Your match

First topic message reminder :

I've been following the progress of Sam on his thread about starting his rugby career with his first game this weekend and I was just wondering how many of us actually lace up the boots at the weekend?

I'd like to hear about other posters weekly experiences on the pitch. You don't have to give too much personal info but maybe:

did you start/sub
how did you play
result
did you score
did you smash anyone
did you get on the sauce afterwards
did you score (ahem)

Persoanally I have a game tonight hopefully playing 12 but at my stage (over 20 years playing) I could end up anywhere bar prop. I'll update tonight, probably quite late as I am definitely going on the sauce afterward.

Yea - I could also do with adding bulk and strength everywhere, I'm just a bit lazy at the moment and prefer the other programs!

And I think it is normal to struggle to make many gains with the OH press. I had the same issue and lots of people I spoke to were the same. Like you say, I will probably revert to it when the season actually starts.

It just seems strange that I can do 5 sets of 5 reps of squats at 100kg but struggle to do 45kg OH press!

RDW_Scotland wrote:It just seems strange that I can do 5 sets of 5 reps of squats at 100kg but struggle to do 45kg OH press!

I started the stronglifts in Februaury when you first put it up and I absolutely loved it. The squats were the best thing about it as they both increased my strength and added flexibility and range of movement. Unfortunatly I injured my stomach muscles recently while deadlifting. It's only one set of five and after 3 months I was going fairly heavy about 165kg. Was a bit of a struglle but didn't feel the full effects until the next day. Felt like I had given birth. I'd say I was very close to a hernia. Anyway, had to knock all weight training on the head for a while and even light running was quite painful.
Almost back to normal now but have had to change up the routine. OH press was the slowest gainer for me as well. Couldn't get past 60kg and I'm around 16st myself.

How'd you injure your stomach deadlifting??

165kg is massive!

RDW_Scotland wrote:How'd you injure your stomach deadlifting??

165kg is massive!

Just lifting too heavy withoiut a proper warm up. Lower stomach muscles seem to be under a lot of stress when I deadlift. The thing is though I'd say I could go a lot heavier if I was to do a full deadlift workout, starting lighter and building it up. It's the grip strength that fails before the legs or back (or stomach).
I don't think it's particularly heavy given my own weight. Much smaller guys in the gym than me lifting heavier.

First night of pre-season last week. Had some of the colts down who were mucking around and not taking it seriously. Amazing how arrogant the youth are these days! I shoved one of them over in a training drill which I feel a bit bad about, but on the other hand think he needed to be taught that pre-season should be serious stuff. Hopefully tonight is better and I haven't put him off coming back  ...

Well done Sir. It's always interesting when the colts start pre season as a group since they bring their own group dynamic with them. Last season our Colts, all sixth formers at the local school, joined us. Typically one or two looked like grown men and one or two still looked like little boys. Their no9 was teeny and when we played touch it was obvious he got bullied by their full-back who definitely was not teeny. As the 9 was on my team and the 15 was not I did find myself running lines on the little kid's shoulder and obstructing/blocking/shouldering the full back till he got the message. Then the 9 started to show us that there is a talented player in there who when he fills out(and up) will probably add something to the club. The 15 turned out for the seconds a couple of times and already seemed a lot more humble , and likeable. As I say it's always interesting when they bring their dynamic to the club.

I still feel a bit bad about it jimbopip but some of his own group did tell me not to worry because he regularly behaves like an idiot! I also apologised to him - a bit out of character on my part which is why I am dwelling on it a bit I think!

Lots of them were good players though but are obviously used to mucking around. Similarly to your situation there were also the quieter ones who were clearly good players but afraid to express themselves a bit.

I probably didn't express myself clearly Burger. I think some of them come up with a Big Fish- Small Pond mentality. We help them to see that they are very tiny tiddlers in a very little rockpool. Whereas some of them need reassured that they have just as much right to be there as anyone. There's a picture on the Rugby Banter page , which I can't find at the mo', which shows a Munster prop looking at a banner in the crowd at Thomond Park which says "Tis your field, Bull, run". Every nervous youngster should be told that, repeatedly.

We split the younger ones up , mix them all in with the seniors. It's a nightmare trying to keep hold of kids at that age.

How's everyone's pre season gone then? Everyone feeling fitter than ever having run so much you throw up??

We've won a game by over 100 points and had a tough cup game yesterday against a team 2 leagues above us. Looking forward to the season starting next week!

Our first pre-season game got cancelled sadly - we are looking quite sharp in training though and am personally feeling fairly fit and strong (comparatively anyway!). I have been getting bad headaches after training though (I drink a lot of water so it is not dehydration) which is beginning to worry me slightly. I cracked my head open at the end of last season so I am wondering if it is a concussion issue...

