BEFORE going through last Wednesday nights results there is a very important matter that must be dealt with in order to prevent future legal action.
Narooma veterans touch is being defamed in the community and unless this defamation stops perpetrators will be prosecuted.
With the premier night time competition being the major topic of conversation on the lips of serious sports fans it is distressing to discover that a small minority of members of the community refer to veterans touch as, wait for it, ‘old mans touch’.
This is defamatory in the extreme.
A veteran is not an old man, and veterans touch is most certainly not, old mans touch.
A veteran is a person who has gained experience through continued service and practice.
A veteran of anything has reached and maintained a peak in their chosen field of endeavour and this is typified in the Narooma veterans competition.
Anyone who has been down to Smyth Oval on a wintery Wednesday night would agree. The veterans down there are at the top of their game.
The level of skill, determination, courage and cunning defies ageing.
They are true veterans in every sense of the word. Narooma veterans touch is so confident in their claims that they challenge any group in the district to take them on.
Provide a prize worth playing for and they’ll show you what veterans can do. You’ll soon see that they’re not old men, they’re veterans.
The above mentioned skill, determination, courage and cunning was there for everyone to see in round eight on Wednesday night.
It all began with the clash of the Dalmeny Deviates and the Rubber Duck Riders. The Duck Riders are quickly becoming the dark horses of the 2008 season. They’re proving that they don’t just look good on the sand between the flags but they look good on the grass between the sidelines at Smyth Oval.
They were magnificent on Wednesday night.
In perhaps their finest performance ever they held the Dalmeny Deviates to a nil all draw. This is no mean feat.
It is the first time for six seasons that the Deviates have been held scoreless. With just a little bit of luck the Clubbies could even have won the contest.
Jeremy Tague made a break and looked certain to score but Ross Griffiths came from nowhere to make the touch just before the ball was passed to Constable who would have scored between the posts.
Ross Griffiths has certainly got some pace.
He’s one of the quickest in the Deviate line-up, just behind Harvey and Adam Morris and perhaps Cameron Rowley, Whacka and Rob McKibbin.
While the game was without doubt a solid contest some fans are no doubt feeling a bit ripped off. The Deves were without Spike for about the fourth week in a row.
Turning up to watch the Deves play without Spike is like turning up to a Rolling Stones concert to find that Mick Jagger’s got a sore throat and won’t be appearing. Without Spike the Deviates struggle to entertain let alone win.
The Duck Riders were also without Jason Hextell which, to use an analogy is like turning up to a Stones concert to find one of the roadies is crook.
Tilba are yet to be beaten this season and after their clash with the Barbarians on Wednesday night this remains the case.
When you see the Mountain Men come out from the shadows to the playing field you wouldn’t rate them a chance, but looks can be deceiving.
They’ve scored 113 points so far this season and only had 12 scored against them and that’s without their star winger Simon Simpson, who’s been busy recruiting for 2009 in the Northern Territory.
The Barbarians had no answers in defence and posed no questions in attack while going down 13 points to nil.
The disappointing aspect of the game for the Barbarians was the hands of the backline and wingers.
They need gloves, not to aid their handling but to keep them warm. They could also no doubt do with scarves and beanies. They’re just being left out in the cold.
The ‘play makers’ are playing but not making. I just hope the non play makers are not paying full fees.
While Tilba threw the ball around probing for holes in the defence the Barbarians kept the rolling maul rolling.
After six phases it’s too late to set the backline alight.
For Tilba, all players performed well with Breust, Beecham and Carter dominant.
For the Barbarians the winger who could blow smoke rings of steam in the cold air was entertaining.
In the bottom of the table clash Crushers took on the socially competitive Cadgee Killers outfit.
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In what could well be described as a dress rehearsal for the wooden spoon playoff at the end of the season the Nerrigunda Nomads ran out winners by 10-5.
The game itself was quite competitive with both sides giving their all. For the Killers Donny Brown was back to his brilliant best. In one 15 metre try scoring burst he beat one player with a change of pace, put an in and away on another defender and then finished it off with a shimmy and a dummy to beat another two Crushers before diving over to score.
Unfortunately I wasn’t there to see it but according to Donny it was pure class. The Crusher also had some good performers. Apparently Thommo and Billy Taylor were able to stay at least three metres offside all night.
A magnificent performance. Gerrard Kennedy also deserves a mention for perseverance.
After picking up referee Markham on a technicality he was still looking some three and a half hours later for someone who cared.
After the games the players once again enjoyed the hospitality back at the Bowlo and once again the Killers won the raffle. More beer to go with the road kill.
Tonight’s games begin at 6 o’clock, be there.