2007 President's Report

The 2007 Charcoals calendar kicked off with the traditional St. Patrick's Day match against the EDRUC President's XV at T.G. Millner Rugby field on 16 March, 2007.  As always it was a keenly fought match followed by a very successful after-match function.

Fund-raising activities for the 2008 Edinburgh Golden Oldies Festival played an important role during the season.  These included chocolate drives, meat raffles, coffee and cake stalls, the Trivia Night and 25th Anniversary Dinner raffle.  My thanks must go to our fund-raising committee for their enthusiastic commitment and support.

On 17 June, 2007, a number of players and Charcoalettes attended the Lovedale Rugby Festival in the Hunter Valley.  Despite the very muddy conditions and cold showers, it was a most enjoyable day.

The postponed Gala Day was held on 22 July, 2007.  It was a most successful day which is a testament to the efforts of the elected 2007 Committee, fund-raising committee, players, and their families.  We were very fortunate to have as our guests, Andy "Skinny" McKinney and Andy White from the Wirral Rugby Club in the U.K.  Both players made a valuable contribution towards what was to be a memorable match against the Warringah Wrinkled Rats.  We look forward to reuniting with the "Andys" and Wirral boys prior to the Edinburgh Festival in September 2008.

By invitation on 1 September, 2007, the Charcoals played the Engadine Flatulents as a curtain-raiser to the First Grade game as part of the Come Back to Eastwood celebrations.  The game was played with the usual intensity and flair with sideline commentary from Eastwood Rugby General Manager, Sandy Dunn.

The Trivia Night was held on 6 October, 2007, held in the auditorium of the Eastwood Rugby Club and proved to be a most enjoyable evening and successful fund-raising activity for the Edinburgh Festival.

The highlight of the year was the 25th Anniversary Dinner held on 10th November, 2007.  Congratulations to all the award recipients and in particular, "Lord Jim" Dunn for his life membership award.  Particular mention should be made of the valued contribution made by Phil Raymont in organising the function and Fiona Cuthbert for collating the photographic montage of Charcoals history since 1983.

The recruitment of a number of younger players during the season was heartening and I'm sure will provide a solid base for the future.

I would like to thank Bob O'Shea for the use of the Firequip premises during the year for our Committee meetings and Eastwood Rugby Club Manager, Peter Michalicka, for his support.

Thanks for the 2007 Committee for their support during the year.

I wish players, members, their families and the incoming 2008 Committee, all the very best for the festive season.

Yours in Rugby
Steve Chaney
President
2007 Eastwood Charcoals
29/11/2007

2007 Club Captain's Report

Charcoals and Charcoalettes,

The year 2007, our 25th, saw the mighty Eastwood Charcoals begin their season with the traditional St. Patrick's Day match.  This year we reverted to the original format, that being, we played the senior club President's XVl.  This proved to be a typically hard fought affair, which the President's XV ran out deserved winners.  A case of youth and fitness winning out against age and deception!  Of note I must mention the Debut Paul "Magic" Johnson, as welcome a member of the Charcoals as there ever was.

The Charcoals then went on to play our old enemies, the Gordon Stags, at T.G. Millner following the TV match of the day.  This match had a special significance in that it was also the 60th anniversary of Eastwood playing its first 1st Division game, ironically, also against Gordon.  To add further irony, it was also the 50th anniversary of the ABC's first televised club rugby game as well.  Even more ironic is the fact that that particular game was also played between Eastwood and Gordon.  Unfortunately your beloved Fuhrer was unable to attend this game as he was shipwrecked on a desert island at the time (Hamilton).

I have it on reliable authority that the Charcoals lived up to their absent leaders' high standards of both quality rugby and excessive pre and post game drinking.  Hearpsey and Bobby O'Shea, in particular, being at the forefront of both areas of endeavour.  Would the spouses of these particular miscreants please supervise them in future!

Our beloved colleagues, The Parramatta Parraletics, cancelled their annual Gala Day, mainly due to lack of interest and numbers on the part of their remaining members.  In true Aussie fashion the Charcoals did what anyone would do and in a frantic week of arranging and rearranging, we helped "Bear" and the boys host a successful day, even though there were less teams participating, due to the aforementioned cancellation.  This was a day that all participating teams played football in the finest tradition of Golden Oldies rugby, all fuelled of course by the inevitable copious quantities of food and liquid refreshments.  It was a very hot day!!

2007 saw the Charcoals play numerous games against the mighty Barry Kaye and his Engadine Flatulents, not once but more times than any of us silly old buggers can remember.  It semed that there were the bloody Flatulents.  Bloody hell, they gave us a run for our money at every match we turned up to.  We also had our run in with Big Paulie's Hawkesbury Historicals, and we seemed to bump into them every time we turned around.  Charcoals Members also travelled to the Cook Islands for the Golden Oldies tournament held there at the end of May.  I don't know too much about the standard of rugby, but judging from the list of attendees I would say that the Cook Island beer stocks were run to a dangerously low level!

