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An important day another important win

Under the gaze of the spring moon, clarity was brought to the park last evening. Coming off a big first round win the OTs took on a young band of kids with long full flowing hair, caps on backwards and bodies yet to be rattled with the test of time.

The OTs don't have the flowing hair or the bum fluff of oncoming youthful facial hair.

The OTs have oncoming baldness and/or the salt n pepper colouring of the remaining follicles and some of those are not just on their heads.

The OTs have mortgages. The OTs have jobs that require more brain power than those needed to flip burgers or to be at the working end of a shovel.

It's that kind of experience that only Father Time can lump upon a mere male that saw the OTs present the kind of performance that was seen on Tuesday night.

The OTs drove the nail in on an 8-5 victory. Across the first two rounds, the for and against tally is 18 for and just 6 against in 60 minutes of classic football. The ole geezers score every 3 minutes and only allow their combatants across the white line every 10 minutes.

Former 1987 manly premiership super sub Paul Shaw was honored to be given the ref duties for the game and he kept a tight ship.

The OTs knew how to play these whipper snappers as they had battled in a pre-season trial and only narrowly went down 4-3 due to a winger coming in off his wing late in the game.....yes it needed repeating !!!

It was an early mistake from the OTs in the line of defense that let the kids across the line before 1 minute had passed.

The opponents were skillful but their minds were probably more focused on summer breezes lightly catching at the skirts of young ladies, rather than focused on the field of battle. The OTs applied constant pressure that brought on silly mistakes from the young bucks.

With age as their sword and scar tissue as their shield, the OTs hit back soon after.

At the long break the scores were locked at 2 all.

Plans were put in place for the second stanza assault. All good ideas, double pump the right edge, drop a man inside of the second play, punch up 4 then spread to a two pass play.

I can't say that much of this was followed, the OTs play what's in front of them. You cant coach that into a team, its just who they are.

In the opening of the second half the OTs scored in the first set. Quick plays and boom BBB crossed to get himself back into the game after a poor start in reference to his immense skill. That half time look in the mirror he had must have worked. I did start to worry though when he talked back to himself so rudely.

Up 3-2 the OTs immediately let the kids in quickly to lock it up at 3-3.

For the next period of play it was parry and thrust. Drop balls and penalties tortured both teams.

A key play going into the last 10 minutes saw the OTs pushing forward late in the tackle count, until on the last touch the ball was called wide. The kids were set up for that wide runner. But in his first appearance of 2013, Milt parried off his right foot and began a swooping run to his left were a wide gap and a footy from a timely made pass awaited his presence. Like flooded water running through a country gully, the sub committee chairman strode through to get his first try of the season.

It was from there the OTs took back the night and maintained a 3 try gap on the kids till the end.

Supercoach Bill, also bearing the responsibility of Acting Chairman, had the best game of his career in OT colours. Scoring try's when needed was something that will help is career prospects should the Chairman take further unexpected leave of absence.

The Locksmith returned from hunting wild bore and with new team shirts distributed his path was clear on what digit would be on his back. A number worn by many heroes of days past, Churchill, Eadie, Brentnall, Lockyer and even his man crush Eels hero, Hayne. I am sure the number One will sit appropriately on his back

B1 returned ready for his second outing for the OT's. When calls were made to settle the play coming off the line after a heavy set of 6 touches,  B1 called for the ball to be spread wide...put them to the sword. Its this youthful spirit that has B1 resting warmly in the bosom of the OT corporation.

Jonty did only what an OT knows to do and stepped up when needed. Despite a week in the chamber with his torn Quadricep, Jonty competed and showed guts, grit and any other messy food matter that comes to your mind. He as much as many others, will look forward to the 2 week break.

B3 turned up to help and was impressive in his darting runs. Not willing to stop competing, has him front and centre should any money be freed up under the salary cap.

Again the VC carried grade 1 tears in his buttock and hamstring. The VC is finally paying the ferryman for past errors in soft tissue injury care. Despite his poor off field massaging decisions, they not effecting his ability on-field. His speed and guile were more than enough to collect the Players player award for a record 15th time.

After two pre-season games and two competition games the OT players are looking very comfortable in their wrinkly skins. There is structure and delivery that said by others to be slick and professional.

In summer season 2012 the OTs played youngsters despite being in a Over 35's comp. The OTs complained relentlessly but still won the comp. In this new competition the OTs will face blue flamers on a regular basis and the early signs are that the men from Terrey Hills are up to the task.

Who knows what hell awaits the OTs on the return of Pius old boys, Chairman and HOF, after their 2 week journey through the exotic Pacific Islands.....together. Will they slot into the machine that has been revving as nicely as a 5.7 litre V8 Hemi? Or will they cause drama as they have in the past.

In season 2013/2014 there is a long way to go but signs are showing that the OT's are ready to rattle the cage.

Yours in embracing the lack of hair on my head and the beer gut that protrudes inappropriately from my girth,

FMJ

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