How are the rest of you guys getting on?

Yeah I'd be concerned about that....it's not normal to have bad headaches after doing exercise!

Especially given all the publicity on concussion in rugby just now.

I must confess, I've only been to one preseason session and that makes up just about my entire exercise routine over the summer. Played 20 minutes of a 3s game at the weekend and just about passed out from exhaustion. Turns out this whole pre-season thing may have some merit, who knew!!

We had our first competitive game last Saturday in the cup 31-19 win against Winlaton, good win to be honest.

I'v got my first full game as coach this Saturday away to Darlington. Bit of a scrappy fixture in recent years.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Yeah I'd be concerned about that....it's not normal to have bad headaches after doing exercise!

Especially given all the publicity on concussion in rugby just now.

Had training last night - hit a couple of pads pretty hard, albeit no full contact. However, am happy to say that no headaches as of yet (and I even hit the beers afterwards!). Hopefully it is starting to clear up.

Recently moved from HK to Germany. Second pre-season we had full contact tackling drill that involved running straight at someone while they lined you up and smashed you. Guys weren't messing about and I'm a skinny second row and never try to run over people. First go I get told off for stepping. Second go he nails me. Crack, flat on my back, winded, broken rib. Not a fun cycle ride home :|

Going to get fitness up after I can move again and see about playing after Xmas. Got niggling back and foot trouble I've had for years and this fookin rib has me seriously questioning my commitment!

Seems a pretty pointless drill to be honest buddy. What does it really achieve? 



Anyway good luck boys tomorrow , tackle hard , pass fast , run fast and hard and give it your all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSD4F5GwA3U

Agree it was a stupid drill, still, there's something charmingly amateur about the club I'm only really a social player and in HK there were a lot of ex-pros and big islander lads around which was painful at times! We had an ex-Leicester and England 7s 10, plenty of HK national team and a few other ex internationals in our old boys squad.

Looking forward to the AP getting going

Hello again boys.
So, last night MrsPip and I were discussing me taking young Pipetto to his first training session/registration for the new season.
"Will you be registering again?"
" No. I am retired and will never again pull on a pair of boots in anger. Trust me, I'm finished."
So, took himself to training and told El Presidente the news.
Came home.
"Hello darling guess who's the second team captain this year?"

In the words of The Average White Band, Let's go round again baby we'll turn back the hands of time....

Your in for it now Jim lad!

I'm feeling it right now driver. Attended my first full contact session tonight after missing all of pre-season. What can I say? Very hard ground, greasy grass, trainers with no grip, sold a dummy stepped outside, player grabbed my arm and swung me, I was focussed on getting the off load away, very hard ground made very speedy contact with my chest and face. Just sitting here waiting for the painkillers to kick in so I can get some sleep.
Will I ever learn?

Well lads, here we go. I'm just about to head off. Both second rows pulled out , ref has cancelled, I can't raise my left arm above my head, right's not much better. But as Marcus Levy (I think) used to say to the Buffalo Bills before kick off,
"Where else would you rather be right now? Where else in the world is as good as this?"

Well, well , well.
A win. 25-5. Possibly one of my worst games, no real muck ups but definitely off the pace. Got yellow carded for repeated offside at the rucks. Apparently I am not Richie McCaw. You live and learn.
Must work on my fitness, though.

Getting yellow cards at the breakdown is taking one for the team and should be applauded.

I played my first game since January yesterday for the 2nds, and I can't walk today. Thankfully the opposition was a mix of 17/18 and 40/41yo and we were comfortable winners, I played 13 scored 1 and created a few but I think it is the only match I have played the full 80 and never been tackled.

It felt good getting a run out but I need to hit the gym if i want to get back to playing competitively.

One thing that did annoy me was that none of the home team stayed behind for a drink and it was just us who stayed behind, is this common at most clubs other posters play at?

Craig - that isn't common at my club. Usually the away team are the ones to head off!

I played the full 80 on Saturday at Number 8. Personally prefer 6, but better than lock where I have played most of my Rugby over past two seasons. Got a try from a tap and go which was nice and enjoyed a solid performance. We got the win as well which is the main thing. Need to up my fitness levels a bit but felt relatively ok for a first hit out.

Burger

Back in the second row this week. A narrow defeat for us which was a shame and I didn't really play my best either. A big physical side that we were up against and spent most of the game doing the donkey work rather than getting involved in the loose which is what I tend to enjoy more! I think a big week in the gym is required!

injured until after christmas myself after having a laberal tear repaired at the beginning of 6 months. cannot wait to play again pain free.

