Infighting

Last night after practice a disturbing event took place, one that Olde Grey needs to stamp out if we are going to be any sort of team.

I'm sure most local readers have already heard, but there was a blowup between two Olde Grey members last night, one that came very close to ending in tragedy!

Setting the scene for The OGTF's foreign readers, a number of team members were out having a final beer with Joe Kerzan before his journey into death wedding on Saturday.

While at Jo-Jo's bar, something untoward happened. A fight broke out between Vice-Captain Todd and Brain "Soks".

The pair were thrown around the center of the bar, with many people just standing by and watching it happen. Someone really should have stopped this shit early!

It got really ugly, quickly. It was no Thriller -- just one Bitch getting Smacked Up.

In the end Soks was the clear winner, with Philly left lying, spinning on his back after Superstition could not help him!

I had to mention this. If we are to be a force in the Southeast, we need to stop this infighting. We are men of very different personalities, but we cannot be busting out are moves to beat each other down. It takes 15 to tango all years long.

Caption Competition

What on earth is Ms. Elaine Scruggs (R, with shirt) thinking or about to say in this picture?
Add your answer in the comments section and I will award the winner with fabulous riches!
Extra credit will be given (or taken away) for smart/funny use of the words ready or Ready!

















(Photo courtesy of Amy Catalino)

Dear Editor

(The following is a slightly twisted version of a letter to the editor, I believe, The Columbia Olde Grey should be sending to The State, Free Times and any other newspaper that will print it. The facts are not complete, but you get the jist.)

Dear Editor,

The concept of public property seems to have been lost in Bob Coble's City and the counties in which it lays and left one long-standing public organization without a home and without a place to play.

For the past forty years, Columbia has been ably represented in the field of sporting fair play by one team who enjoy a minor sport, but one that has brought a major benefit to the City.
Now, however, Columbia's only men's rugby team, your own Columbia Olde Grey, is scrambling around town, relying on favors simply to find a place to play.

Recently, Columbia's Parks and Recreation authority has deemed us unworthy of using one piece of publicly owned property on which we have paid for the pleasure to pay for and use for more than a year.
We are an organization in need, an organization that has been a stalwart good citizen and ambassador for not just Columbia but all of South Carolina. An organization that has been forgotten by those that are elected or employed to serve our needs.

In recent years, The Olde Grey have brought benefit to outweigh our mascot -- an African rhino.
Twice-yearly charity tournaments bring dozens of teams and hundreds of men and women to the city to play their sport, enjoy the City's entertainment, sleep in hotels before heading home with great tales of the warm reception in the Palmetto State's Capital.
Add to this the community involvement of an organization, who with the local Women's team, The Columbia Bombshells, have taken part in countless charity and community events. (We are the United Way's Tug-a-Plane Champions)

Despite our positive input, we have been left to train and prepare for our season on unfit surfaces, halves of baseball fields or at best begging and borrowing from schools.
We are not looking for a designated single-use space, we are not looking for some grand stadium, just a place where we can practice, play and (perchance) somewhere with a little light to help us play on as the nights draw in.

most faithfully yours,

The Columbia Olde Grey


( I know we have something of a field, but i feel an appeal of this nature is in order. Not only may it help our cause, but things like this do garner attention and may help raise our profile and some eyebrows of those who make decisions.)

(P.s. I will have something a lot more fun in the next couple of hours)

Rhino's bragg after win over Marines

Undefeated yet this fall, The Columbia Olde Grey continued their streak of wins Saturday crushing an understrength, though aggressive, Fort Bragg side.
Columbia dominated field position from the start of the game and rarely looked vulnerable.
The most positive improvement Columbia has seen so far this year is the emergence of some solid backline play that gained ground, points and the respect of the opposition.
The multiple drops and knock-ons committed the last time a Rhino team set foot on this pitch were long forgotten as Robert Bortins and his boys ran the show.
The game was opened up by a Kevin Dietz try fairly early on in the first half. However, it was in the second when solid work by Jimmy Ready, Bortins, and some scary looking Kenyan really split open a lagging Bragg defense.
The difference in this game, as opposed to many previous, was that the pace and skill seemed to make ground on each wave out to the wing, giving those hard-working forwards time to recover and retain the ball.
The eventual final score finished 29-3, although the score would have been higher if Colby the Kicker could kick.
Columbia scored five tries on the day, with Bragg's only points being gifted to them.
After opening up a lead Columbia were unable to slam the door on Bragg due to being down a man. Midway through the first half Columbia scrum-half Todd "Philly" Schuster was not getting good ball from a ruck. A frustrated, and very scary, Philly decided to unleash his Popey-on-spinach like strength and teach Fort Bragg a lesson.
An offending Marine was laying over the ruck, Philly sent a message by rearing back and thumping this brute with all the strength he could muster.
Luckily, the Marine was not injured and has been able to continue serving his country and defending Israel, however the force of Philly's blow is thought to have left some minor abrasions on a young butterfly on the Marine's back.
Philly was binned for the rest of the half.
Olde Grey may lodge an appeal because Todd says he was actually just floating a wave to his "friends" Blake and Lance who were skipping by at the time and the contact was incidental.
A 14-man Old Grey continued to play hard, however several players suffered injuries as a result of covering for Todd!
At the half Columbia led 10-3.

