A Vey Relaxed Update and Match Report for you all:

The bone-dry, downtown playing fields of Velux, provided a stark contrast to the verdant green of Cowichan as we prepared to take on Crimson Tide Select. It soon became apparent that the BC Chamionships and a UK Tour that was leaving in 5 minutes might affect the Tide availability. It did. They managed to assemble an assorted side of 12 U18-U16s players, the Salisbury replacements volunteered to turn out for the Tide, The Island Castaways provided the shirts (Thanks Roger) and we were off! As before the physicality of thr home side saw Salisbury on the back foot with pressure relieving kicks from James Starkey and David Tonge keeping us in the game. As we found our feet, superior technique began to tell, and quick hands released Ben Taylor to score, Tom Heathcote converting. Taylor relishing the freedom of the wing chipped and gathered to stretch the lead, Heathcote again on target for the extras. This lead to a period of sustained Salisbury pressure culminating in an interception try from 60m for Heathcote, eclipsed for speed only by the alacrity of Tonger's delivery of the kicking tee, no conversion! The Tide then came in strongly and scored twice, both converted as Salisbury elected to preserve their fitness by not tackling!! 14 - 19 was the spur needed for Tom Ranoboldo to launch himself in a series of bullocking runs, before a series of drives from Nathan Francis, Ollie Reeves, Ryan Cobb, Tim Fisher, Steve Hewkin and Dan Chapple led to a Ranoboldo score, Heathcote kicked another ball out of the ground and we all stood about for 5 minutes while we found another one! Heathcote scored the next following good ground work by the impressive Sonny Dewfall and Jon Hall, and followed upwith another conversion. The Tide refused to go out and only tough tackling from Reeves, Jake McConnell, and Joe Alward prevented a home score, and the tourists were able to launch Mikey Daniels into the heart of Tide's defence. Ranoboldo broke clear, and to cheers of "Carry On Doctor!", bashed, boshed, spun, drove, and squirmed his way over the line for a score. Heathcote added yet another conversion, before Starkey broke, Tonge and Will Wilford provided the distraction, and an extravagant dummy saw him under the posts, Heathcote..conversion etc etc .... To round things off Will Wilford broke clear from half way to finish off the scoring, Heatcote kicking the conversion so far out of the ground that No Side was blown 2 minutes early as we had No Balls to continue with!! The only casualty of this physical tussle was Tom Guild who retired hurt to lay in the shade for a bit but is now pronounced fit for selection tomorrow. Given their commitments Crimson Tide did very well to honour the fixture and provide stiff opposition and all credit goes to the Salisbury boys who turned out for them!

Post match, the boys celebrated by hanging David Tonge from the goal posts while Tonger and Heathcote were interviewed for Channel 12 Sports News before departing for Sticky Wickets and Big Momma Burgers, returning to UVIC in time for the 2315 hrs news. Cheers and jeers greeted the Heathcote interview but 3 tries, 2 from Heathcote and 1 from Wilford made national Canadian news!!! Tonger's bit was cut although no blame is attached to an unkown prop, C**by, stripping naked behind the cameraman!! It may have been that his interview was cr*p!!!!!

The evening saw some interesting interaction between the boys as they celebrated their last night in UVIC with gusto!! Sonny did get his matress back in the end although the Toga Three were never formally identified.

Next Day, Tue 8 Jul: To get in the mood for our trip up-island we returned to The Sticky Wicket Roof Top Surf Bar to play beach volleyball - yes that's right a real sand court on the roof of a hotel downtown, good looking girls to serve you, and sunshine! Anyway a 4 Team Tournament was won by Sunny Side Up, with Priests Of Love and The Sex drawing in 2nd place. The wooden spoon was won by The Masters (Tonger, Lloydy, Dan, Jeremy, Rob, Dave and Caitlin) who were undone by rampant sportsmanship and despicable cheating and the struggle to hold their tummies in during the heat of battle!! Massive nachos and burgers followed, salad for myself, before returning to UVIC in time to board the Cowichan Bus to travel upstate!

It would be fair to say that some of the boys seemed a little apprehensive at the thought of being billeted with total strangers but the Coaching Staff did their best to put their minds at rest: "See you Friday boys" "Don't call us!" etc And it was with a heavy heart, yet a spring in our step, that we waved them goodbye, well we would have done if we could have seen them from the bar!! We don't what happened from there on but the adults all attended a fantastic Barbecue hosted by Rob and Stephanie of Cowichan RFC, many, many thanks guys! Somewhere out there, amid the pines of BC, were the boys. Unless taken by cougar, bear, or killer racoon (Guildy is convinced they exist) we should still have a full team for tomorrow. More news will follow....