Official West Hartlepool RFC

all that means is no one from the Stags management is on here at the moment

Apparently the U18s were supposed to travel with the Colts but told not to bother at training or that is what I was told. If that is not true then I find it hard to believe that the Colts could only muster 14 players between them and the U18's.

Think the Colts only had 13 turning up. Chris Lambert was ill all weekend with this stomach bug and Myers picked up a knock at Sheffield with the firsts. Obviously, some other late cry-offs which was a massive pity because we had a chance of going a long way in this competition. The bus was there and so it was a decision not taken lightly

As for the Stags I don't know the ins and out but I dont think it is really on for Kathryn to have had to make the phone call to Durham when she was on first team duty in Sheffield.

The only reason the Ams game was not called off and players turned out for the Stags was there was a bus booked and the lads were looking forward to the only bus trip of the season. Any other week, i would expect to call ours off and ensure the Stags played their game first.

and I told Durham that we had depleted the Stags due to players not being available and one of our players going down with a stomach bug overnight.

the colts hav realy struggled in being able 2 get a team 2 gether mainly due 2 a mojority of the team being away at university and also sum long term injuries in the front row .

Although it's not really my thing to come on hear and whinge, I've not got much else to do at the moment so hear it is.

In my opinion there are too many people within the club that have the ability to play first team rugby but do not seem to have the desire to move up a level from the stags. I find this puzzling and also frustrating. Not only are people wasting their individual talent, they are also in effect limiting the progress of the club overall. Without these people training and pushing the person in posession of the 1st team jersey there is less pressure to improve performances. Think of any team, not just the great ones, and often the people who perform the best on the field are those under pressure from another good player on the bench or in the reserves.

Secondly, and most annoyingly, there are also a number of people who seem to have a lack of respect for their mates in terms of turning up regularly on a Saturday for a game. This is most apparent within the Stags setup and it boils my you know what. If you cannot make a regular commitment to playing on a Saturday, home or away, for my money you should not be part of a club like ours because the knock on effect of no shows and non comittal attitudes is usually cancelled games. This is unacceptable for the people who do show the commitment and look forward to a game after a long week of work or whatever.

It goes further than this within our club as what goes on in the Stags also has a knock on effect on the Ams boys who too often have had their games effected to bail the Stags out. It's not on. Furthermore, whilst not being someone who cares too much about what other people or clubs think about ours, calling off games gives a bad impression and affects 15 or so other blokes somewhere else looking forward to a run around on a Saturday.

Anyway there it is, long winded, sorry, but needs must. Some things need to change if we are to keep progressing as a club, (and I'm not talking about winning promotion here). Unless people take the initiative and come up with ideas to get as many fellas as possible a regular game of rugby on a Saturday, we are doing ourselves and our mates a disservice. People need to make their choices.

Well said Slob.
The problem is particularly acute with front-rows and it is iomething which affects most clubs. The RFU does have specialist front-row coaches who will come and do special sessions so perhaps now is the time for volunteers?

amen 2 you slob its about time someone had the balls 2 say what u have said, however this problem should never have came this far .

DP,

There are specialist front row coaches in the town.

this is a problem at a lot of clubs me thinks

well said Slob, hit the nail right on the head

Slob you are the greatest orator the 'Pool has ever known.

Now then plastic leg, how you doing mate?

Just for information I whole heartedly agree with Tim re commitment or should I say lack of it. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of showing loyalty towards your mates on a Saturday and the knoock on effect cry offs have on clubs.


To everyone else

Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but my time in Cairo has come to an end, I will be leaving in a few weeks to take up another post in Russia with the added bonus of only being out of the country for 4 to 6 weeks then home for a couple.

This means that every weekend I am home I will be putting my boots back on to help out wherever required. I will be attending training and most definatley not be there just to make the numbers up. Rugby is astrange game at times and I have set myself a goal of playing in at least one 1st Team league game this season.

Bulls (commited)%-)

Now then Stu,

Life gets better for me every day. For example, I no longer need to use my crutches to fish my doggers on and off, I've learn't a great lasoo technique instead. Small steps mate, small steps. Good to hear your leaving the madness of the middle east for the serenity of Russia. Perhaps you might fancy Mogadishu next, I hear it's nice in springtime.

What's led to your change of heart about playing again, you just found a new pair of boots or something? If not I have a pair lying about not doing much.

Maybe I'll suggest to Stubber that I take some specialized training sessions for the over 35's. Bring your slippers. Tonesy has set me a target of getting fit enough for the Xmas do.

When you back here next?

Slob.

Hello mate, obviously you have a lot of time on your hands at the mo.

Change of heart is more about how much I have missed it. Nothing better than having a good physical game and a few beers afterwards.

Got myself into shape a little over the last few months, so I thought why not keep going. U never know mate we may just have a run out in the same team before long.

Back in UK 1st December.

Bullls%-)

Great Gonzo - does your post mean


a]Your knee is now OK
b]You'll be coming up from Leeds every week to play front row?

Yes Stuart I do have a fair bit of spare time at the mo. Couldn't agree more with your reasons for comeback - your a long time retired. As for a run out together, yes, hopefully West will have a 5th team in 2012 when I should be about fit to resume.

Look forward to catching up when you get back.

Slob.

You didnt seem to have this problem the other week when the 2nds played the Heughers, Oh sorry that was players moving down....not up all 5 of them!

Now there's a thing, maybe just maybe the players who were overlooked from the Ams (3rd team...in your words anyway) thought sod it, they didn't want me for the Rovers game, when the Stags were short so I'm going for a game of rugby and a jolly up with my proprer team-mates.

Just a thought...
We at Rovers had this problem a few weeks ago and we had a decision to make when we were due to play your Stags. Due to injuries and unavailabilities and players moving UP to the 1sts, we had 18 players consisting of 2nds, 3rds and U18's players enough to 'club' together to play one game.

We had a choice of two confirmed games a 2nd team fixture at West or a 3rd team fixture away at Sunderland. There was no choice to make we all wanted to play against the Stags, and we were well beaten in the end, but it was a bit of a kick in the n*ts when you trotted out 5 current 1st team players to play against us.

The words 'reap what you sow' spring to mind

Finbar aka Lee Saunders



Post Edited (07-11-06 12:57)