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Under 15s tour to California (Cliffs Caravan Park) 4th-7th May 2012
The prospect of a long drive to Norfolk on a Friday was not to everyone’s liking and indeed some tourists left it until Saturday morning and were duly fined for being late on tour. Despite this, the hardy few set about making the most of the Waterside Bar on Friday night with a few Desperados and Amstels.
Needless to say as we woke in our sub-freezing caravans on Saturday morning some of us realised that we had perhaps overdone it a little (not as much as other age groups however)! Fortunately, the first match was not due until 2.45 so we had plenty of time to recover.
Arriving at the ground it was clear that the festival was running late, as we saw the air-ambulance take off into the afternoon sky. There were a couple of matches due to be played in our age group before our first appearance, but Lowestoft and Yarmouth, the local side had only 6 players on hand for their fixture with Tring. Some of our lads offered to make up the numbers, albeit mostly out of position- Manu Tuilagi’s position at outside centre came under no threat whatsoever from George “but I’m actually quite quick” Whichello.
Word then came through that resident Chelsea fan Darren, en route to the Cup final, had made the schoolboy error of getting on the wrong train at Norwich. Instead of heading for Liverpool Street station, he was heading for……………Liverpool! He managed to work out at Peterborough that he was heading in the wrong direction and changed trains. What a c@#k!
Our first game as OEs was against Manchester – a big club with a proud history. The boys were really up for it and played some of their best rugby of the season, overpowering their opponents in the scrum, and looking threatening out wide. Not as threatening as the referee, however. OEs went in ahead at half time and led 15-0 before Manchester clawed their way back into the game after 2 of their 3 tries were gifted to them by OEs. With the last play of the game, and after what seemed like about 10 penalties conceded by Manchester on their own line, OEs picked and drove for the line. Ruck set, a Manchester hand reached in, scooped the ball back and then threw it out of play, Inexplicably the ref blew for full time. 15-17.Even the Manchester coaches had the good grace to say we were denied a deserved win. It did not finish there as Albert told the ref what he thought of him and had to be chaperoned from the field by dad Trinny.
We were straight into action again, this time against a very good Saracen’s outfit. Unfortunately, the previous game’s events had taken its toll on the lads and with the referee still at the forefront of their minds they succumbed to an easy Sarries victory.
So, rugby over, we took our cold bodies back to California for some R&R. A lively evening in the bar ensued with yes/no interludes, no swearing interludes and the like taking place involving Windy, Snore Job, Balkers (until he received an SOS), Boo, Trinny, Susannah, Onions, Cocktail Sausage,Coach and Terry. As well as the numbers game that a certain Taxi driver never quite got the hang of! Some of us made it to bed at a reasonable time but apparently Susannah’s red was a bit too much of a temptation for Coach.
Sunday arrived and we were looking forward to 2 matches today. Wrong! Tring had pulled out due to injuries and so we had one game against the Saracens’ B team – the Fez Heads. As it was our only game it was agreed that it would be played over the full hour. The boys tore into the opposition and played some magnificent rugby, to finish the season with a 61-20 victory. Remy was outstanding in the centre as was Jacob on the wing, the forwards murdered their opponents but everyone once again contributed to a great win.
In the meantime Onions had reacquainted himself with the legend that is Mick Skinner and as they drifted off into the sunset hand in hand like a pair of lovestruck teenagers something struck me - what were they talking about? If only Onions knew the first thing about rugby – god alone knows what they spoke about.
Back to the Park for the presentation where the lads received their trophies from ex-England full back Tim Stimpson in the company of an absent friend (x3). This was followed by our own end of season presentation to the players of the year – Remy, Jamie and Dan.
The last evening was spent in the company of the under 12s and 11s (but not Cocktail Sausage who had retired early on age grounds) singing songs, playing games (mainly on Rob and his cigarettes) and of course accommodating Father Abrahams!
A great end to a great season.
Here ends the tour log, not wholly inclusive as of course-
“What goes on tour, stays on tour”
Needless to say as we woke in our sub-freezing caravans on Saturday morning some of us realised that we had perhaps overdone it a little (not as much as other age groups however)! Fortunately, the first match was not due until 2.45 so we had plenty of time to recover.
