Never before, have so many owed so much, to so few........

“Forlorn Hope” - Meaning - A hopeless or desperate enterprise.

 Description:- Each troop in the British Army had a hand-picked group of soldiers, chosen for their ferocity and indifference to risk (and occasionally by using that tried and tested army method of "I want three volunteers. That's you, you and you."). They were the army's 'attack dogs' who risked all in reckless death or glory raids on the enemy, they were the Forlorn Hope.

 And so it felt for the 10 hardy souls that were there to defend the Old Farts honour on a bright but windswept Sunday. Amazingly the hordes of reserves that had been apparent the weeks previously had, like an Aussie looking for his wallet, failed to materialise.

Just 4 days after the commemorations of Anzac day, the small band of fearless (one could also say witless) warriors gaxed upon the younger, stronger opposition like the Anzacs before them had gazed upon the ridges and hillsides above Anzac cove on that fateful morning, 25th April 1915.

 A faint glimmer of hope had sparked when in the distance, the sun glinted off his head, the familiar figure of Adrian was seen next to the dugouts. This was short lived when it was realised that he had in fact defected and was shortly after seen in the appropriate yellow strip of Northern United.

It was a game of 2 halves, both of which we lost, although like the Forlorn Hope’s throughout history, we gave them a run for their money, literally. Even trapper was seen running, puffing and sweating, covering throughout the game both wings, stints at inners and even Left Half, however his biggest contribution (some say for the past 7 years)  was probably winning the toss and choosing the sun on their backs in the first half.

It didn’t seem like it, but they also only had 10 men, however they seemed to have a younger average age, and overall a higher skill level (or at least quicker reactions). The 10 players we had were mainly Old Farts plus the Harrison Brothers, so there was more wheezing, coughing and puffing than the Kingston Flier at full steam.

They had most of the possession, and territory, but probably onlky 60/40. We certainly put up a good fight and applied our own pressure at times. By the second half the match had started to even out, as usual the young plyers had done their run early, and the stayers started to get their second wind (for some it felt like their first breathes!). Ants scored and the match see-sawed back and foirth for a while.

Adrian got a “welcome back” when he picked up the outside the Farts circle, then without thinking turned his back on Nuts. Nuts thought hed won lotto, and pounced, and the two of them danced around for quite a while, Adsrian protecting the ball (with his back to Nuts) and Nuts (well it is a family Blog after all) “sticking close” to pressure him. Adrian did complain about Huts jamming his stick in his back, Nuts just smiled.

This was the first game of the season for the legendary Oranges to be in attendance, (Ants you’re a legend) and the boys all sat around afterwards having a quiet one.


Goal 1 - Ants, pretty soft one but yes he did score.

MVP 
3 – Toddy – great defence, hard working, and really marshalled the defence, his voice was often heard barking out where to stand etc, (wonder where he got that form Rearend)
2- Al – another solid game, dependable in the halves
 1 – Damon – did enough running to deserve a point (plus he never answered me back, that was a first from this team!)
1 – Ants – Brought the Oranges – you’re a bloody legend
1 - Rearend – unselfishly umpired whole game - mind you , that meant he didn’t have to run around!

 That’s the end of the round robin promotion/relegation round, next week is a play off, not sure who against yet, watch the airwaves for the game time.