UNQUENCHABLES TRIUMPH IN BANGKOK

At long last the slow boat from Cambodia via Vietnam and Laos has finally arrived in the Port of Melbourne. Included in the battered leather mail satchel was the trip report on the Unquenchables tour to Phnom Penh and their participation in the Angkor Old Boys competition on 2 November 2007.

Let us begin with the participants:

Current Unquenchables

• Walshie
• Nervous Nellie Wilti
• Pommie Paul
• Birdy
• Lance
• Jamie
• Dennis
• Stuart
• Carl
• Lover Boy Terry

Past Unquenchables

• Eric
• Quinton
• George

Past Box Hill Player

• Mike the surfer

Extras

• Shane (3 past tours)
• Dave Apsey (Eric’s work colleague)
• OB (Eric’s work colleague and first time player of rugby)

Tour Groupies

• Cousin Neil
• Wasa

The Day the sun should have shined on the Unquenchables

Everything seemed to be in place for the Unquenchables to finally win an Asian rugby tournament. The planets and the stars were aligned, we had the best touring team ever and each of the opposition teams was unable to coddle together a full team in their own right. The other teams comprised a depleted Bangkok Bangers, the Moscow Lads, Billabong Sharks and FAB ( French Asian Barbarians). A couple of Phuket Viagrabonds also managed to find their way to Phnom Penh to participate in the tournament. The Unquenchables on the other hand had a full side plus two reserves. Not only were we the best kitted out team we also had the largest number of supporters. It is fair to say that our backs were our strength and our forwards, well let’s just say they did their best. The backline comprised Birdy and Pommie Paul on the wings, Jamie at fullback, Mike and Lance in the centres, Clove at fly half and Quinton at half back. Not a weakness anywhere. Lover Boy Terry, Dennis and Shane had to find themselves a position in the forwards with our regulars of Walshie, Stuart, George, Carl and Eric. Dave Apsey was a great find and a talented player. OB had never touched a rugby ball in his life so he got thrust into the forwards. Having a big build enabled him withstand some of the close encounters forwards have to endure. Never once did OB run the wrong way.

The Bangkok Bangers included the mad Frenchman Manu and former Canadian international prop Eddie. Once Eddie realized he would have to prop against Dennis he switched to lock. The FAB boys and Bangkok Bangers combined to form a formidable opposition. The froggies emulated their international compatriots by running the ball at every opportunity. They were mainly backs and very fleet of foot. The Billabong Sharks were a collection of odds and sods as well as half a dozen Moscow Lads still trying to find their way back from the 2006 competition in Bangkok.

We played at the naval base as the Olympic stadium had been double booked. The pitch was challenging and anyone who tackled or was tackled certainly knew it when they hit the rock hard uneven surface.

We won our first game against the Billabong Sharks demonstrating some real classy work with the backs running in several tries. Pommie Paul was outstanding. Our next game was against our old foes the Bangkok Bangers. We scored first but Birdy was unable to convert. This was his first game back from the ankle injury he received in the last game in our domestic competition. An illegal run by the opposition half back resulted in a try under the posts which was converted. Unfortunately the referee wasn’t aware half backs weren’t allowed to run in our competition. Carl lasted one half before he broke a fingernail and had to sit out the rest of the tournament. Final score was 7 points to 5. The Billabong Sharks, including some Unquenchables, lost to The Bangkok Bangers so the final in a revamped tournament was between the Unquenchables and the Bangkok Bangers. Unfortunately we rushed passes when we shouldn’t and squandered a number of scoring opportunities but we still looked the better side. We scored first but were called back as the referee saw a forward pass. No-one else on the field saw the forward pass nor did any of the spectators. It was a bitter blow. To make matters worse the referee missed an obvious knock on by the Bangkok Bangers which resulted in them scoring a try. The crazy Frenchman Manu shoulder charged Pommie Paul in a totally unnecessary act. Things were getting a tad serious. Despite a valiant effort from the Unquenchables supported by some Phuket Viagrabonds and Billabong Sharks the final score was 5 points to nil in favour of The Bangkok Bangers.

Remarkably, Nervous Nellie Wilti got through the three games without having his head knocked off, nose broken or receiving a severe neck high tackle. Fat Boy Pommie Paul was named player of the tournament by the tournament committee and presented with a trophy at our post tournament function at Zapata Bar. Paul, always a humble man, jumped onto the bar and gave a very detailed description of each try he scored. For his efforts Paul also received a nasty gravel rash which he wore as a badge of honour. We adopted a bar called Zanzibar which was one of the tournament sponsors. We were looked after superbly to the extent that we were given immediate sponsorship in recognition of the amount of beer we consumed. We were also promised sponsorship for the 2008 tournament. Looks like we have to revisit Phnom Penh. Get your tour deposit down now!