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Newcastle Hunter Rugby Union

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AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
I'm back from my little trip to Melbourne. Below is a bit of a write up on it. Whether you're a Novocastrian or not or just inexperienced at any travel by plane as I am currently then take whatever info from my experience here that may help you in your own Rugby travels.

DISCLAIMER: I am at times taking the piss here so please try to engage your sense of humour when reading the following.

"A Country Hicks' Short Trip to Melbourne"

Details

Package: Sorted thru Flightcentre, no probs with these guys.

Game tickets: Ticketek, seated high but not right up the top, nice view of the whole ground but I would have liked to have been closer

Flights: In & out with Virgin Blue, Newcastle to Melbourne airport then back. Virgin were very good. Oh yeah & they have a sign up near checking in that says something like "Don't joke about having bombs in your bag". Good thing I saw that because I was going to make a similar joke - quite possibly avoided a Nate Myles/Anasta-type situation there.

Transport from & back to MEL Airport: Sunbus service. NOTE: Nothing wrong with these guys but I may use the SkyBus next time that was right outside the terminal exit (T3) & have buses every 10min that go into the city, probably a cheaper option. http://www.skybus.com.au/

Stayed at: Mantra on Jolimont. http://www.mantra.com.au/victoria/m...urne/accommodation/hotels/mantra-on-jolimont/
No frills. Basics with a few extras. Close to the MCG & the other grounds like AAMI. $79 per night per head was the rate at the time I stayed. Apparently there is a bit of train noise (I had been told) but given that I collapsed on the bed intoxicated after trying to erase the memories of the Crusaders performance earlier that night I don't think I heard any (really went against my diet with my alcohol consumption the other night). Had a Zac Guildford nightmare too, not him on a bike nude drunk chasing me but rather that bomb he did in his own 22m that went almost straight up & down ("Why Zac!!! Why!!!!"). Mantra has a bar, cafe/restaurant, & a few other perks - their breakfasts were very good, no pancakes though. May experience a few other places but I would use this place again if need be.

Game: Rebels v Crusaders at AAMI Park

Set out on Sat morning, Sat game at 7:30pm, home Sun afternoon

General Pros of trip

Crusaders: It has been years since I've been at a ground to watch the Saders play live & despite them losing I still enjoyed actually getting to see them.

The Staff at AAMI Park: Quite literally everyone I encountered was very kind & helpful.

Food & Drink at AAMI Park: In addition to regular footy grub AAMI Park has a few different burgers, chicken or fish on top of chips, hotdogs, dim sims, & few other things that I can't remember off the top of my head. Carlton mid str & Bulmers was on tap, they have a number of pre-mix drinks - all in all a good collection. The higher alcohol content options became very handy as the game went on.......

The Crowd: Tame! Compared to what I'm used to. Incredibly well behaved so from a family perspective I think it gets plenty of points. Just over 18000.

Pre-Game Games/Viewing: I enjoyed watching MGS v Scotch & the Women's sevens Emeralds v Flames. The kiwi welcoming I thought was a nice touch for kiwi fans. The introduction of each Rebel player on the big screen showing the charities each player was involved in was good also, I didn't know that each Rebel player had a charity.

Merchandise: They look like they have a very comprehensive Rebel merch store (for anyone in the Hunter or elsewhere that's a Rebels fan). Maybe online would be cheaper? (seems to to be that way with most supporter merch). My Ma asked me "Do they have Crusader gear?". I can't believe she was serious.

General Cons of the Trip

Crusaders: They were both a plus & a minus. The negative was how they played but don't worry boys, to quote Whitney Houston "I will always love you".

Time: Really felt rushed. Ideally should have gone down Friday & given myself a bit more time. Or perhaps being inexperienced it just added to the stress & with experience I may get used to it.

My right ear: 15min away from landing I just couldn't pop it. I was deaf a few hours after landing.

Odds n' Ends

AAMI Park, stadium/atmosphere, etc: AAMI park looked good outside & in, it echoed, we had good cover from rain, & felt like the stadium went up real narrow. All-in-all good but I think I feel more at home at old or traditional styled grounds, in particular the 'ground with grass hills' type of ground. Pretty much just personal pref though.

Melbourne itself: I was only there for the game but I got a ride around Melbourne before hand. To my eyes Melbourne really just looks & feels like Sydney but add trams, slightly more overcast weather, & loads of AFL shite. And with that I've just offended every Sydneyite & Melbournian saying each is pretty much like the other - nicely done ASH :D .

