They were early games yesterday though the sun was out and the heat was going to contribute to the game. The first game up was the firsts vs UNSW. The Convicts burst out of the blocks and were pressuring the UNSW’s line in the first minute - we were really getting some great momentum around the rucks and mauls. Steve was in fine form with a number of runs and he was rewarded with the try following a fend and stretched place under the posts - Charles converted.

UNSW seemed to wake up a bit at this time and came back into the game - they realised that the Convicts backs were causing havoc and decided the only way was through our forwards. This went on for about the next 10 minutes with the Convicts showing some brilliant hard work to defend the big forwards. Though eventually the pressure built and they scored on the blindside following a scrum.

However within 2 minutes of the restart Charles made a brilliant break, Gus trailing as usual in support and teh ball was recycled quickly and back out with Levi drawing and cutting again to Charles who scored and also converted his own try. Half time score 12-5.

The talk at half time was about not letting off and ensuring the win was convincing, knowing that UNSW would come back if we game them an inch. The Convicts did exactly that and the tight forwards were really doing great work, Andy Taylor and Duncan McGregor in particular casuing UNSW headaches in close - Duncan tackling himself to a standstill (getting the weekly black eye again) while Andy’s pick and drives and general ‘backrow’ work fantastic. At a point when UNSW were trying to use their backs, Charles did the old Matt V trick of intercepting and ran 60m to score under the posts. Charles converted his own try. Craig (Smurf had been relishing his return from injury with a great game at the base of the ruck - giving Levi good space to execute well the kicking game that he has close to perfected this year. Twice Levi used the short chip to turn the big UNSW forwards around while confusing their backs.

To top off the day Charles ran in for his third try and the Convicts forth - to have the final score 24-5. A convincing and great win after some agonising close losses recently.
Coaches Points:
Charles Gregory 3;
Quilkey (Smurf) 2;
Duncan McGregor & Andy Taylor 1

The Convicts seconds were up against Mosman who have had a great season…I might just skip to the second half as Mosman really dominated the first scoring about 5 ties to nill. However the impassioned speach at half time by Coach Breezy reminding the players this was the last game of the season for the team (firsts have one more game next weekend) and asking the team to all dig deep and find the Convicts spirit inside. This obviously had an effect and the team played with passion and purpose and there were some great runs from fullback by Damian and Chris Rowe and a mighty effort from Marty while no one could stop Marcel in which ever position he played and was given the well deserved coaches points. Mosman only were able to score one try in the dying seconds of the game - a brililant second half by the Convicts.

Coaches Points
Marcel 3;
Marty 2;
Chris Rowe & Damian 1

Note:
- At the end of this email is a great email from the Waverly captain after last week’s games. This is the type of reputation that the Convicts are proud to have. Thank you everyone for creating a club that has this reputation.
- Rugger Bugger 54: tickets are on Sale now see Kevin Perry and Greg Holmes and get your FRIENDS there (forward the Facebook event at the least. 5 people each there!)
- For those of you who have heard of Perez Hilton the blogger, we’ve been mentioned there. See http://perezhilton.com/2009-08-21-australian-rugby-stars-stand-up-against-homophobia. I believe this site has over 10 million unique visitors a month.
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EMAIL BELOW

Dear Charlie,

On behalf of Waverley 5th Grade, thanks again for the beers in the Convicts clubhouse following last Saturday’s games.

We appreciate the good spirit in which the Convicts always play- bloody tough and fierce, but fair and good sports too! Our website this week has a 5A match report indicating the respect we hold for every game we play against the Convicts.

Good luck to all of your players for the remainder of the season, and we hope that the Convicts will accept Waverley’s offer of drinks at our bowling club in a Waverley home game next season.

Sincerely

Dave Whetton
Waverley 5A halfback/captain

Related Links

Check Out the Wallabies and Convicts Photo here

Sydney SX

The Australian Rugby Union has thrown its weight behind a campaign to fight discrimination against Australia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community.

Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock has joined forces with players Dave Pocock, Al Baxter and Steve Moore to be part of the This Is Oz campaign being run by ACON, Australia’s largest community-based GLBT health and HIV/AIDS organisation.

Part art project and part human rights campaign, This Is Oz is an online photo gallery where participants can upload pictures of themselves with messages that challenge homophobia or celebrate diversity and social inclusion.

