in moves, making run’s helping the backs getting ball from the rucks etc.

What a rugby game

On Saturday Bangor 3’s travelled to league leaders Carrick. This was to be an epic battle of the new league team and league leaders Carrick, and the currentl league champs Bangor.
Appearently on Carricks website they had been saying how this was to be one of their toughest games to date, but they would win.
NOT A CHANGE. We haven’t been league wins two years in a row for no reasons. So it was the perfect chance for Bangor to welcome Carrick to the league.

The pich was hard and energy sapping, it was a bit brizzy and over cast. it constantly threatend to rain. The perfect day for rubgy. 14.30 kick off and Bangor where up to this big style.
Carrick undifeated so for this season and looking to keep it that way where also up for it. the first 20 minutes where a combin of big hits from both side, with some very good ball handeling skills from Bangor forwards and backs.
Carrick never really seams to treaten Bangors in the frist have, but they where quicker than bangor to rucks, constantaly comming over and killing the ball, or comming in from the side. Carrick coming in the from the side was a god send and it gave us server attempts to lunch massive attacks and other getting close to their line.
On one occation we took a quick tap and go, I took the ball and was about a meter out when it taken down by two of their player, but the ref blow up say the tap and go was not allowed, so we took 3 points from it for the penitly kick.
From the kick off Carrick tried to attack but agin it was Bangor who dominated and after about 5 minute it was a try for Bangor 8 nill, and that was the way it stayed until full time. Althougt we had a second try disallow for some reason only the ref new.
After the try Carrick started to fall appart. The infighting and bitch only played to Our advantage. Carick did manger to get into the Bangor half a few times with long kicks from their number 10 but a grate partnership between our winger and full back but us right back in carricks half and on more then 4 occations it nearly ended in a trys for bangor, one of the occation the ref reconned that a carrick player got to the ball before bangors winger (who was now playing as blind side flanker due to a head injury).

All in all an fantastic performance by a last minute put together Bangor sdie, help slight by an unorganize and undisaplined carrick 4’s team.
Personally I do’nt think I played that well. I came out with a slight neck injury early in the second half and this effect me more than I though it would. It not to bad today as the neck mussels are moving more. Next week we have Civil Service away.

First matach of the season

Ok so the rugby pre-season friendly on friday night didn’t accourding to plan. 

The night started well, I got to ards rugby ground for about 6.30 and we all went out for our worm up.  It started to rain.  Not a problem it is Newtownards after all and we expect this sort of thing.  we do the worm up and it goes well.

Match time come round, 7.30 kick of, the Reg does his bit about the rules etc and we get under way.  It starts well for Bangor for the frist 15 minutes we are running at 200%, cometting well and looking strong everywere.  But then it all starts to fall appart.  Ards back line get quick ball to the wing and they are in for a try.  It was a tight match the would way through it  and you see the review of the match here .

The one major down side to the match was the ref.  As it was a friend he was form Ards club and boy could you tell he was.  Every time we started to build mamentime he blow up, and there where time it was for f*&k all.  I mean he pind one of the my team mate for tackeling on the ards players, and came of with some bullshit about my team mate was off his feet.  Also during the game at two different points Bangor had men down injured, its rugby it happens, but when the ref notices he normally stops play until the play is back on this feet or has left the field.  Not this twat, 3 to 5 minute are players where on the deck and it was only when the nearly got stood on that he stopped paly. 

The worst thing about the ref was that when he was telling you what he was pinning you for it was like being shouted at by an old style army sargent major.  I mean it was like being brough to the headmaster office in primary school.

F*&k it its over and done with and the it a new week for training etc.

Rugby time

Ok so its that time of year again.  I’m training twice a week and felling fitter and stronger then ever.  So far no injuries realting to rugby, but that could all change next Firday.

I’m on the squad to play Newtownard.  It a major gruge match as Newtownard is the nearest town to us and everytime we play its a hard match. I’ve only played against Ards once before and that was a few years ago.  I wasn’t as fit as I am now, but it was hard going.

And on the down side my boots (only a year old) are pissing my off.  One fo the studs came out in training last night, and I tought that the screw section might have been broken, but I was wrong.  I clean it out this morning as I was going to bring them to a shoe repaire shop to see if they could do anything about it and discovered that the whole screw section was out. That was better than I though, grabed a spaire stud and screwed it in. When the strud was in place I gave it a bit of a tug and out it came. 