In mid-June the Charcoals journeyed to the Hunter Valley to participate in the Lovedale Tournament.  This tournament was played just a day or two after the floods, so you can imagine the state of the grounds and hence the state of the muddied and bloodied troops upon completion of the day's festivities.  However, the wounded warriors were ably supported and nurtured by their beloved Charcoalettes - more beer girls!!  One game in particular got the blood of several players boiling, with members of the opposing team not playing the game in its true spirit and typical of the Charcoals, we rose to the occasion and put the opposition to the sword.

The Charcoals also attended the Central Coast Gala Day, memorable not only for good, hard rugby, but included the debut of a virgin Charcoal in the form of Peter "Mustard" Keene.  "Mustard" brought considerable skill and also organisation to the backline.  Make of that what you you will!!!!

Gala Day 2007
This year our Gala Day was postponed due to inclement weather.  However, when we finally rescheduled the day, our first game was against our old mates the Warringah Rats.  We were ably assisted by Skinny and Andy, a couple of the Pom's mates from the Wirral.  This game was a clash of the Titans and those who saw it all said it was the best game of Golden Oldies rugby they had ever seen.  I must say the match was played with an intensity not seen since the 3rd Test at Toulouse in 2001.  Both sides belted hell out of each other, with Elly Bennett jumping up and down on the sidelines trying to urge his players on.  It was all to no avail, as the Charcoals emerged triumphant!

The rest of the day was judged a resounding success, according to the comments I received from our visiting captains.  Special mention must be made for all the people who manned the BBQ and the tea and cake stall.  Thank you ladies for all your help.  Last but not least, thanks to Mick "Snags" Joy and Alan "Noddy" Pont for their tireless efforts toiling away over a hot barbie.

The Charcoals played the Sydney Cup, which unfortunately your scribe was unable to attend, as he was cleaning up after a bunch of drunken friends, family and rugby players had invaded his premises the night before!!  Anyone who attended the Sydney Cup is welcome to give a match report, if of course they can remember it!  Once again the "Mighty Charcoals" emerged triumphant, led by your illustrious "El Presidente".  Stars of the day included Kev "Starry" Starr, "Magic" Johnson, "Mustard" Keene, and Marty "Mohammed Ali" Rodgers.

At last we come to the game we all look forward to each year - the Wrinkled Rats.  This was notable because Elly Bennett was introducing himself to all his new players and handing out jerseys.  This game was our 2nd meeting with the Rats as we played them in the first game for the Gala Day, and aft3r the shellacking we gave then they stacked the side and were definitely out to get us.  Your beloved Fuhrer could not believe how quick the Rats winger was.  I know I've slowed down, but he was like greased lightning.  For a game played in the mud, it was just a typical Charcoals/Rats game, played hard, furiously, reasonably, fairly with no quarter asked or given.  At the end of the game both teams shook hands with respect.  Man of the Match was given by me to Grant Morgan for making me look good after my late entrance.  Grant, bless his soul, turned up while we were making the speeches, about 30 minutes after the game ended.  Good on ya, Grant.

Final matches of the season included the annual Western Gala Day which seemed to show the symptoms that afflicts Golden Oldies rugby from time to time, that being declining numbers of teams and team members.  All participating teams, including the Charcoals, had reduced player numbers.  The answer was, of course, to combine teams and play on regardless!  This led to one of the most enjoyable, if not confusing, games played this year.  Our old mate "Fish" was up to his old tricks as usual, doing his impersonation of a PROCTOLOGIST!!!  We all had to have a beer after that!

The penultimate game of the year was one that was organised on the run against the Engadine Flatulents.  This was played at T.G. Millner on the main as curtain-raiser to the 1st Grade game.  Apparently, as I wasn't there at the game, it was a typically hard-fought affair, with, as usual, no quarter given as the Flatulents fielded a super strong side.  They are one side that seems to be gaining in strength with player numbers at a high level.

The last game we played was against the Dundas Valley Vikings and a team of lawyers and the like known as Deacons Demons.  Those b...ds were all young!!  However, what a great way to finish the season, those young blokes teamed with the Vikings and the Vikings teamed with us etc.  By the way we might have to check the birth certificates of some of the Valley boys!!  The game was played on a damp track, but even so the ball handling skills on display from all sides made the game a joy to play.  Especially, as this was my last game as club captain.

In closing, I would like to thank each and every Charcoal and Charcoalette for your friendship, support and kindness over my years as captain.  I hope the next captain enjoys the position as much as I have, and I know we will all give him all the support he needs.

Finally, I have to say what a privilege it has been to have led this team into so many games, hard and not so hard, including the overseas tours which will always remain a very fond memory to me as the years take their toll on our once fit bodies .........

Yours in Rugby
Glenn "Shonkie" Fonti