The Hourglass
February 15, 2005
A Publication of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club
Click Here for Back Issues of The Hourglass
Spring Fixture List Posted
Let's hear it for the NEW match secretary. Ronco has put together a full card for the Spring 2005 season. There are still a couple of wrinkles to iron out but we'll definitely be off and running no later than April 9. Easter comes early this year, so the decision was made not to try to squeeze in a late March Lenten match as you simply can't count on decent ground conditions anywhere in the northeast. (Plus Seeger will still be on the wagon, so what fun would that be?) Plans right now are to take our chances on a dry home pitch on Sunday, March 20, so we can engage in our semi-annual ritual of blowing away the off-season cobwebs, getting ball in hand and working on set pieces, running a little touch sevens, and retiring to The Old Dublin for a strategy session. As always, fitness is your responsibility. Don't even THINK about waiting until the 20th to start your fitness training.
The hope is that we will start our playing season on April 2. Ronco is working to fill the date. If we haven't filled it by mid-March, we'll slide our training date to Sunday, April 3. Stay tuned. You'll also note that the Old Men of the Mountains festival is on the calendar. Bill Good and Joe Flynn have succeeded in handing off most of the organizational responsibilities after their 20 years at the helm, so they can now kick back this year and criticize others! The Grey have agreed to assist in the picking up and setting up of the refreshment tables, acquiring the food and beer, and assisting in the cooking of food and selling shirts. We will also lend a hand with cleaning up on Saturday afternoon or early Sunday. If you want a room at the Franconia Inn and didn't reserve it last June, call now.
Date Opponent Venue Kick-off
March 20 Training
Home TBA
March 26 Off (Easter weekend)
April 2 Open
TBA TBA
(April 3 Backup
training date)
April 9 Berkshire
Home 1:00
April 16 New London
Away TBA
April 23 Off
April 30 Morris Masters
Away TBA
May 7 Long Island
RFC Tournament
May 14 Boston Brahmins
Home 1:00
May 21 Mid Hudson Old Dogs
Away TBA
May 28 Off (Memorial Day
Weekend)
June 4 Old Men of the
Mountains Festival (Over 40s) Franconia
July 30 Rhody Old Cocks
Block Island
Dues
Of course, that means that dues are due. At the Annual General Meeting, the club held dues fixed at $100 per each playing season (spring and fall) for Playing Members and $35 for Social Members. Mail your check, payable to "Connecticut Grey Rugby Club," to Gary Tamburri at 13 Old Purdy Station Road, Newtown, CT 06470, OR take a check with you to the Annual Awards Banquet (details below) OR take a check with you to your first match. With the exception of rookies, the No Pay, No Play policy goes into effect on April 16.
Special Olympics
One final reminder that Tony Johnson is organizing the Club's support of the 2005 Connecticut Special Olympics on Saturday and Sunday, February 26 and 27, at the CL&P property in Simsbury. As in the past years, we will be manning the 100-meter cross country sprints and combined medley relay. Everyone who has ever participated will attest to how rewarding this activity is and how much fun we have. Contact Tony Johnson by e-mail or phone, (860) 665-3858, for complete details.
2004 Season Annual Awards Banquet
The votes have been tallied and the trophies ordered. We will once again honor the exploits and excesses of our players and supporters at our Annual Awards Banquet. We will drink, dine, and dance the night of Saturday, March 12, away at the Waverly Tavern in Cheshire. Formal invitations with all the details -- time, cost, directions -- will be e-mailed shortly, but in the meantime hold the evening free. Also, let Jon Leone or Lindsey Flynn know if you would be interested in returning to the vicinity of the crime on Sunday morning for an Irish brunch. If the numbers are there, we will plan a repeat of last year's hair-of-the-dog repast.
And once again, the Welcome Inn in Cheshire is offering discounted rooms for those who have a long haul and don't welcome the thought of operating heavy machinery after consuming copious quantities of adult beverages. The Welcome Inn is at 1106 South Main Street, a couple of miles south of the Waverly Tavern on Route 10. Singles are $70 + tax and doubles are $80 + tax. Call 1-877-646-4209 to book a room and mention the Connecticut Grey Rugby Club to get the discounted rate.
Grey Gear Now in Stock
For those of you who ordered club clothing before Christmas, you can collect your stuff at the Annual Awards Banquet or at any of the spring matches. See Dean Jorgensen. Unfortunately, we did not receive enough requests for Barbados tour game jerseys to be able to fill a minimum order.
Jim Burke Takes On Coaching Role
In the aftermath of a nasty leg injury last fall, Jim Burke has decided to add coaching to his rehabilitation routine. This spring, he takes on the role of head coach for the Quinnipiac Rugby Club. Jim invites us to stop by practice any time, especially to help with position skills. Practices are held Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4:30 to 6:00. Contact Jim for location and directions.
Parting
is Such Sweet Sorrow
It seems that he only just arrived, washing up on the shores of Block Island and introducing us to bawdy songs, fine cigars, and the lovely Theresa (not to mention the finest assortment of England rugby t-shirts this side of the pond). Alas, the ugly world of commerce has called George Saul back to his roots in old Blighty.
However, we may still have the occasional benefit of George's considerable push in the front row as, for the time being, he and Theresa are spending every other week at their country estate in Brookfield. The commute obviously hasn't dulled his confidence in England in the wake of an unfortunate start to this year's six-nations campaign. He notes in a recent correspondence that there is no need to "worry about the World Champs. A couple of close results during the experimental stage between tournaments has no effect whatsoever on the undeniable fact that we still have the trophy. The squads that are peaking now should be worried."
Too Old to Retire (from BBC Sport)
If
Andy Robinson needs a wing with experience, determination and a proven
try-scoring record, he could do worse than look at Des Pastore. The wing-cum-centre
has lost count of the number of games he has played in and tries he has scored
in a long and distinguished career. But at the venerable age of 90 he can be
forgiven for slight memory loss - as Britain's oldest current player he has
enough to contend with on the pitch. Pastore plies his trade for Egor RFC, a
team that relies more on their years of experience rather than speed of foot.
With the years creeping on, every pass becomes that much more of an effort, and
each tackle takes longer to recover from - but Pastore says he enjoys every
minute of it. "It's just a way of life, enjoyable and a great way of
keeping myself fit," he told Rugby Special. "You make friends from all
over the world, and when you make them they are friends for life. The
competitiveness on the field and companionship off it is what makes rugby a
great game."
The second oldest member of the team is hooker Billy Gregory, who weighs in at the comparatively youthful age of 80. The players wear coloured shorts depending on their age, so the opposition know how hard they can tackle them, although Des claims to have been on the end of a few heavy hits in recent years. But injuries aside, the former Sale star plans to go on as long as his legs will let him. "I've never thought about quitting. Sometimes when we train in the rain it can get quite hard, but as soon as the sun comes out I'm ready to get out there and play!"