The project aims to improve services and opportunities for GLBT Australians by demonstrating public support for GLBT rights as well as illustrating the impact that homophobia has on the whole community. The web address is www.thisisoz.com.au

The Wallabies have also shown their support for gay rugby union club the Sydney Convicts by having photographs taken with several members of the world champion team for inclusion in the This Is Oz project.

ACON CEO Stevie Clayton says she’s delighted to have members of the Wallabies making a contribution to This Is Oz. “Having the Wallabies and the Australian Rugby Union demonstrating their support for social inclusion for GLBT people will hopefully increase visibility for the campaign, help change attitudes amongst some rugby supporters who might otherwise think its okay to be anti-gay, and send a message to young GLBT people that there is a place for them in rugby union. I’d like to congratulate the players and the ARU for their support and encourage other sports to get on board This Is Oz and help make Australia a place where everyone belongs.”

Sydney Convicts president Charlie Winn says the enthusiasm shown by the Wallabies in supporting This is Oz is a huge development. “To have representatives of the national rugby union team taking a public and positive stance against homophobia speaks volumes to counter negative stereotypes. It also sends a message to the many young players that their role models at the professional level accept diversity and support our community. This shows rugby as a whole is changing and modernising and becoming more inclusive of gays and lesbians. I could never imagine this happening 10 years ago.”

The Wallabies’ This Is Oz signs are as follows:

“It’s not who you are it’s how you play the game” – Stirling Mortlock
“Everyone deserves a sporting chance. Stand up against homophobia” – Al Baxter
“We support diversity in sport” – Steve Moore
”All rugby players are boofheads? All gay men are weaklings? Reject stereotypes, accept people” – Dave Pocock

To view these images, find out more about the project or to get involved, please visit www.thisisoz.com.au

ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview or photo opportunity, please contact
Michael Badorrek, ACON Media and Communications Manager
T: (02) 9206 2001 M: 0400 358 109 E: mbadorrek@acon.org.au

Please download the Full Press Release here

I’ve had to pull this email together with some help from Simon T as I wasn’t able to make the game. Though I was very pleased to hear that we stood up to the guys from Waverly. Simon’s summary below
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Convicts 12 – Waverley 38

With a few players away with injuries, work and holidays the Convicts formed a combined team on Saturday to take on a combined team from Waverley. With Waverley’s 1st leading the comp and their seconds not far behind it was always going to be a tough test for the Convicts.

The 5 tries to 2 scoreline (with tries to Jiffy and Gus) reflected what turned out to be a very scrappy game. The opening 10 minutes saw the Convicts start with their usual steal and they had most of the territory and possession but the points weren’t coming. Waverley started to play the niggle game and a few choice elbows and punches from their kiwi contingent saw the Convicts rattled as they started to concentrate more on the fighting and arguing than the rugby. Waverley took advantage and ran in a couple of easy tries. With their sharp shooting goal kicker converting everything, the points were stacking up at 17-0.

The Convicts began the second half refocused. They played through the niggle and it wasn’t long before they were rewarded with their first try. Stronger work in the forwards and more line breaks by Charles saw them close to going over but Waverley’s scrambling defence saw then denied the points. Waverley then hit back as their backs started to find room out wide and with some lucky bounces they rang in another two tries. Convicts came again and with some good lead up work from the forwards, Gus was able to crash over out wide for the Convicts second try. Waverley finished the game with another try out wide to end a scrappy and undisciplined game 38-12.

The Convicts are scheduled to play both Waverley 1 and 2 in two weeks time and will need to work on their game plan and focus for this weekend’s game if they are to turn around the weekends result and record their first victory over Waverley for 2009. Let’s get everyone down to training this Thursday to re-energise after a tough game and make sure Mosman and UNSW feel the steal of the Convicts after their first defeat in over 6 weeks.

Points went to:

1- Simon Thompson
1- Chris Rowe
2- Charles Gregory
3- Gump aka Ben Clay

News on the injury front sees Gus with an injury to the ligaments in his leg (that will see him out for a few weeks) and Sam Chesterman injuring his collar bone in a skiing accident on the weekend (seems rugby is far less dangerous than skiing). So we will need all hands on deck for the last 4 weekends of the rugby season.

After such a great run of victories lets ensure we get back on track this weekend with strong games against Mosman (who we have not beaten yet this year) and UNSW (who we have never lost to).

Cheers,

Charlie
President