Stillorgan RFC Tour to Newcastle - Mar 05-07, 2004
Click here to see the acceptable photos from the trip
Day One
09.00 - 10.00 - Remarkably all accounted for in the airport. John Casserly had timed his trip perfectly allowing for RyanAir's flight delay of 60mins. Some nervous air travellers which funnily enough was all the travelling party found solace in the airport bar and bid a fond farewell to a few pints of Guinness
10.00 - 11.00 - Ryanair flight passed without incident but their cost cutting measures were obvious. Standing room only.
11.00 - 12.00 - Taxi driver informs us that Jury's Inn is in the gay quarter of Newcastle. Happy days for those closet Munster contingent
12.00 - 16.00 - First pub visited and first casulty of the day. Rory the leprachaun decides he needs a siesta. The bookies cleaned up on this one !
16.00 - 18.00 - Second casualty of the day as John Casserly decides to call a day. Obviously the shock of making it to Newcastle was too much.
18.00 - 21.00 - Second pub visited. The newly lauched poloshirts now worn by all the party was drawing in a crowd. Owain and Danny were comparing which one of their's was bigger. A few practise drills for the following day's game were well received by all pub attendees
21.01 - 21.02 - We were advised by the pub bouncers that there were nicer pubs to drink in.
21.02 - 24.00 - Fill this one in yourself
Day Two.
11.00- 13.00 - Remarkably again all accounted for and taxis taken to Whitley Bay for our game against Rockcliff RFC
Match Report
Stillorgan start well. Read it again. Stillorgan start well. The tactic to run everything at whatever pace suited Stillorgan. John Casserley was first in for a try after good work by the forwards. John converted his own try to maintain his 100% kicking stats. Rockcliff responded with a try later on. Stillorgan upped the ante and our number ten poached a try from a few yards out when the Rockcliff defence went AWOL on mass. Niall then missed the conversion. In a game of nip and tuck Rockliff replied again with a converted try.
In the second hald the defining moment of the game when the elusive winger (The Runt) sniped through a gap and found the Reverend Bramley with a pass. From 30yards out and with God on his shoulder outsprinted the defence to score a memorable try.
Rockcliff again reacted well and their winger affectionately called the 'Bomber' (6"6 and 17stone) managed to squeeze into the corner to equalise the game with a try. Great defence by Stillorgan ensured no way in by the home team. The game finished levelled and preserved Stillorgan's proud away unbeaten status.
15.00 - 16.00 - Presentations made by respective captains and the Reverend is presented with a Vikings helmet which later doubles as a sick bag when the Reverend talks to God on the bus back to town
16.00 - 18.00 - England 13 - Ireland 19. No more needs to be said
18.00 - 21.00 - We enjoy Rockcliff's hospitality. Pops and Useless Dave leading the way in a good sing song ably supported by the Bull and the Reverend. A good day for the club and country
21.00- 24.00 - Fill in the gaps
Day Three.
09.00- 11.00 - Much more remarkably again all accounted for and taxis taken to the Aiport. Tour finishes.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Nigel "The Reverend" Bramley - Stunning performance by the Rev. Led the flock well. Drank beer, threw up, danced hard, scored a try and sang like an angel. 10/10
Johnny Plunkett - Worryingly solid tour by 'one-tug'. Now a role model. 2/10
Noel Cahill - Never to far away from the action. Will be put on the panel for the next tour. 6/10
John Casserley - Always knew what was around the corner. Unfortunately never knew where the corner was. A strong showing on and off the field. Although faded at 18.00 on Friday. 8/10
Keith Hegarty - Another virgin tourist. Shows promising potential. 8/10
Danny Shanahan - Made a huge impression in the tour. Brought too much clothes on tour. 9/10
Dave 'Useless' Keegan - Another blindingly fine showing by David. Very uselul tourist. 5/10
Ronan 'Bull' McCabe - One word for his display. Very very disappointing. Got confused over the national anthems and was spotted singing 'God save the Queen' 0/10
Niall Donohue - 'Twinkle toes' done well. Scored a try and lasted the pace. 0/10
Donncadh Cleary - Came to the party late but left a huge impression. Unfortunately played the straight guy in his partnership with Danny 7/10
Dave Stronge - Last seen doing a 'Enrique' impression in a nite club. Was not allowed back on the flight to Dublin.6/10
Ross O'Donovan - Seasoned tourist. The runt is a team player. 0.5/10
John Lynch - Slow start to the tour but got stronger. Will be around for many more tours. 7/10
Owain Davies - Lost all battles off the field. Regrets leaving his Velcro pants at home. 8/10
Rory Finch - The Finch meister. Hard one to call. Friday.. in pub at 13.00, in bed at 15.00, at a recital(?) at 17.00, in pub at 18.00 dressed as a leprachaun. 3/10
Johnny 'Pops' O'Dwyer - The comeback kid. Didn't say a lot but when he did everyone too enebriated to notice. His singing brought tears to the hardened tourist 15/10
Gilles - Popping champagne after the result. Was he happy for Ireland or France? Allez Les Verts/Bleus . 8/10
Mark Fitzpatrick - Was like a kid in a candy store with no money. Tried hard 10/10
Declan Nolan - Looked like a rabbit caught in front of car lights. Will be emotionally scarred by the heights the club has scaled too. 3/10
Leo Dillon - Lost the plot. Home early on both nights. Didn't want to peak before Kinsale. 1/10
Stillorgan RFC - Still unbeaten away on tour, Held itself together in the drinking stakes and a good advertisement for Catholic Celebate Ireland. -15/10