Now I’m no stud expert, but I better that this means a new pair of boots.  I really hope not as they are only a year old.

Death of Team mate

I got a reather strange text message from my rugby coach on Monday telling me that there was a funneral on Thursday and all where ask to attend.

At the time of the text I was getting of a plan to attend the Citrix IFORUM in Edinburugh.  So when as my wife to check out the club website and see what was going on.

When She told me who it was I was shocked,  it was one of the guys i trained with, he was only 31 years old.  I then phoned my Coach to find  out what had happed. He told me that they where playing touch and he had just scored a try and then had a massive hart attack.

I attended his funneral on Thursday Morning.  Everyone who was there was still in shock over what had happened and couldn’t beleive it.  He will be sadly missed at the culb and at training.

Wake my up when November ends.

Ok so November has just past.  Probable not one of my grater months this year.  It had some really good hi points, and on the other hand it a few lows.

As I’m one of these people who doesn’t really see the point in good news first lets start with the LOW.

I only made it to about 3 training sesions, due to a number of facter mostly life getting in the way.  On one occation I was in england removing the computer from a company that had gone under.  Missed another two training sessions due to have a havey cold and I couldn’t breath while walking let along trying to run.  The rest tie in not so nicely with november.

What else went wong.  Last week I fell off my beloved motorbike.  OK so it the replacement bike I’m riding while mine get the engine over hall, bit I love that bike as well, it is ssssooooo sweet to ride and is a bit of a huligan when its want to be. 
Anyway I fell off due to hitting the brakes to hard. I took my eyes off the road for a split second in rush hour traffic and then i look back the brake lights of the 4X4 in front came on, I hit the bracks, the bike start to lock up, I release them to stop a slide. Thought to my self more back and less font I can controle this. But I paniced (classic school boy error) pulled on the front to hard and lost the font end.  On some damage to bike, like the gear leaver, indacators.
  To put it onto perspective i was only doing about 10-15 mph.  Luckly I didn’t put the handle bars into the petrol tank.  I got the bike start and had fot it into first gear, that was a fun rider for about 8 mile with only first gear only getting to about 20 mph.  I walk away with a few bruses but a least I walk away.  And to top all off it was Tuesday night, yet another rugby taining session missed.

Then on Thursday of last week my Shower started to leak.  I got a call from a very distrought wife as it was leaking into the kitchen.  As her dad was collection her for work (due me having the car because I felt like jumping off my bike on Tuesday) he agreed to come round on thurdays night to look at to.  We tryed to see if there was any way it would be selant around the shower but no joy. We then realize that we would have to lift floor boards but due to Lynsey dad having to work a strang shift patter for BT that week we left that until the weekend. 

So when he was round we decied to bleed a readitor (due to Lynsey’s distrust of my DIY stills) all went well.  That was until firday morning, there was no hot water.  I though this was odd as we have Pheniox gas, then it came to me Bleeding the rediator depressises the system and we have to put the press back in to keep the flame lit.  Now this is at 6.45 in the morning and I’m due in Befast at 8.30. So Lynsey hears my banging around the house and asks whats wrong, I tell her and then off to my fokes house as they have two shower and are on their way to work. 
So I get after work I get home are put the pressure back in the Gas system and all is good.

Saturday Morning rolls round Lynsey goes to work and then her dad appears to help figure out where this blood leak is.  So floor boards are lifted in the bathroom, dry a  bone, where the hell is the blood leak. We notice loose floor board in the landing and decided to take a look at those to see what is going on.  Lift them on theres the blood leak all right and by the looks of plaster board its been leaking for some time.  Still cant find it in the shower, we ask my dad to have a look.  By now it 2pm on Saturday.  The rest of the day is spent sealing the shower and the taps on the shower until we are happy theres no way in hell water is going any where other than down the drain.

Ok now for the good points of November and compaire to the lows it really wasn’t a bad moth.

Fist off I turn 29, yes one more year and I’m 30. To be honus getting older doesn’t bother me at all, after all I dont feel any older then when I went to uni, and I think I act the same way.

Also I Celabrated my first wedding aniversy with Lynsey.  Not at anything has really changed since we moved in togther about 3 years ago.  Except the mail now reads Mr and Mrs instead of Graham and Lynsey. 

