Given no more rugby, Phil Meyer suggested we share some Huddy Huddy reports from the JBAA archives. We’ll be posting a ‘retrospective’ every Sunday courtesy Phil.
First up, Huddy Huddy – A Thoroughly Rugby Day!!!. You’ll note that Phil is far less sarcastic than both Bernhard and Black Rat. To his detriment or to his credit is for you to decide.
***
8:45AM Got a pre-Mothers’ Day call from Mother Hubbard – exhorting me to find one or two more players for Edmonton! Spend next 15 minutes pouring frantically over player files and email lists!
9:00AM Put on my knee supports and a white dress shirt – deliver Nancy to a Garden Tour – then head down to SMUS to continue a Thoroughly Rugby Day!
10:00AM Join Coach Pete to watch some great high school rugby! Jeff’s Shawnigan Lake side scored a narrow but deserved win over Carson Graham of Vancouver – and SMUS edged out St. Georges.
Huddy Huddy Jeff!!!
11:45AM In the Premier High School final game, it was good to see Bays’ #10 Jeff Campbell, Sean White and some of our other U-19 guys on the field – but not so good to see the Johno & Murray-coached Oak Bay Barbs in the Rock Ridge end zone twice in the last minute of play – but unable to touch down – as they lost a 4 point nail biter to the Flintstones.
Huddy Huddy Barbs!!!
1:46PM Rush down to the Clubhouse, put on my JBAA tie, and attend the early part of Earl Woods’ Memorial Event – MC’d by son Tommy. Lots of folks there – including many Bays! Visit with the vast Woods Clan - drink some firewater made with Earl’s original recipe.
Huddy Huddy Earl & Tommy & Heidi!!!
2:40PM Sprint (tie-less) back to SMUS to watch the Canada v. SMUS Alumni game. Fortunately, it is late starting! Discover that not only Ramar – but also Geoff Warden – has had an Honorary SMUS Degree awarded for the day! (Rumour has it that Ramar and Geoff’s acceptance into St. Michaels University School was based on a strong character reference provided by JBAA’s infamous Dr. Winsby!)
Huddy Huddy Ramar, Geoff & Dr. W!!!
2.45PM Run into Ian Hydelay – SMUS athletics potentate – who is slated to referee the Canada game. Hydes tells me:
1. He taught Steve Nash everything he knows!
2. He is out of shape, and expects this refereeing adventure to last about 15 minutes! (Bruce K has been warming up in the bullpen for 5 weeks!)
2:47PM I tell Hydes that I played #10 on St. Michaels’ first ever rugby team – and ask if he wants me to conduct the Ceremonial Kickoff! He feigns deafness.
3:05PM Bump into Wingnut and Philley Mack – both of whom leave for France and England to play with Canada 7’s next Wednesday!
Huddy Huddy Wingy & Philley!!!
3:15PM The Canada v. SMUS game opens before some 3,000 fans – arrayed around the spectacular setting provided by the SMUS campus! It’s almost enough to make me want to return to private school! (But not quite.)
Ramar scores the first try for SMUS – powering over from a rolling maul. The SMUS’ahs soon extend their lead to 14 – zip. But as the half grinds on, Geoff, playing at #13, finds himself playing D not just for himself – but for his outside wings as well – and Canada comes back into the game. The half ends with SMUS leading 14-12, but Canada pressing.
Huddy Huddy Ramar & Geoff!!!
4:00PM At half time, SMUS presents Canada Caps to a number of alumni who played for SMUS – then went on and played for Canada. Among them is JBAA and Canada star Bobby Ross (who, unlike Ramar and Geoff, actually went to SMUS for more than one day)!
Huddy Huddy Bobby!!
4:10PM Take a break to do a video-op for BC Rugby News with Ramar (the Olde Star – not the Young Star). Ramar does all the talking!
Huddy Huddy Olde Stars!!!
4:15PM The game resumes. Canada is coming on – and transits from threatening to overpowering. Hugo and DTH have been having strong games for the Canada side – and with only a few minutes remaining, DTH shrugs off several tacklers on the 40 meter line – and outruns everyone to the goal line on one of his How the hell did he do that? trys. This earns the attention of Coach Suggit in post-game commentary. Canada ends up winning 53 to 19 – and now looks ahead to NA Four-Play in two weeks.
Huddy Huddy Hugo & DTH!!!
5:05PM Congratulate Ramar, Hugo, DTH and Geoff on their games!
5:12PM It is announced that $15,000 has been raised for the Shergold Fund to combat Cystic Fibrosis!!!
5:14PM Run into newly retired Rob Robson. (I think it was here – although it might have been at the Memorial Celebration. (Earle’s Special Recipe is powerful stuff!) Ask Robby if he’s going to Edmonton next week. He says: “Probably not.”
5:30PM Link up with Nancy and her sister – trudge to the Camosun parking lot – peel off my now-rank knee supports – and head down to Moff & Benny’s for a fine meal (and several fine martinis).
M&B’s is beginning to feel like the Bays’ version of Cheers. In addition to Moff and Benny themselves, through the course of our two hour dinner, we meet Sam & Trudy, El Jeffe & his lady, Moff’s dad, and Big E – who is perched on a bar stool rehabbing his knee!
Delivered by Moff with my mussels in a wine & garlic sauce starter dish, is the info that Robby has also been by – and now says: “Probably Yes” to Edmonton – thus (hopefully) postponing retirement for (at least) one week!
Huddy Huddy Robby, Benny & Moff!!!
8:00PM Drive by The Social Club on my way home. Since I have been banned by Bad Boy, I find this Forbidden Fruit intriguing. It is closed. This is disappointing – but not surprising – as I have been informed by Bad that it never opens before I (& Olde Ramar, & Sammy, & The Rat, & the rest of the Viagra 5) are safely home in bed!
9:22PM The Social Club doorman gets the green light – when I nod off in front of my TV.
Huddy Huddy to All – and to All a Good Night – After a Thoroughly Rugby Day!!!