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GHK v 1XV
20/09/08
Old Anniesland
66-10

On the day after International "Talk Like a Pirate Day", the 17 salty dogs of the good ship SPRFC set sail for
the port of New Anniesland to take on the Noble savages of GHK.

The Coxain wanted to know if anyone used names these day instead of initials, so we keel hauled him and
sent him down to the briney deep to rest in Davey Jones' locker.

Dick of the day was secured by cabin Boy Jamie Campbell, seaman Craig Waddell and 3rd mate Greame
Mayo for going into the wrong dressing room before a ball was touched. Even the fact that the Edinburgh
Accies captain was looking at them funny didn't give the game away, and they will feel the lash o' the cat and
no mistake for their desertion before the battle!

And then to the battle itself me hearties.

Sure the portents were there to begin with and was anyone looking for 'em would surely have taken to the lea
and left the fighting for another day.... But Cap'ain Thompson has never been thus inclined and he trimmed
his sail head to wind to weather the storm and the cry of "Repel all boarders!" was sent up to the gods of war.

From the off, the SPRFC crew were under the cosh, and it took no less than 5 minutes for the first score to be
written in the referees notebook. A break through the middle and with no one at hand to run 'em through a try
was scored and converted for 7 - 0.

The crew rallied and took advantage of some illegal play by the opposin' crew and settled the nerves at 7-3
from the boot of Ships Surgeon Watson.

The hosts kicked off again and the boys of the good ship SPRFC must've taken to the rum rations early as
the scoreboard ticked over like a digital watch b'tween 10 minutes in until the half time whistle. The linesmen
had to be replaced due to exhaustion as they ran back and forward between the half way line and the Polis
goal line.

After kicking a sucessful penalty to take their advantage to 10 - 3, the cannibal hoards took no prisoners as
they racked up a further 6 converted tries to take the half time tally to 52-3.

It looked bleak for the brave lads and pressganged MIB, and the half time talk involved a large barrel of
boiling tar, a metal turkey baster and the proposition of singing soprano for the Police all male choir for the
next couple of seasons.

The crew of the SPRFC took to the field with the wind at their backs and some fire in theior bellies. Talking of
Bellies, Ship's cook McNaughton was Keel hauled with able seaman Craig Waddell taking up a position in
the boiler room.

Just before this point one of our erstwhile buccaneers managed to inadvertantly trample the referee -
resulting in him dropping to the pitch and grabbing his face (this was somewhat confusing to players and
spectators alike since it turned out to be his foot that was hurt).  The thought of an 'abandoned match'
momentarily brightened the prospects of the support....but (happily) the ref managed to recover and played
on.

The MIB were determined to salvage some pride from the days work and were rewarded with a Paul
Patterson try after some solid line attack which was converted by Doctor Watson. 52-10.... game on?

Not a bit of it. A further 2 tries, with some frankly unnecessary flourish from a winger that was spoon fed his
scores by his team mates without putting in a job of work himself.... in fact he spat the dummy and had a
tantrum when he was judged to have stepped into touch late in the game, despite his team being so far in
front.... was the end of the battle and the jolly jack tars retired to the bar for a stiff drink.

All round, a day to forget. Roll on next week when the world can be put to rights again and the Sea's made
safe for fair maidens and Tars to traverse.

Team:  Gillies, Cheshire, Waddell (I), Waddell (C), Gibson, Logan, Campbell, Thomson, Watson, McLeod,
Mayo, Logan, Henderson, Paterson, Keenan, McNaughton, Dolan