With several changes the home team quickly took advantage stretching Bragg.
The half, and the game, was capped off with the fourth try.
After some quality forward possession, the ball was spun out to the wing touching every back's hands at least once before being touched down in the corner by a looping Rob.
The game's result was never in doubt, but to hammer home their point it was another try by the free-flowing back line put an exclamation point on the game in the last few minutes.

Scoring summary (provided by Jim "Jesus was nailed to a" Cross):

12-Try- Dietz, not converted,
24- Try Hinks, not converted.
30- Brag Pen.
50- Try Jimmy, Colby converted.
58- Try Clemson Rob not converted
70- Try Barry, Colby converted.

Olde Grey Crocked list:
Foxy injured (1st half- Foot,Head)
Kremlick (Hamstring strain/Grease poisoning)
Young, Mark and Justin watched injured.
Joe Joe watched, was injured outside CJ's

R2 Showed up at the pub!

An honorable mention must be made to those valiant Olde Grey men who stepped on the pitch to help an undermanned Asheville side. Jason, Max, Foxy and I all tore up the pitch for an inexperienced Asheville side.

(Photos care of Hollie "I've touched Fuzzy's" Tripp)

Hiatus Over

Dear reader,

Just a quick note to say that The Olde Grey Thistle Fest will be back from its self-imposed break tomorrow, Wednesday, with a full match report from this weekends game.

We will also discuss some hot topics within South Carolina's premier Men's rugby club (in the midlands) including:
- The Philly Love-Tap Scandal -- What will Fort Bragg's official reaction be to one of their own being felt up in front of an audience... by a Jew. Don't ask, don't tell?
- The Neil Pitcher Discussion -- Is he English, American or just a cunt?
- Sixteen Men -- Did Jim Cross cheat on Saturday and do he and his partner, Kris, still want to make you "Jump, Jump"?

Cheers,

TOGTF

Hiatus

Dear OGTF readers,

Sorry for the lack of updates. As many of the locals who read this know my folks are in town from God's own country. During their stay, my dad has become seriously ill. As a result I have no time to update.

I will return and make fun of all of you soon,

Mike

p.s. I'm sad I don't have time for a real update, I've been looking for a reason to post pictures of a certain bikini-clad bombshell throwing up gang signs and a topless picture of some chick Philly tried (and failed) to bang!

Good Luck Saturday

Augusta Coming to Town

Saturday is a rugby day, according to the national anthem of Ireland, and Olde Grey have their first real opponent of the year rolling into town.
In this new section, Rucking Rugby will take a look at, and size up, Olde Grey's opponents and even make a bold prediction as to the outcome of the game.
First up to face the piss-poor backline of Columbia is old foes Augusta.
Saying old foes is difficult, because the bastards didn't show up the last time were were scheduled to face them!

Even without this lack of quality pre-season opposition, in the 2008 matrix the Mad Dogs were 7-1 in the regular season, only losing to Knoxville.
After which they reached the USA Rugby South final four and suffered losses to New Orleans and Jacksonville.

Now in the early stages of 2008/9 season, Augusta seem to be four players up on the Olde Grey, at least in the CIPP count. We currently have 15, while they stand at 19.
Although judging by their Web site they have the same amount of bitching and inactivity that we do, sans the bank bailout banter.

I'm sure we will have 30 guys turn up at the field on Saturday -- wherever the hell it is we are playing -- all looking for a game. Traditionally having a strong string of backs, Augusta may not be ready for the hard-grinding, fundamental/physical play of the Columbia pack.

Augusta's numbers will be bolstered by Tommy "Judas" English moving to their side.

The Mad Dogs have just acquired and new field site to call their own. I believe it will be named Thunderbird Park or 40 Field. What a good idea having your own facility is.

ARC