There were a few absentees but a few new faces and it was great to see a lot of support on the sideline - not least of which due to the fact that the game was moved from Yulong Oval Terrey Hills down to the back paddock at Rat Park at the eleventh-hour. The same ground which bred for us the likes of Phil Waugh was dressed but without Goalposts so the spectacle couldn’t be taken too seriously. Unless of course you are talking about James Kennedy who strapped his knee up and took to the paddock where he was very serious about the game. Good for you Mr. Ploppy; what a champion. Fats made a cameo also but out of the coaching triumvirate it was the irrepressible Andrew Short who chose to stay out of football boots for the duration, content to run the water and first aid.
It was required as there were a few casualties, not least of all Scuba Steve McCall who managed to bugger the same shoulder he dislocated in the trials last year. Poor old Boober-Scuber; he reckons he won’t play the trials next year as he’s prone to injury in them.
We'll win the boatrace soon...
We're a pack of bastards toooooo...
Without a doubt the guest of honour for the day was the departing Andrew “Bluey” McMillan. For those who have been kidnapped by the Taliban, under a rock on Mars or just plain dense as dogshit, Bluey and Kate are packing up the family and moving to The UAE, where Andrew has been privately contracted to teach mine warfare.
Here's to Bluey... As soon as he finished I hijacked Shorty's beer (on the table) and we made him do it again...
We had a terrific evening up the Tavern where we all got a proper opportunity to say good-bye to Kate and Bluey who will both be sorely missed for their countless contributions to the club, both off the field and on the paddock. Bluey has spent nine years (when his boat wasn’t at sea) buried at the bottom of rucks and mauls, saving our arses and shitting-off a lot of referees. This is a bloke who has made more appeals to match officials than Greg Matthews, and unlike that pathetic cotton-mouthed arseclown has had the dignity to go slowly bald like a real bloke would. Although with the amount of sprig-marks his mellon has seen it’s probably seriously contributed to the thinning on top.
Wato, Bluey and Shorty check out "Little Bluey"
Andrew’s old Skipper (team, not Navy) and close mate Andrew Short gave a very concise speech about all of these things before presenting bluey with a little trophy made in his likeness, complete with Wolves uniform, sprig marks, mud, grass-stains and the usual amount of claret he leaves the field with. Blue was genuinely blown away by the gesture and in turn gave a stirring speech of his own about his affection for the club and his ties and friendships he and Kate have made. He appealed to the new breed of young blood in the club by saying it was the best rugby club he has ever seen; probably the best in the world.
Beetroots looks a bit Beaten and Rooted...
We have no doubt that the entire experience will be a rewarding one for the whole family. Andrew and Kate have three lovely girls, and as I suggested to Bluey on Saturday the time in the UAE will leave them with experiences, memories and international friendships they will keep and for the kids in particular take into their adult lives and which can never be matched having not lived overseas.
Burgs yakking with Mrs Amanda Short
Elliot nod's off to another Dragonboating story as Macca makes a sly cameo...
There are more rewards to life other than monetary ones, and we wish Kate, Bluey and the girls as many of these as they richly deserve, and all the best of luck and happiness in their new adventure.
See you all in four years and best wishes from everyone at Terrey Hills Rugby Club.
No comments:
Post a Comment