Game Report - Ebb Tide vs SOB's - March 27
EBB TIDE LEAVES SEMIAHMOO SQUAD ‘SOB’ING
Oceanside Classic brings out the Best of Old Boys Rugby
One of the finest touring sides in the Pacific Northwest Over 40s Rugby Union came to visit Ebb Tide on Sunday. The Semiahmoo Old Boys (SOB) brought 18 seasoned veterans of the sport to Macdonald Park in James Bay for a test of skill and agility…but mostly for food and beer.
Ebb Tide, coming off a colossal match three weeks earlier against the Piggies, had spent a good portion of that time working on their fitness. A new enhanced and robust ‘buggers’ training session was introduced where two hand touch was decreed to be below the waste.
“We wanted to train like we play,” said Tide captain Paul Eby. The idea was to simulate getting low, as if you’re going to make a real tackle. “I mean what’s the point in touch, if you can’t tackle”, he added. For the most part, this new style of Thursday night buggers worked well, and was soon forgotten in the bar afterward.
But on Sunday, something clicked for Ebb Tide’s twenty-four man squad (and it wasn’t the creaking of old bones). The lads came out ready to play with a forward pack that remained steady and tight throughout the four quarters with a back line that was firing on all cylinders creating the gaps for some long run scores.
“I hadn’t seen rugby played like that…ever,” said John Rompf, from Ebb Tide’s injured list. “I wanted to get out there and play too,” he said.
Ebb Tide scored the first nine trys in the game with the SOBs turning on the afterburners in the final five minutes to squeeze out one try before the whistle blew. Some say that in Old Boys rugby the last try wins. But everyone on the pitch that day were winners because of the love of the game and what good competition means among long-time friends and old colleagues.
Try scorers for Ebb Tide were…the backline, go figure:
- Harold Butler for one
- Paul Cao for three (and SOB’s honourable mention)
- Nelson Bath for three (and Ebb Tide’s red jacket pick for Ebb Tider of the Match)
- Rob Phillips for one, and
- Sean Ross for two (SOB’s pick for Man of the Match).
The non-shut out try for the SOBs went to Rich Eacret (or at least it looked like Rich dropping in try zone).
After the game, the SOBs were hosted by the unparalleled Mike Joss and his staff from the Gorge Pub. Everyone in attendance fed well on barbeque pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw with pub made kettle chips plus copious amounts of beer. A big thanks to Mike and his staff for making it happen!
Looking forward, the lads will continue another robust session of buggers and beers on Thursday in preparation for their next match with the Yoos-to-Bees in a fortnight. And in between then, some of the lads will spin off to their affiliated third division squads to ready for a match between Castaway Wanderers RFC and Westshore RFC on Saturday. Old boys supporting their clubs, playing thirds and recruiting over 40s.
Rugby. The game played in heaven.
February 14 - Practice Cancelled - Snow Day
Victoria Parks has closed all fields so no practice and no pub night. Take your significant other out for Valentine's Day.
March 7 - Practice at Bullen Park
Bullen is open. We will run on the grass field and then have drinks at the Gorge Point Pub.
February 7 - Practice? Snow Day?
With threat of snow this evening let's play this by ear. Bullen is still listed as open. IF snow on groiund. No run will be held. Victoria Parks has closed all fields so no alternative is available. If snow has not arrived yet we will run. Either way we WILL meet for a drink at the Gorge Point Pub. 6:45 ish Eric White is celebrating his birthday and rumour has it that he may buy some beer!
January 31 - Practice at Bullen Park
Bullen is open. We will run on the grass field and then have drinks at the Gorge Point Pub.
2019 Ebb Tide Curling Funspiel
"SAVE THE DATE"
WHEN: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 - doors open @ 6:00 pm, funspiel starts @ 6:30 pm
WHERE: Victoria Curling Club, 1952 Quadra St. Victoria B.C.
WINE DRAW:
There will be a wine draw - same as rules as usual $ 10 + bottle of wine and $20 cash to enter. All playing members must enter the wine draw as the funds raised go towards offsetting our travel costs. Anyone else can be in the wine draw and does not have to be at the curling bonspiel to claim their prize - so get all your friends involved! The pay out on the wine will go 50% to 1st, 30% to 2nd and 20% to 3rd .
CURLING FUNSPIEL:
- Annual Ebbtide Curling Fundraiser, everyone is welcome to attend, " all club members need to invite friends, family, or workmates".
- The format is a funspiel and no past experience is required.
- Wine draws, 50/50, Raffles, Food are planned. The event is our mid winter social event.
More details to come shortly.
THIS IS OUR ONLY FUND RAISER SO PLEASE GET TEAMS SIGNED UP AND SELL SELL SELL !!!!
More details and registration forms to follow...
If you want to help organize – contact Glen This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 250-813-2281
Game Report - December 2 vs Evergreens
Ebb Tide tackles Evergreens in decisive 6-1 match on Sunday
They came in droves. It was a red tide of old boys coming out from the shoreline to play in the final game of the first half against the Evergreens at MacDonald Park. There were even some new forty somethings, like Castaways Wanderers explosive 3rd Div new comer Moses Mukasa, making a debut.
“Where has everybody been,” queried Dave Millard, Ebb Tide’s vice-president, in bewilderment. “Why can’t we get these many guys out when it’s raining?” The obviousness of his statement was not lost on the squad.
But truth beknown, it was because Ebb Tide was honouring two of the original 15 that left us to join the RIP Tide roster earlier this Fall. Mel Davison and Frank Gower were two of the Original Over 40’s team that are now playing heaven’s game on Immaculate Field. Everyone came out to honour and remember Mel and Frank with a moment of silence and a raised glass. It was fitting too that the Evergreens were present to participate since the team was also one of the original teams Mel and Frank played against. About 30 Ebb Tide members came out to pay their respects and to go for a run.
A good thing, because the Evergreens were just shy of fielding a full squad. So, in true old-boys rugby fashion, five Ebb Tiders headed over to provide their level best – honorary Evergreens Barry Wheelhouse and Tim Walshaw (both who recently toured with the Evergreens to Argentina), Russ Lazaruk and Chris Poulton (two flanking hooker back props that’ll do anything for a game and a beer), and some guy in yellow shorts.
Set-up for success, the Evergreens launched with a formidable attack in the first 10 minutes of the game leaving Ebb Tide in a state of amazement. But it was to no avail. Under the watchful eye of our esteemed official, the nimble and youthful Ebb Tide back row (and the rolling subs every two minutes) proved to be a reckoning force for the hardened Evergreen line.
Played in the truest tradition of old-boys rugby, the match was more than just a game between opponents. It was a game of comradery and of legacy passed on to us to carry forward for the next generation of old-boys.
Coming up during the winter break, Ebb Tide looks forward to more “buggers and beers” to keep some resemblance of fitness during the holidays, the Evergreens’ Christmas rugby festival, the Ebb Tide Christmas Dinner with wives, girlfriends or both and the annual “fun-spiel” curling fundraiser in the New Year.
Ebbtide RFC Annual Christmas Party
It is that time of year again when we dust off the Suit and Tie and take the Commander in Chief out for a nice Christmas Dinner with 40 or so of your closest friends, please let Duane know that you are attending and how many in your party.
See the attached Poster for all the Information. (click here)
You do not want to miss the EBBTONES as they make their annual appearance "Bigger and Better Than Last Year!"