Hey Guys,

Note

• Long email worth the read - thanks Breezy for the 2nds report & Steve for the 1sts
• Games this weekend may be swapped so please keep an eye on the email and listen on Thursday
  There is ONLY 2 games left. Lets ensure we train, support and turn up on time for each other over this last few weeks before the tour so BOTH teams are prepared as possible to win in Minneapolis!
• The Convicts will be back on board after the tour to make sure we win the Halligan Cup. All players back on board for Saturday 3rd July.

The seconds headed out to Turramurra to play against a Barker Old Boys team who assured us that they were old and hardly played together but who turned out to be a lot better than advertised and obviously full of ex higher grade players and probably the best team in terms of rugby knowledge and skill we have met this year.

Despite the fact that we still didn’t have a full team until 5 minutes before the game and players were asked to play out of their accustomed positions, the boys turned up to play with a great defensive effort against a wily and hardened opponent.

The boys were pinned in their own 20 metres for nearly the whole first half and had to repel wave after wave of attack with the forwards especially Pauly,Marcel and Kevin throwing themselves into the rucks and mauls and spoiling the oppositions go forward time and again while the backs tackled themselves and the opposition to a standstill with Simon, Dave and Giffy moving up to harrass and smother Barker attacks and force mistakes in the mid field.The Barker scrum was very strong and gave us problems until we adjusted to the hit. When guest player, Matt’s brother Nick went down with one of his customary dislocated shoulder we went to uncontested with our only reserve new player and winger Sam going into the front row,it was a big ask but he managed to hang in there.

The lineouts were one of the best aspects of our game with Marcel and his “Inspector Gadget” arms winning everything that came anywhere him and Kevin organising the back well. Despite the great defence something had to crack and the Barker boys ran in a pressure try a couple of minutes before the break but a 5 nil deficit was a mighty effort considering the circumstances.

With the boys tiring the second half was always going to be testing but the boys kept up the energy and intensity with no field position, no or bad ball and an experienced, hungry Barker lusting for points. Despite a lot of desperate defense and a couple of try saving bell ringers from Sam Chesterman the opposition ran in 3 late tries against a tiring Convicts out fit.

To their credit and with the help of a couple of penalties the boys had their best attacking passage in the final five minutes of the game where the forwards trucked it up in the oppositions 20 metres with ST calling the shots. but with all the defending they had had to do there wasn’t much gas left.

The final score was 24 - 0 but in an ambush like this it could have been a lot worse and against the odds the boys played with pride and determination and can hold their heads high knowing that nothing in Minneapolis will be able to dent defense like that and with some regulars returning soon our attack will soon be able to get moving. Our aim is to disrupt the opposition with our defense and then pile on the attack. Well done all that played!

The firsts headed out to Hunter’s Hill to play arned out it was team who have been very up and down this year. As it turned out, it was duly made a well and truly “down” week for the boys from Hunters. With a million tries to all and sundry it was not the challenge we needed, but nor did we fall into making the game scrappy adn drop to the level of our opposition. In truth, the scoreline we experienced has been on offer this year, it’s just now that we have matured enough to start capitalising.

One bad turn out of the game is broken fingers to the rampaging Aki. With Steve helped from the field also, it was possibly a bad week for injuryg, but plenty of reason to be hopeful. With a great try to the flying Smurf and a bulldozing try to Josh on the wing it was a week for highlights. Great running from charles, Levi and Big Girl kept the scoreboard ticking over but a lesson was taught to all by man of the match, the flying Jumbo. Who could forget seeing half a cattle station of prime beef screaming up the sideline, GOLD!

Great win guys, lets keep that killer instinct and hold onto what we focused on, keep the pressure on the opposition and give no reprieve.

Rugger Bugger XI
This Saturday is the last fundraiser for the tour..sell those tickets. Get down there in your Convicts T-Shirts, rugby shorts and get your friends down there (8-midnight)

Bingham Cup Tour:
We have our medical team in place:

• Dr Paul Hargadon
• Dr Michael White

Physio’s

• Erin Parish;
• Luke Heath
• Claire Youmans

This is a fantastic team, Dr Paul has been with us to Dublin while Claire took the Tongan rugby team on tour last year while Erin and Luke both have looked after rugby clubs and many sports teams on tour.

Last note that insurance is almost in place and the squad is all in place.

Sponsorship
For those that don’t know we are proud to announce a Jersey sponsor for the 2010 Bingham Cup Tour FX Open. Some information below and thank you Josh for facilitating the transaction:

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FXOpen, is one of the worlds largest retail Foreign exchange Brokerage houses, used specifically for hedging and speculative purposes.

Just as on its first day FXOpen is guided now by the same key principles fair, professional and convenient trading conditions for its clients, and pivots its work on constant upgrade and development of cutting-edge trading technologies.
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Contact Duncan, myself or anyone on the Committee if you have any questions.

Cheers,

Charlie
President