Those of you who have followed my updates will know that I've been injured more than not with dodgy knees and a bulging disc in my neck and only played a few games last season. Well after a summer of intense (for me) training on the bike, in the gym and the pool I was feeling fitter and stronger than I have in years going in to pre-season.
And then.... scared the bejesus out of myself a few weeks ago and the message has finally got through. The boots have been hung up for the final time.
There’s nothing like a 5 minute spell flat on your back completely numb and too sh1t scared to even try and move to drive home reality. 2 more herniated discs and constant pain/numbness/electricity in my right arm have persuaded me.
I'll tell you something though. As I lay on my back fearing the worst, I almost cried with happiness when the pain kicked in and replaced the numbness. Pain I can deal with. Don't even want to think about how differently it could have ended.

sorry to hear that, but sounds like you made the right call.
Will you try and do some coaching?

Yeah, I've been involved with coaching the youth teams for the last four years and I love it. Can't see a time I won't be involved with the club.

good to hear. keep it up.

Sorry to hear the news Sub, enjoy the coaching. Keep your chin up.

Well lads, I have been remiss: this thread is a little beauty but tends to hibernate periodically. We need to keep it going. We have missed three Saturdays;
1) Unable to play, shoulder, but the lads won away.
2) Last week picked up a friendly against a side from a higher league. 25-0 down at half time. Their captain approached us and offered to mix up the sides. I politely declined and told our lads that reflected their low opinion of us. We won the second half 7-5. It felt good.
3) Today, a league match against local rivals. I had played for them a few years ago and the banter was good. We lost one of our youngsters when he took exception to some "high jinks" as Bill McLaren would say in a ruck. Unfortunately he used his boot to make his point :straight red, and deservedly so. Despite playing most of the game with 14 we lost 22-15. Everyone was buzzing afterwards, so a good day. One of the opposition is organizing a Vets match in Holland and asked me if I fancy it. Not a bad day really.

Great work jp.
1) Had work commitments
2) Had to go away
3) Played yesterday for the 80 minutes at lock. Wasn't my best game but we picked up a bonus point win so that is the main thing.

Well played Sir B, how are the headaches?

jimbopip wrote:Well played Sir B, how are the headaches?

They have stopped which is reassuring . I think the two weeks off that I had for other reasons actually were a real blessing.

Speaking of headaches; I attended a management committee last night. Well that'll teach me. Next time I try to inspire the team with talk of putting our bodies on the line, taking punishment for the team etc A voice in my head will say, "They don't know the half of it."

jimbopip wrote:Speaking of headaches; I attended a management committee last night. Well that'll teach me. Next time I try to inspire the team with talk of putting our bodies on the line, taking punishment for the team etc A voice in my head will say, "They don't know the half of it."

I hate managment meetings , It's just a blame game.

jimbopip wrote:Well lads, I have been remiss: this thread is a little beauty but tends to hibernate periodically. We need to keep it going. We have missed three Saturdays;
1) Unable to play, shoulder, but the lads won away.
2) Last week picked up a friendly against a side from a higher league. 25-0 down at half time. Their captain approached us and offered to mix up the sides. I politely declined and told our lads that reflected their low opinion of us. We won the second half 7-5. It felt good.
3) Today, a league match against local rivals. I had played for them a few years ago and the banter was good. We lost one of our youngsters when he took exception to some "high jinks" as Bill McLaren would say in a ruck. Unfortunately he used his boot to make his point :straight red, and deservedly so. Despite playing most of the game with 14 we lost 22-15. Everyone was buzzing afterwards, so a good day. One of the opposition is organizing a Vets match in Holland and asked me if I fancy it. Not a bad day really.

Not sure how I forgot to mention it but we scored two pushover tries.
Also, our young scrum half had to leave at half time because he was "going on the lash up in London and had to catch a train". Some of our team thought that was probably the worst excuse for leaving at half time they had ever heard: others thought it was the best!

We had someone cry off , our captain in fact because he was putting up flat pack furniture...

You know the part in the old cowboy films where the cavalry scout says, "I don't like it , it's too quiet." and then an arrow thuds into his heart? Well, I think I have a full team for the morrow. The opposition contacted me to say they will probably travel with 10 men, so the points are ours. Feedback from the lads seems to show morale at an all time high.

I don't like it...It's just too quiet.

I'v had my tighthead cry off and my 9/10 get called up to 1st team duty with no word of warning. Looks like i'm playing 10 for the 2nd time in my life tomorrow.