Taking all things into condideration November wasn’t really a bad month. OK apart for the jumping off my motorbike and the shower it was ok.

Rugby has started again.

Ok so the season kicked off three weeks ago, but with weddings and other cometments I got my first game three weeks in.
This had to be one of the biggest hipped games I’ve played in, not because we are defending our legel crown, but becuse it was the first time that a guy rugby team has played in our league.
F*(k of with all the stupid coments, Lysney has been you all to them.
It wasn’t so much a rugby match as a training session with less resestance. With in 10 minute we are 19-0 up, half time came and we where 68-0 up. At this stage it was over, dead and burried. But the Ulster Titens (the gay team) want to play the second half, so we they kick off, and we sore, and the same thing happens in about 2 minute and for next 24 minute it got like that, I think I only ran half the pitch in that game. It was embirousing, so 24 minutes in the second half the Ref (a woman, and a fantastic ref blow the finnal whissel) 128-0 to Bangor 3rd.
There was one very ironic moment in the game, I was clearing out a ruck and one other other team (in a voice that made a row of bright pink tents look manly) “for f*&k sake, take it easy”. I’m sorry thougt this was rugby???

All in all it was the most boring match that I have seen or played in, the forwards would jog or walk 5-10 meter and back for the kick off. They even fell for the same move 5 times in a row. Thats what happens when they play the straight teams.

Rugby round up

Ok where to start….

OH yeah Bangor 3rd wone the league this session and I’m prode to say I was a part of the team and it looks like the first might win their league.

 My season start off ok, my fitness was up, 80 minute games no problem, a few minor injerys but nothing magor.  October came I took sometime off to get married and then it all fell apart.  But I’m back in the team agian and it getting better.

 Eddie O’Sulliven needs to go.  I was all for him staying on after the world cup as he had done so much for Irelad  Rugby Team in the last 6 years, but after what can only be describe as the worst 6 Nation since the 90’s, I’m affread that time up and he got to go.

Irelands 6 nations was a discrase, both the players and EOS should be ashaimed of themself, against Italy it was joke, I’ve been involved in better training session at my Local Rugby Club and we’ve look more confincing. Wale Ireland look weak, unable to get anything right and didn’t appear to have any pride in the shirt they were warring.  It was the same agian France until the second half when they got that penality try, they made a good comeback, but agian tomany sill mistake cast the game.  Scotland, well thats a joke in itself, they were luck to get a move right in that game.  Then came England, F*(K me what the hell was going on there.  I though we might wing this game with a very very impresive first try in 10 minute, but what happened oh yeah they cocked it up.

I normally worldn’t blaim just the coatch but this time its all his fault, his tatics(if you could call that game tatics) where more screwed up an the guest on a Jerry Springer show.

Only few week and then its per session training

Rugby World cup

What a weekend for rugby it was, the quator finals of the rugby world cup and bangor thirds win their 5th game in a row.

Ok so my club team are on a role and I’m proud to be part of the team, although I’m not playing at my best and have only played a few games this seasson due to both my wedding and an ankle injury keeping my out for a game.  Bangor managed to bet Hollywood 74-0 but a few times it look like Hollywood where going to score.

Now for the main rugby games the quartor finals fo the world cup and what an upset it was for the southern hemisfere.

On saturday the repeat of the 2003 world cup final was being played with England betting Austraila again thanks to jonney wilksons boot.  I didnt get to see the game as I was play that afternoon.  Then came what was billed as this years world cup final. 

The mighty All Black against teh host France.  Ok by this stage I had been the Club bar for a few and was back home trying to cook.  But I manage (at lest I think I manage) to see most of the game.  I always new this was going to be a close game, but I never thought that f*&K wit of a ref would have killed off the All Blacks.  There was no way that the All Black player was in the wrong, it should never have been a yellow card that Frence prat ran into him plain and simple and the twat of a ref sent him off and that was the end of the All Blacks.  France have alls had a cheating ablity in their game and it has helped them agian. 

Then Sundys games came true to what everyone thought.  South Africa winning and then a brillient Scotland V Argentina.  I would like to have seen Scotland win that game but Argentina have done nothing but prove themself time and time again in this world cup and I was glad that they wone.  I have been saying for sometime now that the Pumas are wildly underrate as a world team and they have proved it this year.

So next week its up to England to Hammer the Frence. Its a lot to ask of England we all know this but they have found their form and let hope they can do it