Overall: Highly recommend. I really want to watch an international Rugby match there at some point.

LASTLY, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MUMS OUT THERE!!!
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-union/brumbies-back-nic-white/2464786.aspx

Just found this older article. I heard a rumour Nic White of the Brumbies was a Maitland Black Junior. Turns out he was! Along with Luke Burgess. Maitland blacks know how to produce a No.9 or two. EDIT: Just to update also Josh Valentine - came out of Singleton, another 9!

Not a 9 but Pat Dellit is also a Maitland Black Junior. Older article again here for some back ground info.

http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/n...nion/force-rush-dellit-into-side/2474343.aspx
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
On the Premier 1 GF rematch.

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...es-ready-for-grand-final-rematch/2561631.aspx

And below the two Newcastle-Hunter Women's Rep sides (A - main side), (B - Development side + a few experienced players) to go to Country champs. I went along last year with the N-H side, we sent one team last year & this year I will be in the B side to hopefully help along some of the newer girls. Very happy to be selected in the starting team at 7!

Hunter 'A'

Jess Church
Candice Clay
Tammy Clay
Renee Cross
Jess Dagger
Britney Duff
Kirsten Garlick
Erin Green
Kate Handley
Annika Jamieson
Dana Lautaimi
Skye Lovett
Toyah Nicholas
Sarah Riordan
Cassy van Rythoven
Miranda Smith
Margaret Watson
Katie Wilson

Hunter 'B'​
Kylie Allen
Hayley Amm
Mel Baker
Amy Broadhead
Lauren Denniss
Leanne Donnelly
Jacqui Dudgeon
Alanah Harris
Renee Lamb
Kylee Lang
Renee Makepeace
Heidi McDermott
Emma Nixon
Emma Orton
Kathleen Ostler
Lorena Rodgers
Stevie-Lee Shiels
Merrin Starr
Dot Sutton
Mel Sutton
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
Premier one mens GF replay won by Hamilton 40-23 against Merewether-Carlton.

My boys lost a tight one 31-30 against Maitland Blacks at the Blacks home ground - heartbreaking!

Womens have Wanderers v Uni postponed till next week, weeknight game I believe. Yet to hear result of the other game.

Rest of this round results found below:

http://myrugby.rugby.com.au/myrugby/competitions/competitions.asp?orgid=013700

BIG NEWS out of this round is that Merewether-Carlton will be stripped of the points they got against my guys last round because their gun player Wade (who had come back from the Knights) was unregistered!

(just taking a quick mo to report that whilst watching the Super Rugby! Saders winning - I'm in a good mood so far this evening :))

In addition there was a real bit of fire in the recent two weeks of the Rugby News. There is a bloke that calls himself the Green Hornet & ran a blog called the Hornets nest. I don't believe he runs it anymore but he was given the opportunity to put in a column in the Rugby News book to add a bit of humour. He most certainly went a bit too far in the edition below (go to page 18).

http://www.portprint.com.au/rugbynews2012/RugbyNews_Issue5/pageflip.html

The response from the president of Lake Mac was in this weeks Rugby News here (go to page 33). There is also a small paragraph on it earlier in the book.

http://www.portprint.com.au/rugbynews2012/RugbyNews_Issue6/

My view is that yes Lake Mac "Disneyland" is not always the nicest ground to play at. Many players joke that its "Dettol baths immediately" after any games there. However, they are a very good club at allowing others to use their grounds for Rugby, regular season & other comps. Our relocated game against Hamilton in the women's would not have gone ahead had it not been for the generosity of Lake Mac Rugby Club. I have to say I agree with the sentiment of the Lake Mac president in his letter. I think what makes it worse is that the Green Hornet is a supporter of Merewether-Carlton, a rich club - by comparison to most clubs in the comp. The whole segment of the Green Hornet smacked of "looking down ones nose at those less fortunate", he may of had good intentions of trying to raise issues in regards to Lake Mac's facilities but IMO did it in a very tasteless way. The only positive is it had added some real spice to the weekly newsletter which is pretty good quality as it is.

I don't think the Hornet should stop writing his bit but he does need to pull his head in a bit.
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
This weeks Rugby News from Newcastle, featuring Robbie Deans on the cover.

