24 February 2002 - BBRFC II 0 - Rugby Club 9 Lummen 40

Team: Scottish Ben, Becks, Jan, Huw D., Huw L., Chris Ruddick, Mik, Loren, Adam, Reuben, Christian, Dominic, Simon, Abel, Irish Kevin.
Subs used: Milhouse, Huw T., Dimitri, JTTurk.

Three weeks ago, I reported a game that we won 71-0. In that game in Nivelles, we won through great individual play by our forwards, Caleb, and Patrick. This time, it was individual play that made us fail. Lummen was no better than us on an individual basis; in fact, I thought we had a better group, nor was their desire any more than ours: we never stopped fighting. However, they were miles ahead in terms of organisation and team play. They made us look like a collection of ex-pats making up a team. I hope we can be more than that, and if we keep this group of new players playing together than we can rest assured improve from this point.
Thankfully, this game had some good signs, I can say that if we continue playing with this core of players, week in and week out, training together,and above all keeping that spirit we had this Sunday, we can get back to a winning track. It was the second half of the Lummen game that marked the turning point in our season, I hope that this is the case against Frammeries.

I will not send any more list e-mails so please e-mail me at guillermodelascasas@yahoo.com if you can play.

PS: congratulations to Loren, Abel, Dimitri, Dominic, and Adam for playing their first club game. With your efforts we shall win more matches ahead.

Guillermo de las Casas (aka Milhouse)

3 March 2002 - Frameries II 22-BBRFC II 10

Team: Rich T (Gibber), Sherpa, Jan, Pritch, Scottish Ben, Milhouse, Olivier, Chris R., Pred, Reuben, Inside Tim, Outside Tim, Abel, Miles, Vincent.

Man of the Match: Jan
Tit of the Match: I've got the Irish flu.
Belgian Referee (in training): Dr. J. Stern.

The match started with Frammerie overpowering our back row with constant rollouts by the number 8. After a very soft try in which the ball basically was left lying on the floor to be picked up, Brussels took the lead on a try by Reuben. This was the only time in which we ch=showed continued moved with several phases of play. Unfortunately our own mistakes left were our undoing, and we found ourselves cornered into our own 22 half way through the second half. The scrums were getting constantly turned by the Frammerie front row - Frammerie scored a second try. With a tactical change at half time and Gibber in for an injured Rich Taylor, Brussels' forwards held their line and almost scored a try right after half time, but were held by Frammerie and got a mere three points courtesy of a fine offside call by the referee.

The rest of the match we made great efforts to obtain a try to pull ahead. Unfortunately, our drives were stalled by losing possession, and by penalties against us. Thereafter came a number of errors that led to two unlucky/soft tries. The match ended as we were battling back an trying to establish another drive up the field for points. My hat goes tot his team for its energy and positive display. With a little more training together we will not only beat easy teams like this one, but will be able to contend with the more experienced teams in our division.

Playing a team who had not played together was the main reason for our loss. Our inability to keep the ball, and generate overlaps led us to lose against an inferior side. If we train together we shall overcome this.
Thanks to everyone who sacrificed their Sunday to go support the first team and then play a late afternoon match. My congratulations to Tim for his first game with the club (we owe him his gift beer, as we owe it to Abel, Loren, Dominic and Olivier. Additional thanks to Gibber for playing despite of injuries.

Guillermo de las Casas (aka Milhouse)

Malmedy Vervieres wins 25-0 due to a forfeit.

We had 12 players available and decided by a general consensus to go to support the first team rather than play a friendly at Verviers.

On Friday, after taking into account the loss of Jorge to injury, we still had 15 players committed to play. On Sunday, we had 13 show up to play (including Ross who was not even on Friday's list). Of the three players no-show, two have since told me they were ill. The other remains to be heard from.

I hope that those who decide to drink themselves out of playing realise that they leave 12-13-or 14 players cancelling their Sunday activities to play and not get a game. Some people go through great sacrifices to make themselves available. Last week we had a player who cut his family weekend in Amsterdam in order to play for the second team. For the rest of the year, I will not include anyone who having made himself available for the second team does not excuse himself from the match prior to it.

As it is already, there are people who are arguing whether we should have a second team. I think that the second team gives an extraordinary opportunity for inexperienced players to play rugby. It is also the place where veterans who want to play a lower standard of rugby can do this. On the certain rare weekends, when we have full squads, the second team gives games to experienced players not selected into the first team. However, it is not a venue to waste peoples weekends.

Thank you and my sincere apologies for those who did not get to play. This will not happen again.

Guillermo de las Casas (aka Milhouse)

Team: Rich Taylor, Sherpa, Scottish Ben, Lange, The Bok, Chris R, Swamp Thing Keating, Aki Vlahodimos, Christian, Tim, Dominic M. Puente, Swift, Virgin-try Miles, Milhouse, Vicente.