Arriving at the ground it was clear that the festival was running late, as we saw the air-ambulance take off into the afternoon sky. There were a couple of matches due to be played in our age group before our first appearance, but Lowestoft and Yarmouth, the local side had only 6 players on hand for their fixture with Tring. Some of our lads offered to make up the numbers, albeit mostly out of position- Manu Tuilagi’s position at outside centre came under no threat whatsoever from George “but I’m actually quite quick” Whichello.
Word then came through that resident Chelsea fan Darren, en route to the Cup final, had made the schoolboy error of getting on the wrong train at Norwich. Instead of heading for Liverpool Street station, he was heading for……………Liverpool! He managed to work out at Peterborough that he was heading in the wrong direction and changed trains. What a c@#k!
Our first game as OEs was against Manchester – a big club with a proud history. The boys were really up for it and played some of their best rugby of the season, overpowering their opponents in the scrum, and looking threatening out wide. Not as threatening as the referee, however. OEs went in ahead at half time and led 15-0 before Manchester clawed their way back into the game after 2 of their 3 tries were gifted to them by OEs. With the last play of the game, and after what seemed like about 10 penalties conceded by Manchester on their own line, OEs picked and drove for the line. Ruck set, a Manchester hand reached in, scooped the ball back and then threw it out of play, Inexplicably the ref blew for full time. 15-17.Even the Manchester coaches had the good grace to say we were denied a deserved win. It did not finish there as Albert told the ref what he thought of him and had to be chaperoned from the field by dad Trinny.
We were straight into action again, this time against a very good Saracen’s outfit. Unfortunately, the previous game’s events had taken its toll on the lads and with the referee still at the forefront of their minds they succumbed to an easy Sarries victory.
So, rugby over, we took our cold bodies back to California for some R&R. A lively evening in the bar ensued with yes/no interludes, no swearing interludes and the like taking place involving Windy, Snore Job, Balkers (until he received an SOS), Boo, Trinny, Susannah, Onions, Cocktail Sausage,Coach and Terry. As well as the numbers game that a certain Taxi driver never quite got the hang of! Some of us made it to bed at a reasonable time but apparently Susannah’s red was a bit too much of a temptation for Coach.
Sunday arrived and we were looking forward to 2 matches today. Wrong! Tring had pulled out due to injuries and so we had one game against the Saracens’ B team – the Fez Heads. As it was our only game it was agreed that it would be played over the full hour. The boys tore into the opposition and played some magnificent rugby, to finish the season with a 61-20 victory. Remy was outstanding in the centre as was Jacob on the wing, the forwards murdered their opponents but everyone once again contributed to a great win.
In the meantime Onions had reacquainted himself with the legend that is Mick Skinner and as they drifted off into the sunset hand in hand like a pair of lovestruck teenagers something struck me - what were they talking about? If only Onions knew the first thing about rugby – god alone knows what they spoke about.
Back to the Park for the presentation where the lads received their trophies from ex-England full back Tim Stimpson in the company of an absent friend (x3). This was followed by our own end of season presentation to the players of the year – Remy, Jamie and Dan.
The last evening was spent in the company of the under 12s and 11s (but not Cocktail Sausage who had retired early on age grounds) singing songs, playing games (mainly on Rob and his cigarettes) and of course accommodating Father Abrahams!
A great end to a great season.
Here ends the tour log, not wholly inclusive as of course-
“What goes on tour, stays on tour”
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A couple of issues other than Andy's spelling - We stuffed Sarries B's and the ref wanted to stop the game at half time - so Sarries introduced many of their first team in the second half - but our boys prevailed. Manchester RFC said we were one of the best sides they had played all year - followed by - "Sorry - who are you" and "Where is Chislehurst?" It was a compliment that a small club such as ours can mix it with some great sides who between them had 3 England Academy players and many county players.
For the record, the addition of the word 'cocktail' to my nickname was unfair. It was cold in Norfolk.
However - our Old E's side were simply immense and had they played local sides as they did against Manchester RFC and Sarries - they would be unbeaten locally.
They just need to believe in the fact that they are actually a very, very good TEAM of very nice chaps and every parent and coach is extremely proud of them all. But please - can the Dads have their Sambuca back?
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