Ah Driver, the joys of second team captaincy. Wait till your hooker goes awol.

He has , he had a baby today!!!!!

But last years first team hooker is playing!

Played a couple of weeks ago and had a fairly heavy defeat to the side top of the league - was about 5 tries to 1. However, they had put over 100 on a few sides we had lost to so we were fairly happy with the spirit shown. Personally, it probably wasn't my best game but had a couple of decent carries. Have been struggling at scrum time to anchor things down though in the second row. Our front row is a lot more inexperienced this year than last and as a fairly rangy lock rather than the enforcer I have struggled to add much weight there!

Last weekend there wasn't a match.

Have been quite busy at work the past few weeks so haven't been able to do much exercise or gym work so was dreading the game at the weekend just gone sadly. We had a very weak side out as a fair few of the lads went to the England match. Predictably we got pummelled and it was a pretty poor performance all round. I actually had my best game for years though, scored a good try and must have made around 15 carries, which was nice on a personal level, especially after a few weeks without any cardio or weights. However, it didn't really take the disappointment away from a poor team show.

I am personally not really enjoying playing lock at the moment. I would rather be at 6, but unfortunately we have 3 very good 7s which means we tend to play two of them in the back row alongside our captain at 8. Hopefully I will get a chance later on in the season - I think my lack of size hinders our scrum a bit. Oh well!

Sir B, sorry to hear you're trapped in the land that time (and evolution) forgot : aka the second row.
On Saturday we had a Merit Table match away to the only club I truly despise. Over the years I've lost count of the strokes they've pulled; cancelling the match at 2:15 on a Saturday was one of my favourites, regularly sending the First team to play a second team fixture is another. So, we turn up and once out on the pitch their captain approaches me with one of their players.
" We couldn't get a ref so Dave will do it."
"Have you reffed before?"
"Two matches for the under nines. I don't think this'll be any different."
I could be kind and say he was inept in the extreme: I could be harsh and say he was hellbent on making sure that he wasn't paying for his own drinks in the clubhouse that night. The facts are that all their points came from penalties.
Their pitch is famous for two things; having a 45 degree slope and turning into a quagmire immediately the clocks go back. We won the toss and elected to play uphill in the first half. Our backs struggled to get their feet out of the mud but the pack made hay and dismantled their scrum over and over again. 3-0 down at half time and we were looking forward to pushing them off the field.
Would you believe it? Their coach announced that as they had two injuries in the front row we would have to go uncontested. When I asked if that meant they were conceding the points I was told , "No, we've gone 40 minutes contested so the result will stand."
Amazingly, both injured players lasted the whole game and they won 12-10.
The atmosphere in the clubhouse was less than convivial and when I commented on this afterwards to one of our lads his response was,
"They knew what they had done and they were too embarrassed to talk to us."
It wont go down as one of my favourite Saturdays.

jimbopip wrote:Sir B, sorry to hear you're trapped in the land that time (and evolution) forgot : aka the second row.
On Saturday we had a Merit Table match away to the only club I truly despise. Over the years I've lost count of the strokes they've pulled; cancelling the match at 2:15 on a Saturday was one of my favourites, regularly sending the First team to play a second team fixture is another. So, we turn up and once out on the pitch their captain approaches me with one of their players.
" We couldn't get a ref so Dave will do it."
"Have you reffed before?"
"Two matches for the under nines. I don't think this'll be any different."
I could be kind and say he was inept in the extreme: I could be harsh and say he was hellbent on making sure that he wasn't paying for his own drinks in the clubhouse that night. The facts are that all their points came from penalties.
Their pitch is famous for two things; having a 45 degree slope and turning into a quagmire immediately the clocks go back. We won the toss and elected to play uphill in the first half. Our backs struggled to get their feet out of the mud but the pack made hay and dismantled their scrum over and over again. 3-0 down at half time and we were looking forward to pushing them off the field.
Would you believe it? Their coach announced that as they had two injuries in the front row we would have to go uncontested. When I asked if that meant they were conceding the points I was told , "No, we've gone 40 minutes contested so the result will stand."
Amazingly, both injured players lasted the whole game and they won 12-10.
The atmosphere in the clubhouse was less than convivial and when I commented on this afterwards to one of our lads his response was,
"They knew what they had done and they were too embarrassed to talk to us."
It wont go down as one of my favourite Saturdays.

How was that allowed Jim? If a front row is unable to scrummage here he has to be replaced. You can't be too injured to scrummage but not injured enough to be replaced. I'd be having a word with the branch on that especially as they provided the ref. Again, if that happened here they would have to offer you the option of providing a ref before giving the job to their own man.