Subs: Jeffrey Henry Tudor, Stavros, Morcrette:"we arez better dan tze English cos oui ar French", Chief Okal, Joao.pdf (Johnny the Turk), Russian Shorts, Roger Guffens (where the f--- did he go?)

Coach's Man of the Match: Tim
Players' Man of the Match: Christian
Undisputed Tit of the Match: Milhouse for his mouth rolling nonsense.

After almost a month of disappointing results the IIs got back to their winning ways with an emphatic victory over Mons. After three minutes in which Mons looked like they were going score, the IIs woke up, stood their ground, used some of their training making use of good Rs and a 25 metre maul to go ahead by a try courtesy of D-Swift. After a penalty given away by a nameless forward, the IIs answered the 3 points with five of their own courtesy of a virgin try by a man who's had considerable mileage to this point.

A further virgin-try by Dominic Miguel Puente, and one from a rolling maul by Jeffrey Henry Tudor, and the seconds were able to once again join the first team in celebration. Aside from the Latin fire capitán, the team performed exemplary and kept their cool. Hope we can use the new spirit in training through the play-offs and into the next season.

Thanks to everyone who played. Sorry to the Russian and to Roger (where the f--- was he?) for not getting a game. I hope that we can make it another win this weekend against Seraing.

My apologies to everyone on the second team for having such raging bull attitude this weekend. I really wanted to win this game .

Needless to say we can definitely see some improvement in the last four weeks by training twice a week.

Guillermo de las Casas (aka Milhouse)

The Barbarians II travelled to Arendonk with a strong team on Sunday to play an Arendonk II’s side which had lost most of its league games by an average score line of 30+ points. Based on the game that followed it is hard to see how Arendonk II lost any of their games.

The Baa Baa’s led for 70 minutes of this game scoring two unconverted tries (Myles & Aki) in the first 20 minutes and responded with a penalty after Arendonk came back with a converted try on the 30ish minute. After 20 minutes the Baa Baa’s rhythm was disrupted when Pred seriously sprained his ankle and was forced to retire. Dave Keating took over at Scrum half and did his best despite the best efforts of the referee to penalise him every time. Abel replaced Dave Keating on the flank.

Half time score 7-13

Huw Learner retired injured at half time and was replace by Dmitiry. Dmitiry went second row, Chris went prop and Mike took Chris’ place on the flank. Arendonk came out in the second half a different side. Having introduced a number of players who played in the first game (and one player who played the entire match for Arendonk I’s) they took the game straight to the Baa Baa’s. The Baa Baa’s defended and attacked through out but ultimately were worn down by repeated Arendonk drives, very dubious refereeing decisions (for example awarding a penalty 20 meters out, indicating to the lines men that Arendonk were going to kick for points and then as the Baa Baa’s retreated back to their line in anticipation of the kick allowing Arendonk to tap the ball and run with it!), and weariness. Arendonk scored a converted try on 70 minutes to take the lead by 1 point and fair play to the all Baa Baa’s on the pitch most of the next 10 minutes was spent in the Arendonk half trying to regain the lead. However it was to no avail as numerous attacks as they were making headway were whistled back. Arendonk scored a penalty with the last kick of the game to leave the score at 17-13. Despite everything all Baa Baa’s played until the end and didn’t give up fighting (metaphorically speaking) the whole way.

Thanks to all Barbarians’s who travelled to Arendonk. We might not have won but at least we had a rain free afternoon and played a fully contested game and with due respects to both Arendonk and the referee, a clean game of rugby. Special thanks to James Pithie who took the line when he was unable to play due to injury/registration issues and to Christian who despite not playing travelled. Next game is in two weeks time hopefully all who made the huge effort to travel to Arendonk will be available to play.

On the issue of the Arendonk first team players who played in the second team game, when the issue was raised after the game (and in particular in regards to number 12 who played the full first game & number 20 who played 50+ minutes of the first game and who between them scored 15 of Arendonk’s 17 points). We were informed that it is allowed under Belgian Federation rules for players who have played a full first team league game to play a full second league team games on the same day, despite this been in complete contradiction to the rule on the issue as outlined to the Brussels Barbarian by the Belgian Federation consistently through out the current league campaign. The referee said that this was his understanding of the rules, the referee of the first game said that this was his understanding of the rules and the President of R.C. Frameries, whose team played in the first game when queried by the referee said this was his understanding of the rules.

Team:
1 Gibber
2 Rich Taylor
3 Huw L (Demitir ½ time)
4 Phil
5 Mike
6 Chris
7 Dave Keating
8 Aki
9 Pred (Abel, injury, 20 minutes)
10 Tim Weeks
11 Dave Swift
12 Myles
13 Michael ‘Stavros’ Artimis
14 Danny (Graeme, 55 minutes)
15 Vincent
16 Dmitiry
17 Abel
18 James P
19 Graeme
20 Christian

Vincent McGovern
Captain