Page 24 (continues page 27) is dedicated to my club Newcastle Uni's reunion of our premiership sides from the winning sides of 1961 & 1962 on Sat 2nd June & 3rd of June. The 1962 team was undefeated. Uni was coached by Wallaby Ron Harvey & captained by Brian O'Shea who now has an consultant role to the IRB. The teams of that time were charactised by speed at the breakdown & magnificant long range tries. An old boy was telling me not too long ago Uni's game has been traditionally built around out pacing the oppo. Former Uni players are coming together from all over the country for the reunion.

Do read the rest of the article, it is quite in depth.

http://www.portprint.com.au/rugbynewsissue7/

Special mention to the Stuart Trench memorial day this Saturday at Lynn Oval Stockton (which is mentioned in the Rugby news link). Lynn Oval is the old stomping ground of the Stockton Schooners Rugby club from my home suburb. I would go if only I wasn't in Tamworth playing rep! I did not know Stuart personally - bit before my time in Rugby, but he had contributed a lot to Rugby in the Stockton area I believe. Griffins Rugby was what evolved out of the Stockton Rugby club & other Port area teams - they are now based in Mayfield, Dangar Park, where May East were before being booted out of the premier comp.

The Rugby situation for Stockton kids & adults (like myself) is that we must play for "over town" clubs due to none locally (Stockton is a bit isolated, here is a link to see for yourself link http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=685&q=Stockton NSW&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x6b7314a0ef845961:0x5017d681632f4d0,Stockton NSW&gl=au&ei=MzC-T8a5Ea-wiQfgtLnEDw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA).

Despite having no club there are a number of Stocktonians I know playing Rugby across the comp play & I'm sure they are doing it with typical "Stocko aggro" & are proud of it. I know a number of Stocktonians & former Schooner players in the current comp that referee, coaches, & support the comp.

The memorial day will be Griffins v Cooks Hill. Not absolute, but in general, this is a real battle of the working class v the high end, lol. Cooks Hill is nicknamed by my mates as "Trendy town":D , it contains the excellent dining street called Darby St.

Cooks Hill Brown Snakes have a very interesting (to put it one way) team song, one particular part of the lyrics is "Put it in the wrong hole we are the brown snakes" make of that what you will :eek:

Go Griffins!
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
That's a good article p.Tah, there are quite a few Rugby stories recently including the following:

The new redeveloped No.2 ground:

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-union/wanderers-look-to-set-standard/2569620.aspx

Wanderers win against Southern Beaches in premier 1:

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...-win-built-on-club-spirit/2570392.aspx?page=1

Vuna selected for Wallabies, a bit disappointed the Herald didnt do an article on Newcastle/Hunter produced product Nic White though:

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...ooper-vuna-in-wallaby-test-squad/2570409.aspx

1st Grade/Premier 1 premiers list:

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...ru-firstgrade-premiers-full-list/2571265.aspx

Take a look at the Wallabies who've been from Newcastle/Hunter (Nic White not selected yet so not there but I had forgotten about Ben Darwin being at the Wildfires!!! http://www.theherald.com.au/files/23/35/57/000573523/wallabiesofthehunter.pdf
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
This is a link to an article on the recent country champs (NSW, 15's) http://www.northerndailyleader.com....nd-daughter-in-union/2570460.aspx?storypage=0 that took place this weekend just gone (it is about a mother-daughter combo but it talks about the country champ comp too). It shows the results of the Hunter A side only that took out the comp. The games were 2x20min halves with a 2min break between halves. Teams were Hunter A, Hunter B (or Development, or Devo's side), Central North & Central West. Hunter A won all games with no tries scored against them but were IMO put under the pump from their fellow Hunter side - Hunter B. 3 Hunter A tries approx came only from Hunter B mistakes, the other tries however were very well executed. Hunter B came very close to going over for a try on a few occasions & showed gutsy defence & strong scrummaging. I was one of the experienced players playing in the Hunter B side & I was very pleased with the effort - but really pissed off because I really wanted us to go over for at least one try! :mad: but still very happy with the effort. Score certainly did not reflect the game. I was one of 3 players that did not get benched & played all x3 games which is why I was one sore human after Saturday.

Summary (not sure of the scores not mentioned in the article but...)
Hunter A, won all games
Central West, beat Hunter B & Central North, lost to Hunter A
Hunter B, beat Central North, lost to Central West & Hunter B
Central North, lost all games but put up a massive effort & have improved since last time

Word at the ground is that work is underway to get a New England side involved which would be tops.
 

