Presidents Blog no 4.

Well I know most of you have been waiting with bated breath for my next instalment.  It seems my following appears to be growing.  Yes I had 3 'likes' after my last post!  It is gratifying to know that at least some of you are watching and following your President.

A lot of things have happened in the last few weeks.  President Obama has been re-elected,  the Autumn Internationals have come and gone, and Christmas is fast approaching.  The dinner circuit is finished until the New Year but thank you to my fellow Presidents in Monkstown, Suttonians and Old Wesley for 3 great evenings in succession. A highlight for me was listening to Joe Schmidt talking off the cuff without notes for about 30 minutes in Suttonians, a truly remarkable man and a gentleman in every respect.

Unfortunately the AIL league has not progressed as well as we would like. An away trip to Cashel resulted in a very tight game.  Playing into the teeth of a gale we were camped on our line for much of the first quarter.  A solid defence and some heroic tackling kept our line intact and Cashel had only 2 penalties to show for all their efforts. We worked our way into the game and 2 penalties by Andrew Kealy meant we were turning around at half time at 6-6 and playing with the wind and rain for the second half.

Feeling confident we kicked off.  The locals turned the fan off. The wind died dramatically and suddenly after 10 minutes we were another 12 points down, after Cashel scored 2 tries.   Tried as we did we could not get into their red zone.  An intercept try from Jordie Egan converted by Andrew Kealy followed by another penalty meant we played the last 10 minutes 18-16 down.  We had few chances.  Darragh Duggan made great break but was hauled down 5m from the line without support and eventually Cashel cleared.  We worked hard to try and get a penalty or a drop goal opportunity but we got no change from the referee and that was the final score.  So a losing bonus point in Cashel, which was probably the fair result from a neutral point of view but we could have snuck it.

Last week we entertained UCC, who brought a fair medical contingent with them.  At the lunch, there were 2 GPs including Larry Moran the UCC President, a cardiologist, a chest physician, an anaesthetist and 2 dentists.  They were obviously expecting a tough game and making sure their players were well looked after.  Greystones had one Doctor - a urologist - not much use to our team or so I keep being told!  (Not yet lads just wait until ye are a bit older and then you will be delighted to see me). After a great traditional lunch of bacon and cabbage, the match kicked off.  Almost immediately it's welcome back Bull, a stiff arm handoff, around his man and in at the corner.  5 - 0 and a great start surely.

Alas that was as good as it got.  UCC began to dominate and unusually for 'Stones our heads dropped and we fell to a 8-33 loss.  Not a good day at the office.  The post  match drinks were enlivened by a bunch of very happy  Cork men and a rather subdued local support.  The only Greystones highlight was the presentation of a bunch of flowers to a rather reluctant (actually make that completely reluctant) Paul McNaughton to celebrate a very significant birthday.  Yes the ginger fox has turned 60!  Well done Paul I hope you enjoyed your night out!

Last weekend was a day off for the Senior team.  So I spent a quiet Saturday watching Ireland vs Argentine.  It was great to have a day off particularly as it had been a particularly hectic week at work - however it was back to work on Sunday.  Down to the Minis at 10 to put into action the Eric Archer photo record plan.  As you will all be aware from numerous posts, this is our 75th anniversary and Eric (who will be 93 on the 9th January) helped found the Club in 1937.  We arranged for Eric to be photographed with all the Minis both as a group and in their individual teams.  It was amazing how many children wanted to shake his hand.  We now have a photo record of Eric with our youngest members.  In 75 years time these photographs will form a link directly from our 150th anniversary back to the very origins of the club in 1937.  Many of the children photographed with Eric last Sunday will still be alive in 2087 and will be able to trace a direct line from our foundation to our 150th anniversary.

Eric was absolutely stunned and amazed at the numbers of children playing in the Club.  He was even more amazed when I told him that, although the stand was crammed to capacity, with Minis and their coaches, it was still only about half our registered players.  And the noise... the roof was lifting off the stand as the kids cheered and shouted encouragement at the gathered paparazzi with hundreds of parents recording the scene.  What a fantastic event.  Only one more thing needs to be said:  Sorry Willie, I did think of keeping the parents off the pitch but it became a futile cry with over 100 parents wanting to photograph their loved ones with Eric.  Hopefully we didn't cause too much damage.

Back upstairs with Eric for a little toddy and a warmer up. Walking him back to his car we met Keith O'Brien and the Seagulls and it was another round of photographs with Eric.  Who are the Seagulls I hear you ask?

Greystones Seagulls Tag Team were set up last season in conjunction with Bray Lakers.  For those unfamiliar with Bray Lakers it is a social and sporting club for adults and children with intellectual disabilities.  They do a fantastic job in a community that is often underrepresented in the sporting environment  (www.braylakers.ie).

Why Seagulls?  Well the Greystones club crest features a seagull in flight holding a rugby ball.   Watching the Seagulls play and train every Sunday in Dr. Hickey Park, and  seeing them running about with the ball, with no cares and just having fun, reminds one of the freedom that gulls have when they soar in the wind.  Seagulls appear to be a very appropriate name for them!

  In Greystones we see ourselves as a community club, there to promote rugby to the whole community.  Rugby is a game that can be played by people of all ages, both sexes, in both competitive and friendly fashions, with and without contact.  There is no reason why players with intellectual difficulties, who enjoy watching rugby and admiring Leinster's successes, cannot enjoy time on the pitch and delight in participating in the game with each other.  Greystones RFC is delighted to subsidise our Seagulls and to include them as part of our rugby community.

If anyone would like to help sponsor the Seagulls, we would be delighted to accommodate them.  We would also be delighted to welcome new players and volunteers to training at 11 o'clock every Sunday morning during the rugby season.  Enquiries can be made to Keith O'Brien on 086 897 6677.   I would also like to thank Keith and his team of volunteers for their effort and time every weekend.

Finally I am delighted to welcome Fergus McFadden of Leinster and Ireland fame as Ambassador to our Seagulls team.  We at Greystones are delighted for his support and the Seagulls look forward to supporting Fergus and Leinster in the Aviva Heineken Cup game against Clermont where they will parade at half time.

Off to Galway tomorrow for a hugely important game against Corinthians who are currently lying 2nd in our division.  I have lit candles, started novenas, and am fasting penitentially already for the game........just in case we need a miracle.  Every little bit helps.  Hope to see some of you tomorrow.  C'mon Stones!!

Hubie