Games - Sat 19th April 08
The 1st XV had already won the two league points before kick off when Harborne contacted the league to say they could not put out a front row. A poor state of affairs for a 1st XV. Still our 1st XV took it out on them by securing a 78-12 hammering. Many try scorers including a brace for Lee Purdy and Billy Bucknall. Good end to the season lads, now let's win the league next season.
The 3rds game was abandoned after twenty minutes due to two Edwardians players crashing into each other and an ambulance was required.
The VETs went down 25-5 away to Cleobury Mortimer's 1st XV. Thank you Fixture Secretary for that fast paced game. The VETs went on their boozy bus to play in Cleobury's Presidents Day. Cleobury said they were expecting our 1st XV. Still we played them and made a pretty good fist of it. On a big pitch, playing up hill and against the wind in the first half, the power of our big pack supported by hard tackling backs and the wise head of Tommy Power we held our own. After defending for a long time we broke out of our 22 and marched up the field to the Cleobury 22. Phil "High Tower" Gouldbourne won a line out and from the ensuing move Gary "Bobo" Robinson set up a major drive of 20 yards to the Cleobury line. As the Yards pack crossed the white wash Mark "Hon Sec" Baldwin pinched the ball and scored his first try of the season. Better late than never! Cleobury now changed their tactics. Where possible they opted not to scrummage but have lineouts instead as we had already taken two against the head. They used the big wind to kick deep into the Old Yards half and used their field position to score two tries. Half time we turned round 10-5 down but with the wind and the hill. For the first ten minutes of the second half we were camped on the Cleobury line but just failed to score. Then Cleobury broke to go the length of the field to score. With the forty and fifty year old VETs now getting tired we were unable to regain control of the game. Even the introduction of impact players Darren "Mad Dog" Collingwood and Dave "Rose Wine" Jenkins failed to make the difference. We eventually lost 25-5 but were not down hearted. We followed the game with a good night out eventually ending in Moseley where we joined the celebrations for Steve Grainger's 35th Birthday.
Other League Results:
Burntwood 63 - 17 Selly Oak
Old Halesonians 47 - 3 Newcastle (Staffs)
Tamworth 49 - 10 Bishops Castle & O.V.
Veseyans 31 - 58 Bournville
Willenhall 44 - 0 Telford
Final League Table:
Midlands 4 West (North)
| Old Halesonians |
22 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
812 |
99 |
713 |
44 |
0 |
| Bournville |
22 |
20 |
0 |
2 |
898 |
218 |
680 |
40 |
0 |
| Willenhall |
22 |
15 |
0 |
7 |
619 |
295 |
324 |
30 |
0 |
| Tamworth |
22 |
15 |
0 |
7 |
494 |
339 |
155 |
30 |
0 |
| Burntwood |
22 |
12 |
1 |
9 |
339 |
403 |
-64 |
25 |
0 |
| Old Yardleians |
22 |
12 |
0 |
10 |
437 |
394 |
43 |
24 |
0 |
| Veseyans |
22 |
10 |
0 |
12 |
348 |
449 |
-101 |
20 |
0 |
| Selly Oak |
22 |
8 |
0 |
14 |
296 |
670 |
-374 |
14 |
-2 |
| Newcastle (Staffs) |
22 |
6 |
1 |
15 |
347 |
454 |
-107 |
13 |
0 |
| Bishops Castle & O.V. |
22 |
6 |
0 |
16 |
192 |
602 |
-410 |
12 |
0 |
| Harborne |
22 |
4 |
0 |
18 |
315 |
653 |
-338 |
8 |
0 |
| Telford |
22 |
1 |
0 |
21 |
125 |
646 |
-521 |
2 |
0 |
Dates:
Saturday 26th April
- "A" Team and "B" Team games to be arranged at home
- Old Yards Vets play in the Edwardians Vets Tournament - Can we win it! - Meet 11.30 am at Edwardians, start 12 noon.
Saturday Night 26th April
- Club night out to Moseley - The dresses will be out - Meet at Edwardians after the Vets Tournament
Sunday 27th April
- Old Yardleians have entered a team in the Alcester 7's from 12 noon
Saturday 3rd May - Presidents Day
- 12:30 Mini and Juniors Games - U14s vs Old Coventrians, U17s vs T.B.A
- 13:30 Old Yards Vets vs. Presidents Vets a.k.a Knocker's Last Game
- 15:00 1st XV vs. Select XV
- 17:00 Live Band for the night courtesy of President Steve Sidwell
Saturday 17th May
- Old Yardleians have entered a team in the Aaron Boyce Memorial Greater Birmingham 7's - an all day event
Other Events
Friday 2nd May 8pm at the club
- Club Annual General Meeting - attend and have your say. We are looking for more Committee members and a 3rd XV Captain.
Friday 9th May
Annual Dinner at the club - tickets £30 so please pay Gail. Tickets are selling fast so buy yours NOW!
Kids go to Leeds
Thank you Gail and Pat for organising a coach to take 40 Minis and Juniors to Headingly for the Leeds vs. Harlequins game. It included some of our under 10s playing in a match against Rotherham before the main game where they did very well losing by two tries to one. The kids also had the chance to meet and get autographs from England stars such as David Strettle.
Baby Boom
More Old Yardleian babies have been born:
- Congratulations to Guy and Anna Smith on the birth of Hope Amy Smith recently
- Congratulations to Richard and Karen Jacks on the birth of Olivia Rose Jacks this week
plus with Martin Johnson at the helm we might see the rebirth of England rugby!
Guinness Keg Caps
A reminder to ask your local for any the Guinness Keg Caps from the barrels. We can use them to exchange with Guinness for bar equipment like free glasses or training equipment like rugby balls.
Raffle Tickets
Thank you to the many members who sold raffle tickets for me. We should make around £450 for the club from this venture. The few who are still to return their stubs and cash to me must do so this weekend or we will be charged for them by the RFU.
EMAILS
Members have been using my weekly updates and the "Reply All" function to send messages to everyone on my mailing list. Not a problem to get club messages out but some of these have included pictures and jokes. I have had complaints from members who use their work email address or where other members of the family can access the emails. Therefore I will send the Update out using the blind copy function to prevent this. If you have any messages for club members I am happy to put them in the next Update or if urgent send them out straight away for you.
Got anything to say
Please email me details of any Old Yards information, trivia or jokes so I can add them to the next update.
Mark
Hon. Secretary
mark.xc@blueyonder.co.uk