• <Season 2008 Review>
• September 2008
• <16th May 2007>

This time we reflect some more on the season that has been and gone. It has been filled with controversy both on and off the field. We all need to appreciate that what we have in our masters’ competition is unique in Australia, if not the world. Here we have a weekly competitive season for older players. Past Unquenchable George Strnad for instance plays in the masters’ competition in Perth where it is played every fortnight and is more of a carnival atmosphere. But there is no ladder or premiership to play for. You belong to a club but can end up playing for anyone on the day. We have something much better.

We play at a common ground each week so that if one team is short of players other teams can assist. That way our competition survives. In reality this year we had University and Moorabbin as phantom teams. They were only able to take the field with the addition each week of players from other teams. Eltham and Melton regularly needed support from other teams. Our competition needs to retain this structure if we are to retain and strengthen the competition. As it was, two teams new to our competition this year folded half way through the season. Our competition’s existence should never be taken for granted. We have something special. We must be prepared to fight to ensure we continue to have a viable and healthy competition.

For those around three seasons ago we fought a real battle to ensure our competition survived. At that time we first came under the umbrella of the VRU who now manage the appointment of referees, disciplinary and judicial matters and approval of fixtures. Prior to that time the VRU was not interested in us as similarly were some club presidents. There is still a hangover from those days and some club presidents do not value our competition or appreciate how important it is to those who participate by playing each week. It has even been quoted in our own club that “it is only social grade”. Perhaps that attitude explains why the Unquenchables were asked to forfeit one of their games this season and instead go and support Box Hill’s two senior teams in the finals the date of which clashed with our masters’ fixture. It was suggested that we were not putting the interests of the club first by not forfeiting our match and playing our VRU approved fixture. Some Unquenchables who wanted to watch the seniors did so, while others, hereafter to be known as the gallant Unquenchable Rebels, played and got thrashed for their trouble. To make matters worse Marty from University played for us and put in a shocker. Justice perhaps?

It was indeed a strange season. Traditionally, at the conclusion of the last match in the masters’ competition the side that has won the premiership is presented with the trophy and various other awards are handed out. This year there was no announcement, no presentations. We even lost one week of our fixtures as a contingent of Boroondara players went to NZ to watch the first Bledisoe Cup match. Who made the unilateral decision to delete one game from the season? Only a cynic would suggest it was done to ensure Boroondara wouldn’t lose points through having insufficient players to take the field on Beldisoe Cup day.

The masters’ are looking for a president for next year as Chris from Boroondara has ended his reign. His legacy will be the formation of the Silverbacks, a combination of players from all masters’ teams who toured to Adelaide to play rugby. Chris put heaps of enthusiasm into the masters’ competition and the Silverbacks even though at times his enthusiasm was a little misguided.

• <Season 2008 Review>
• September 2008
• <16th May 2007>