The coach finally arrived at Green Lane on time after a long trip from Dover , the drive made better by knowing we were travelling in the style the Glasgow Rangers players had become accustomed to, it was there ex team bus! They apparently travel by mini bus now. Their loss was our gain as the coach was great , even with built in barn yard smells and a resident Owl population.

Some of the comments from the lads suggest this was a great tour indeed for one the best ever , i will not try to give all the details as the old adage goes - what goes on tour tour etc but brief highlights will follow.

Day one

A smooth trip to Dover and a flat crossing saw us soon stuck in traffic in Gent which saw us delayed 1.45hrs but unbowed we made it to Centre Parcs late at night , our driver Mick was a star always trying new ways of getting his bus stuck in the wrong lane. Got into the parc after much frantic arm waving from a the security team. Once ensconced in the cottages the lads were fed Minced Morsels a la Clement Freud for those old enough for them to remember, it looked crap and needed rescuing with HP and Tommy sauce but apparently at least on player thought it good enough to make butty out of it. The resident pack of feral cats looked impressively fat in the morning though.

Day Two

Up bright and early and off to Aqua Mundo which was excellent a great way to get everyone battered and bruised as 21 of us tried to squeeze down the rapids at once, the lads were back on the bus quick enough as we have the dubious pleasures of the Canal Stradt on offer in Old Amsterdam. Our tour manager whom seemed to posses a great deal of knowledge about this part of town soon had the lads crowded around shop windows phones aloft and mouthes open asking some impressively naive questions. Some of the windows on these streets appeared to have lots of forgetful ladies standing in them , they appear to have forgotten their clothes, which was odd as it was a particularly nippy day. One naughty boy experienced a day he may remember as he got some admiring glances for his choice of outfit , but he get to drink with joy at the end.

Day Three

Snow freezing temperatures and the first day of summer , we drive off to Hilversham a great sports complex 45 mins from the Parc , loads of pitches all in great nick but very sandy. The tournament was very well organised and we soon had our gazebo up and ready lads sat around grumbling about how cold it was and how it is funny how your head hurts after drinking beer, some sporting a new "do" a strange look shall we say. We played 6 matches against both UK and Dutch teams , the lads from Ampthill were still impressively hung over and we beat them well the lads from Haagsche we turned over as well and we were playing great flowing rugby , so we knew it would end in tears soon enough. The lads played the A team from Amersham and Chiltern who were a great team , large powerful and very skilful. A wake up call was duly delivered, only a slight bit of moaning and we were up against the host team Hilversham , who we reckon had U18 playing or they breed the big on the Polders , a good game with an improved performance but not the right result. The result and performance against the Amersham B team was better with some great play and a boost to morale. The cold and late night night was now getting to the lads and they wanted to be back at the park in Aqua Mundo and not on a freezing field with snow falling all around. The promise of beer and chips with Jopie soon had the lads rallied and ready to go on against the other UK outfit and impressively tuned out outfit from Chelmsford, this display was the icing on the cake , whilst throughout the games their had been super individual tries this game delivered team tries that will live long in the memory of those their to witness them. A great way to finish the tournament. And so to the chips and beer and donkey bollocks in a bun for which our manager has a particular fondness. As we sat enjoying our repast we happened to chance on the Chelmsford coach who said he was on the way to the event tent to get his prize for coming third. THe next bit of news was very surprising - due to our great win against his team and the tries we had scored we had sneaked in above them and had come out as runners up. A mad dash to the tent to witness tour Captain Triss receive the trophy and medal. An unexpected end to a truly wonderful day out. Those of you wondering why we didnt know we had come second should blame the organisers who never published a league table until the end and the effects of fresh beer on cold bodies.

Day Four

An early start for some and sore knees for others saw a 7.30 room inspection by the burly Parc security , everyone passed , so the those mums who think the darling dont know how to mop and clean , they are fibbing they can all do it very well. Even brushing up the hair someone kept losing.

Mick soon had us on the road to Blighty and a very quiet bus sped across the Low Countries and we arrived at Calais in time for an earlier ferry.

The lads will no doubt embellish their tales and the camera never lies so we understand some is setting up a closed group on Facebook for tour memories to be shared amongst those who were there.

I would like to thank the following for making the tour happen

Jed for all his hard work in making this possible

Shirley for getting us the bag packs

Our tour manager Rob for being so well organised and making a mean cooked breakfast

Graham for sharing the burden of motivating , organising and coaching the lads

Paul our newest Ultra and future manager ( we have the proof) for his technical knowledge of Magnetrons and support of the coaching team.

Hilversham Rugby for a great tournament.

And last but by no means least all of the players and coaches/managers/ultras for being great company and superb ambassadors for rugby and Ormskirk Rugby club , it was a pleasure to tour with you and lets do it all again next year.

Anyone for Benidorm !!