Rugbyfish

Stan Wickham (3)
Reading those articles got me wondering, are there any Newcastle juniors playing either grade or colts in shute shield at the moment?
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
Dan Parks thinks the Scots are in with a chance in Newcastle. Dunno about that Dan but I reckon it could be closer than people think if the Scots really turn up to play like they did at Murrayfield. Kudos to Dan for running some training with the local guys.

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...tips-bold-performance-from-scots/2577364.aspx

Right now I'm off to play against the Slime in what is a big day for Uni Rugby. Shame I studied all last night & slept in!:(
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
ROUND 8 Results

Premier One Results

The Steve Merrick / Luke Burgess Match Singleton 0 V Maitland 41

The "Noodles" Adams Match Lake Macquarie 21 V Merewether Carlton 12

The Terry Curley / Phil Hawthorne Match Hamilton 42 V Wanderers 10

The Rod Batterham MatchSouthern Beaches 28 V Nelson Bay 23

The Keith Walsham / Cyril Burke Match University 23 V The Waratahs 30
Women's Results

University 39 def Merewether Carlton 17

Hamilton v Wanderers (awaiting result)

All mens grades can be viewed here:
http://www.nhru.com.au/index.php/competition/weekly-results/164-scores-round8results

The big result of the round for mens premier 1 is the Lake Mac win over Merewether. Nelson Bay & Uni put up big efforts despite not getting the win. Hamilton are really putting their hand up as a premiership contenders.
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
Well I had heard some pretty awful news yesterday & waited a bit to get confirmation & here it is. Tevita Maile, 22, who was an up & coming player for the Hamilton Hawks died yesterday in a car accident. I will remember Tevita as a rugby player, partner of a fellow rep player, someone who helped out with the women's rep teams & hawks junior teams, & also a very nice bloke. This is coming from someone who only briefly knew him. It must be, naturally, a very hard time for his friends, family, & partner. RIP Tevita you are spinning it wide & running it hard now up in Rugby heaven.

For more on this story & bit more about Tevita:
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...ub-mourns-loss-after-fatal-crash/2578023.aspx
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
The Scots won!!! OMG! Well done Scotland.

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-union/brave-scots-beat-wallabies/2581082.aspx

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...ts-score-epic-win-over-wallabies/2581169.aspx

Below is the link to my write up of the game:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/wallabies-vs-scotland-5-june-2012.10868/page-29

I will write a bit on the Stadium myself once I've finished my exam next Tuesday. I have a cold too, not surprisingly :(

Oh & to add I also liked the pre-game 7's games. Girls 7's was Merewether high v Hunter Sports High & boys 7's was my old school! St Francis Xavier (SFX or Frannies) v (my apologies but I cannot for the life of me remember who the opponent was). I do like these games being played before the main event.
 

AngrySeahorse

Peter Sullivan (51)
Aftermath of test, contains very good piece Pocock wrote on the crowd, turns out he had hypothermia (not surprised):

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...-strong-claims-to-more-top-rugby/2582727.aspx

In some of the comments sections of the test articles there are some 'mungo dead shits' as I put them putting their boot into our great game. I don't think my labelling is harsh enough, these morons get onto Rugby article specifically to put the boot in & nothing else. Fortunately, their lack of understanding about the real code of Rugby makes for some humourous reading. Nice to see Rugby followers & interested non-Rugby followers put them back in their box.

Latest on the local comp:

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...s-go-forward-with-gills-big-move/2582757.aspx
 

stem

Stan Wickham (3)
Reading those articles got me wondering, are there any Newcastle juniors playing either grade or colts in shute shield at the moment?
By no means a complete list.
Just young men I knew from the Hunter..... decades ago....
Nic White...Aus U20, Brumbies, Wallaby Squad ( easily the most accomplished)
Harry Bennett....Aus A schools, Waratahs, Easts colts, Easts first grade, NSW Country
Josh MacCormack...NSW Schools, Easts colts 1st grade
JoshWhales....NSW schools Country, Parramatta Colts 1s
Ed Wylie.......Aus schools, Uni Colts 1st grade
There are many more ...can see their faces cannot remember the names....
As a shocked and disgusted Waratahs and Wallaby supporter...I would be so bold as to suggest..... the passion/enthusiasm these young men demonstrated throughout their development in the Hunter would have come in handy on Tuesday night at Newcastle..The Wallabie produced a pathetic effort even given the conditions!!! PS Congratulations to Scotland...Love the anthem, Love the team spirit
 
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