Upwards and onwards

In past seasons the clocks going back has coincided with a reduction in appetite for the game as the cold of winter starts biting.

Not this year.

Having been shown up by the ladies for the last 7 or 8 years on training nights the men's sides members are at last turning up in good numbers and regularly. Much of this is down to David Cresswell's enthusiasm and varied sessions. A combined total of just short of 40 club members last night - 29th - at TD. Even the rugby club asked what was going on !

This year's new members are the main beneficiaries as Rory Alexander and Chris Valentine have been elevated into the 1s courtesy of good showings on Wednesdays and Saturdays - in Rory's case going from the 3s to the 1s in 3 weeks.

Last week saw Alex Goode and Mike Grindy make their second team debuts with Nicholas and James Wood following suit this week. There is suddenly an injection of youth and real competition for places and so training is becoming all the more important. All sides will benefit and the standard gap between teams will begin to close thus benefiting the club as a whole. Thank you Matt Cook for introducing a number of OCs being the variety from the West of Guildford.

Our web site continues to go from strength to strength courtesy of Martin W's tireless efforts and receives some 3,000 hits a week so can all team captains please ensure that they file their reports and results - win, defeat or loss - as soon as possible after the games. A couple are lacking this week.

Let the playing do the talking this week on the pitch.

DK.

Tempting fate

The 6 wins requested last week did not occure primarily due to the Vets not having a game and the 3rds being umpired by Martin.

As we approach the last games in October we find 4 teams undefeated in the leagues which is probably unprecedented. Let's us hope I have not now tempted fate...

Another good training session mid week with a good spread of attendees and it cannot be a coincidence that results are better. Cold and frosty evenings notwithstading let's keep this going as we have had false starts before.

4 teams unbeaten on the 8th November will make the Breton half price beer even more tasty...

Buzz time

There continues to be a buzz around the club not seen for a number of years. The results bar one were all favourable last week which maintains the best start to the season for a while.

Training was again well attended with the number of club members out on Wednesday up to 30 including our ever reliable ladies. David Cresswell has injected a huge amount of enthusiasm into proceedingsfrom the men's perspective with Duncan equalling the effort on the ladies side. Great to have representatives from all the clubs sides present and this has to benefit the level of performance of all teams especially the lower sides.

We now need to convert the enthusiasm on the pitch into the socials off the pitch with the first one but 3 weeks away at the club on the 8th November when we celebrate bonfire night. Half price beer has to be a major incentive.

The match against the school is now in the calendar for the first Thursday of the school's Easter term - 8th January with our playing for the Loveland bowl in recognition of the wonderful and loyal service given by the late Roger Loveland to the school and club alike.

As always play hard this weekend and lets hit the 6 wins on Saturday.

Knappy

A positive week

Although the remainder of the UK seems to have been in melt down during the last few days this week has been a really positive one for the men's club - possibly the most positive for the best part of a decade.

Good results for all bar one team including a gritty point for the ladies was followed by a training session attended by close to 30 members and run by the much respected David Cresswell who along with Paddy Harman are key guys for the future of the club.

This was followed by Alex Goode joining the club - one of last year's leavers - and others possibly joining together with 2 or more young Old Carthusians. The final bit of good news was my hearing that the school are willing to play the club on a Thursday evening in early January - more details to follow shortly - with the game being used to commerorate Roger Loveland by playing for the Loveland vase or something similar.

There are so many positives that we can genuinely now look to the immediate and hopefully long term future with real optimism.

Best of luck this weekend to one and all.

Knappy