
As the end of 2013 is just round the corner, the legends of Warley RFC shake off the dust, dig out their kit, leave the kids with anyone who'll take them and generally just clear their diaries because Christmas for Warley means the one and only GENERATION GAME. For the fifth year in a row, Warley players will divide themselves in half, the under 30s and the over 30s, and each half will battle for victory on the rugby pitch.
This week we got a hold of the captains of each team to ask them a few questions, trying to get an indea of what to expect from this year's Generation Game! Read what the Under 30s captain Jake Brown and the Over 30s captain Dave Smith had to say about tomorrow's spectacular.
1) Congratulations on being appointed captain of your teams! What do you think you're going to bring to the leading role?
Dave (Over 30s) - I'm going to bring drunk, overweight, top flight players to put young, sober, lightweight players to the sword. We've come here to win a cup and we're not going away with nothing.
Jake (Under 30s) - A second year of the Under 30s winning the Generation Game! It won't be a simple task because last year we had some very good players who have now moved up to the Over 30s team. We needed to replace them with even better players but I think we have done that.
2) What kind of team are you putting out this year? Where do you think your strengths and weaknesses lie as a team?
Jake (Under 30s) - Players that can play multiple positions. This will allow us to field a team that can play anywhere on the park, making it harder for the opposition to know what we are going to do. But a weakness we have is in a couple of positions we don't have the experience that the Over 30s have, but we will do our best to beat them elsewhere on the pitch if we cant deal with them within the position.
Dave (Over 30s) - A team to win. Strengths are forwards without a shadow of a doubt. We have some players who we haven't seen for a while who will be making an appearance.
3) Who will be your biggest asset?
Dave (Over 30s) - That would be me, leading on the pitch. If you go to war without a leader then you're ducked.*
*We apologise for any typing errors in this article.
Jake (Under 30s) - We don't have a biggest asset because we have a team who, as individuals, are good but as a team they are even better. One advantage of this is that they know how other players on the pitch work, allowing for a more flowing game. Also they will be there to support each other when we make the plays.
4) Who will be your biggest competition?
Jake (Under 30s) - The biggest competition will be the whole of the Over 30s squad. The majority of them have a lot of experience which will make it hard to beat them head on.
Dave (Over 30s) - There's a bit of pace in the youth. We do not fear the pace but we need to manage it. I will be taking care of that in the changing rooms. We'll look to push them into the middle channel where our rampaging forward pack will be waiting. We will not show the outside.
5) How has your team been preparing for this year's Generation Game?
Dave (Over 30s) - Waterfall Thursday, Rugby Club Friday and a pint before kick off.
Jake (Under 30s) - In many ways, training as a team, doing solo training either in the gym or even just going jogging to keep fit.
6) Are there any players you think we should keep our eyes on?
Jake (Under 30s) - In this game every player on the squad will do something fantastic. You'll want to watch every single one of them, if you blink you might miss something; be it a try stopping tackle or a intercepted pass (which I have seen a few players in this squad do).
Dave (Over 30s) - Antony Becker. This lad has played in Rugby League, Rugby Union and has been in the army in Afghanistan. He's amazing (Oh, and Pete Jukes).
7) Are you predicting a difficult match with a close score or will one team just dominate?
Dave (Over 30s) - I must admit one team won't dominate. It's close every year. As a manager I do not contemplate defeat, it's win, win, win and I'll tell them that during the pre-match pint and smoke.
Jake (Under 30s) - My prediction is that it'll be a close difficult game, from which we, the Under 30s, will come out victorious. The win will come through the speed we have within the squad.
Given that this year's game is set to be just as exciting as previous years, you should probably cancel all of your Christmas plans and get pitch side at 14.14pm for the kick off! If you're not sure who will be playing where then Warley RFC's facebook page released the team lists for the match earlier this evening and you can find them at the bottom of this article. We look forward to seeing you there!
Under 30s:
Everyone under 30
Over 30s:
Everyone over 30
Hope that answers all the questions! Game on!"