This time last week I was preparing in my head a story around overcoming in the face of adversity and accepting the challenge when all is against you.
Seven days ago the Touchers were not happy. Despite Dicko's urging across the park, the fire wasn't there, the interest in Touching wasn't there, the simple fact of wanting to be on the park wasn't there.
I chose not to write that story last week for many reasons.
Well last night once again the Toucher's had a wall to climb, a river to cross.
With a heavy schedule at this time of the year and an expanding injury roster the Toucher's that could turn up and those who wanted to turn up looked at each other in the face and asked each other the question.
At 710pm Tuesday the 9th of December 2014 the player status was as follows:
Chairman - OUT
Milt - OUT
The Sponsor - OUT
Jonty - OUT
Bulldog - OUT
Kiwi - OUT
Lockmith - OUT
Harro HOF - Retired to Stud
Left standing were VC, Supercoach Bill, Rookie, BBB and this author. Five starters from a roster of 12.
Supercoach decided it was time to start the changing of the guard and called on his 12 year old son to take the field as the 6th starter. The yet to be nicknamed youngster had a smile like a split watermellon when the starting roster was made official and he was to join his father in Touch Football battle.
I am not one to give away the inner sanctum activity of the corporation but when his son's name went up on the Pepsi sponsored Jumbo-tron last night above the ground, I swear I saw a tear drip from the old man's sun wrinkled eyes.
The starting six took the park with no reserves. A game plan was quickly put together, 'hold the pill when we have the ball and touch them when they have the ball'. Simple, simple.
Straight out the box it worked and the Touchers put on a quick three tries that reminded the opponents that the Touchers are hardened pack of Touchers and don't expect fear to pull back their competitive streak.
Son of Supercoach played the role of dummy half. With youth in his legs, a keen eye and keen ear for instruction he delivered on the promise.
Dashing from play to play I was seeing the visions of the world great dummy halves, names like Freddy Jones, Max Krilich, Ray Brown, Mal Cochrane, David O'Donnel and Matt Ballin came to mind when I saw clean, clear dedicated passes distributed from the play the ball.
As an old haggered front rower there ain't nothing more important than the ability to hit the advantage line with the ball presented like an egg on a pillow. I received that service last night from the son of Supercoach and he is welcome back anytime.
The Toucher's went into half time 'up a handful of tries' as BBB eloquently described it.
Heads were high despite the nights sticky air wetting the Touchers shirt with well earned perspiration.
There was an underlying concern that the Touchers would run out of gas and the opponents could over run them with their greater volume of players on the sideline.
Soon after the break on my 27th hit up [???!!!] I felt the familiar twang of the hamstring. Now as I am not educated in the soft tissue of the human being I cannot tell you which one of the three muscles under the heading of hamstring it was. It may have been the semitendinosus or the semimembranosus or maybe the biceps femoris, I don't really know.
What I do know is that the pinging of which ever muscle it was rather annoyed me I must say. [better than writing how I really felt huh]
It has occurred before and on occasion its has happened it has been when I have been in full flight [!!!]. The described scene then was like the crashing to the ground of a rampaging wilder beast after being shot by a hunter's elephant gun.
But last night I was almost at walking pace. Such embarrassment.
BBB was at his brilliant best. With the game last night being his last in 2014 and sporting a haircut that may have suggested a change in his beliefs, he was strong in all facets of the game. His diving last minute touch to stop a try had him at least 3 feet in the air at one time in his leap.
The VC enjoyed one of his best games in the Toucher's shirt. After calling off a dubious press conference last Wednesday, it was a last minute decision for him to turn up last night.
The second in charge lead the team to victory 10-2 and I am sure he easily scored the most tries without having to view the official score sheet.
Rookie was in his element in both attack and defense. Helping out slower defenders on the inside he seemed to enjoy making that extra effort to deny the opponents a try. His play of the day was his run to the stripe and slide across the sticky grass. He didn't care that he got touched....it was fun to run and slide on the grass again.
I was a little concerned though when he later stated "oh look, my shirt is dirty". Its badge of honour Rookie to be worn proudly into next weeks match up.
With his young man alongside him, Supercoach was the manager of business on the field. Calling for extra effort when it mattered and each request was accepted with enthusiasm.
With not wanting to detract from any Toucher who couldn't make it last night for all good and vaild reasons, last night I saw team mates smiling and laughing during the game. I haven't seen that in a while. I even chose not to chastise VC for throwing a stupid over the back of his head pass to know one. I must have been in a good mood or maybe it was the pain streaking up through my leg !!!
But the most important achievement was that the journey of a new player in the team has begin with Declan getting the unanimous Man of the Match. I am sure it was a special moment for both father and son and something they will never forget.
Yours in tearing up in the emotion of it all
FMJ
[or maybe its just the pain streaking through my leg, Locksmith can you help me with a little something ???]
