Well going forward I plan to write a new post every week or so (mainly because I got told off at the last committee meeting!). Mike 'I've drafted a post' Darby might even make an appearance too (if he ever gets past the draft stage!)- it's a rugby club website for heavens sake not the Daily Telegraph!

Having said that don't be all getting pissy if I don't write a post for a while. It's hard to break the habit of a lifetime!

So first-things-first a training update. For the last few weeks Burley have been training on Tuesday nights on the all-weather (plastic) pitch at the Leeds Rugby Academy just by Morrisons in Kirkstall (ooo fancy!). Training has been well attended and some extremely effective and enjoyable sessions have taken place. (Even if most people now think because it's not muddy they suddenly have silky skills and natural samba abilities). We've even done some scrums and lineouts- my favourite- much better than running!

Training continues at the all-weather pitch at 1945 and Thursdays at the Abbey Road Pitch at 1830.

OK so that's training what's next? Lets do some social updates:

Our Christmas Party has been planned (sort of). It's titled the Captain's Christmas Party, so Richard 'Will Graveling's best mate' Christie and myself (let's be honest mostly Christie) will be organising and hosting a Christmas night out on Saturday 16th December. Starting in the club post game, with beers, games and the such like, followed by a trip out into Horsforth/Headingley/Town (TBC). All are welcome, players and social members alike, and partners are invited too. Christmas jumpers are strongly encouraged. Posters will be going up in the club shortly. (I'll put some decorations up in the club too- don't I spoil you all!)

Secondly the end of season dinner has been booked for Saturday 12th of May 2018. Once again we will be having it at the village hotel in Headingley. Tickets will be going on sale shortly.

As we near the mid-season mark. I send out to you dear reader an advertisement. NEW PLAYERS!! It could be YOU! Do you currently play for the club and have some friends who play rugby/know what rugby is/once watched a game of rugby on telly by accident? Bring them down! Do you you currently play for another club but fancy a change of scenery? Come on down! Have you recently retired/drifted away from the game and are thinking about getting back into it/want to get away from the missus for a few hours on a Saturday? Come on down!

We currently run two teams, but you can never have too many players!

Well you've probably got bored and stopped reading by this point but if you still are I commend you. The light at the end of the tunnel is nearing. But first, a match report!!!!!

I could do a run down of the results from weeks past, but it's easier to say that the club is currently on a winning streak. The 1st XV is undefeated in league rugby since the 16th of September (won 5, drawn 1), and the 2nd XV is undefeated all season (admittedly we've not had a 2nd XV every weekend, but when we have we've not lost!) (played 4, won 4). Here's last weekend report:

The Mighty Maroons 2nd XV headed away to West Park Leeds fielding a strong looking team but without the luxury of a bench. Oops.

Burley were to play West Park's 2nd XV who had earlier in the season lost to the 2nds at fortress Abbey Road. They however were fielding a much changed side (as were we) so previous form meant little. In an interesting twist, West Park would be putting their 2nd XV out against us in the 1st half and their 3rd XV in the 2nd. A cunning tactic I know. However with the benefit of playing down hill (it wasn't really a hill, not when compared to the everest-like gradient of the Abbey Road Pitch) in both halves the Burley Boyz rose to the challenge.

The game started ferociously with the maroons receiving the kickoff. Hard defence from West Park and even harder running from Burley resulted in an early casualty as Sam 'mellowed in his old age' O'Brien was forced from the field with a nasty looking knee injury- we wish him a speedy recovery. In the spirit of fair play West Park lent us a player to take the maroons back up to full strength. He was also called Sam which was handy.

The game continued with Burley drawing first blood through Ben 'Baby P' Dawson who ran a typically hard, one dimensional, no thought of passing (because he can't) line to crash through the West Park defence for a try.

West Park would then strike back. I can't remember what happened after that I was too busy spending the majority of the game gasping for air!

The first half ended 12-12. On came West Parks 3rd XV and the game continued much in the same way as the 1st half. Hard running, hard defence, some back stuff. Lineouts were hit and miss for both sides but it's fair to say Burley definitely had the upper had in the matters of scrummaging against both West Park's 2nd and 3rd XV. Marching the home side backwards, occasionally quite quickly, and routinely winning the ball against the head. Awesome.

Final Score 22-38, with Burley running out the victors.

Tries were scored in no particular order by (as previously mentioned) Daws, Alan 'suspiciously short hair' Sinclaire, Gav 'is that a bald patch' Leeman, and George 'doesn't like playing hooker' Hallett, two of the their players that played for Burley also got in on the fun. Gav 'best years yet' Binder converted 4 of the 6 tries, and apparently he can't kick?

Man of the match was Bertie 'Bassett' MacArthur.

As stated earlier training continues on the all-weather in Kirkstall at 1945 and at the Abbey Road at 1830. New players of all abilities are welcome.

Now hows that for a web post?!

Many thanks for reading, see you all soon.