Ian Schubert in action for Easts Roosters
MONDAY JANUARY 19
The great Roy and HG promoted the Capetown to Rabat Rugby League Express on their radio show. You have to be a fan to know where I’m coming from. Today there are ugly scenes from African Cup of Nations soccer final in Rabat between Senegal and Morocco. “These scenes have disgraced a Continent,” says one TV commentator. I wont go into detail here except to say Senegal was guilty of poor sportsmanship and that is being kind. The Capetown to Rabat Express might have been able to educate Africans about rugby league where that sort of behaviour is rarely, if ever, part of the game.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
An Eastern Brown snake is found in one of the residences here at Samford Grove. It is not that unusual to see a carpet snake but an Eastern Brown is a whole different ball game.
Sydney Roosters have an open training run on Bondi Beach to embrace the local community after the terrorist atrocity of December. Roosters Australian Test forward, Angus Chrichton confirms he will play rugby union with the Waratahs next year in a bid to make the Wallabies World Cup squad. In Wales there are doubts over the future tenancy of the famous St Helens Rugby and Cricket ground in Swansea. A number of league internationals have been played there including one memorable clash in 1975 when Ian Schubert scored three tries for Australia against Wales. The great Sir Garfield Sobers hit six sixes in a game there off a local, Malcolm Nash, who I had the pleasure of meeting in 1977.
I took my 1990 Kangaroos’ supporters tour to the St Helens’ ground for a rugby union match between Swansea and Newbridge and we were looked after like Royalty. I particularly recall fellow tour group member Rod Jennings laughing his head off at some of the stories told by a couple of locals in the clubhouse bar after the game. I think Ospreys Rugby want to play at the ground long term now.
Our eldest grandson, Ethan makes his cricket debut for Nudgee College in a match against traditional rivals Gregory Terrace at Nudgee. Ethan takes a wicket and gets to sing the school war cry for the first time. Virtually all the names in his side are Anglo-Celtic – O’Connor, O’Sullivan, Kearney, Christensen etc – but there is a Sidhu, which I think is Indian.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
A travel article on-line says the beachside place to head to during the remaining months of summer is Kingscliff. I thought Kingscliff was so uncool when I was growing up in the Tweed Valley. Greenmount, Kirra and Burleigh were the places to be.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22
Marie and I observe a minutes silence at 6 pm on this national Day of Mourning for the victims of the Bondi atrocity. My youngest brother, Stewart puts a candle at the front door of his Runcorn residence. The official function is held at the Sydney Opera House, the scene of disgraceful demonstrations by anti-Israel groups. The Israelis had not even started their counter attacks against Hamas when these people effectively celebrated mass murder. The NSW coppers were as weak as piss not arresting people and dispersing the mob. In the wake of Bondi ‘The Courier-Mail’ had given space to an Iman to write a positive column backing Jewish people and calling for unity in the community. Now it has been revealed this bloke has described Jews as the greatest enemies of Allah, with sinister ideologies and plotting. What hope is there!!!
Our eldest son Damien; his wife Emma and two daughters have arrived in Melbourne ahead of Damien taking on a role at a new school at in Melbourne’s west. They are renting a house at Coburg, and a friend drops a Sherrin football off as a welcome offering. The missionary zeal of Aussie rules people has no bounds. I don’t think Damien will ever veer from preferring the Steeden.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23
St George Illawarra hold their junior rep launch, and head of recruitment, Daniel Anderson is there. I didn’t know the former NRL and Kiwi National coach had been appointed to the post – last July as it turns out – a tribute to his courage and determination given he is now a quadriplegic. It’s not going to happen, but I would love to see a NRL club – or English Super League club – recruit Saracens’ winger, Moah Caluori, 19. He looks a fine prospect and partly models his game on dual rugby international, Israel Folau.
At Ceduna on the South Australian Coast, my sister Gay Lynch and her husband, David enjoy a refreshing ale in the Foreshore pub while watching the 2008 Centenary Rugby League Test at the SCG. The Kiwis and Kangaroos wore jerseys modelled on those worn by the players in the first Test match in Sydney in 2008. The Kiwi outfit is very much an All Black strip, and I’m sure many South Australians in the bar would think it was a game of union, given it is all just Rugby to those in the southern states.
Our nephew Xavier and his wife, Gemma have welcomed their second child into the world – a girl Summer Grace.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24
Bradford Bulls, once the best followed club in either rugby code in Britain, are back in Super League but it could be a long season going on their big loss to Leeds at Headingley in a testimonial match for Leeds’ lock Cam Smith.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25
There are several ridiculously big scores in Britain’s Rugby League Challenge Cup. For example: North Wales 110 Bedford 0; Midlands Hurricanes 110 Aberavon Fighting Irish 0; Halifax 88 London Chargers 0; London Broncos 86 Wests Warriors 0. Wests Warriors are a team from London. Joshua Brennan has been picked for the French rugby union side. I didn’t know Limerick was part of France. Perth Scorchers are easy winners over Sydney Sixers in the final of Australia’s Big Bash cricket competition. Once again the Sixers bat terribly. My wife Marie and our daughter Melanie see movie ‘Song Sung Blue’ starring Hugh Jackman, and love it.
There is a farewell morning tea here at Samford Grove for Pat Curran who is moving into a nursing home at Brookside.
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