Seven days ago the Touchers were not happy. Despite Dicko's urging across the park, the fire wasn't there, the interest in Touching wasn't there, the simple fact of wanting to be on the park wasn't there.
I chose not to write that story last week for many reasons.
Well last night once again the Toucher's had a wall to climb, a river to cross.
With a heavy schedule at this time of the year and an expanding injury roster the Toucher's that could turn up and those who wanted to turn up looked at each other in the face and asked each other the question.
At 710pm Tuesday the 9th of December 2014 the player status was as follows:
Chairman - OUT
Milt - OUT
The Sponsor - OUT
Jonty - OUT
Bulldog - OUT
Kiwi - OUT
Lockmith - OUT
Harro HOF - Retired to Stud
Left standing were VC, Supercoach Bill, Rookie, BBB and this author. Five starters from a roster of 12.
Supercoach decided it was time to start the changing of the guard and called on his 12 year old son to take the field as the 6th starter. The yet to be nicknamed youngster had a smile like a split watermellon when the starting roster was made official and he was to join his father in Touch Football battle.
I am not one to give away the inner sanctum activity of the corporation but when his son's name went up on the Pepsi sponsored Jumbo-tron last night above the ground, I swear I saw a tear drip from the old man's sun wrinkled eyes.
The starting six took the park with no reserves. A game plan was quickly put together, 'hold the pill when we have the ball and touch them when they have the ball'. Simple, simple.
Straight out the box it worked and the Touchers put on a quick three tries that reminded the opponents that the Touchers are hardened pack of Touchers and don't expect fear to pull back their competitive streak.
Son of Supercoach played the role of dummy half. With youth in his legs, a keen eye and keen ear for instruction he delivered on the promise.
Dashing from play to play I was seeing the visions of the world great dummy halves, names like Freddy Jones, Max Krilich, Ray Brown, Mal Cochrane, David O'Donnel and Matt Ballin came to mind when I saw clean, clear dedicated passes distributed from the play the ball.
As an old haggered front rower there ain't nothing more important than the ability to hit the advantage line with the ball presented like an egg on a pillow. I received that service last night from the son of Supercoach and he is welcome back anytime.
The Toucher's went into half time 'up a handful of tries' as BBB eloquently described it.
Heads were high despite the nights sticky air wetting the Touchers shirt with well earned perspiration.
There was an underlying concern that the Touchers would run out of gas and the opponents could over run them with their greater volume of players on the sideline.
Soon after the break on my 27th hit up [???!!!] I felt the familiar twang of the hamstring. Now as I am not educated in the soft tissue of the human being I cannot tell you which one of the three muscles under the heading of hamstring it was. It may have been the semitendinosus or the semimembranosus or maybe the biceps femoris, I don't really know.
What I do know is that the pinging of which ever muscle it was rather annoyed me I must say. [better than writing how I really felt huh]
It has occurred before and on occasion its has happened it has been when I have been in full flight [!!!]. The described scene then was like the crashing to the ground of a rampaging wilder beast after being shot by a hunter's elephant gun.
But last night I was almost at walking pace. Such embarrassment.
BBB was at his brilliant best. With the game last night being his last in 2014 and sporting a haircut that may have suggested a change in his beliefs, he was strong in all facets of the game. His diving last minute touch to stop a try had him at least 3 feet in the air at one time in his leap.
The VC enjoyed one of his best games in the Toucher's shirt. After calling off a dubious press conference last Wednesday, it was a last minute decision for him to turn up last night.
The second in charge lead the team to victory 10-2 and I am sure he easily scored the most tries without having to view the official score sheet.
Rookie was in his element in both attack and defense. Helping out slower defenders on the inside he seemed to enjoy making that extra effort to deny the opponents a try. His play of the day was his run to the stripe and slide across the sticky grass. He didn't care that he got touched....it was fun to run and slide on the grass again.
I was a little concerned though when he later stated "oh look, my shirt is dirty". Its badge of honour Rookie to be worn proudly into next weeks match up.
With his young man alongside him, Supercoach was the manager of business on the field. Calling for extra effort when it mattered and each request was accepted with enthusiasm.
With not wanting to detract from any Toucher who couldn't make it last night for all good and vaild reasons, last night I saw team mates smiling and laughing during the game. I haven't seen that in a while. I even chose not to chastise VC for throwing a stupid over the back of his head pass to know one. I must have been in a good mood or maybe it was the pain streaking up through my leg !!!
But the most important achievement was that the journey of a new player in the team has begin with Declan getting the unanimous Man of the Match. I am sure it was a special moment for both father and son and something they will never forget.
Yours in tearing up in the emotion of it all
FMJ
[or maybe its just the pain streaking through my leg, Locksmith can you help me with a little something ???]
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