Joy and jubilation at Rovers
And it’s no nay never
No nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more…
THE Wild Rovers themselves were some of them unplayable last Saturday evening as they celebrated the 120th anniversary of College Rovers Rugby Club at their HQ at Jonsson Kings Park.
More than 200 Rovers had gathered, some of them from overseas. They ranged in age from fellows in their eighties down to the side who had, that very afternoon, won the semi-final of the Murray Cup. Much joy and jubilation.
Rovers have already won the Moor Cup. Morale was sky-high. It could be measured in decibels, alternatively in beer flow.
The celebratory dinner at the clubhouse was addressed by several people, notably Gary Teichmann, former Natal and Springbok captain and former chief executive of the Sharks.
As an outsider (Maritzburg Collegians), I’ve always had a high regard for Rovers, ever since the days of the great Peter Taylor (an eighth man like Gary), who led Natal in the brave days when we clawed our way to our first-ever Currie Cup final, and lost 9-8 to Northern Transvaal in injury time.
Reflecting on this, from my spot at the dinner table I could see a TV screen. The Sharks (Natal) were dishing it to the Blue Bulls (Northerns) to get into this season’s semi-final. A happy reversal.
And in spite of the fun and vibrancy of the occasion, one could not help but reflect on the fortunes of club rugby. The professional era has not been kind to it.
There was a time when Springboks and provincial players would turn out for club practice and play club games most weekends.
At club practice they would share the field with 18 year olds. They would quaff beers together in the pub afterwards.
What a melding of skills and solidarity.
A highlight of the season used to be the National Club Championship at Kings Park – South Africa’s top clubs, the top players. Could anything like this be revived?
It seems a vain hope. But it also seems a pity that the club vibrancy so evident last Saturday evening should go un-channelled.
Congratulations, Rovers!
COPS in Bedfordshire, England, saw what looked like a wingless aircraft coming down the motorway towards them, a cockpit behind a huge curved windscreen.
Then it looked more like a boat as a beautifully curved hull came into view.
But the two tyres gave the game away. A motorcycle was inside.
They flagged down this strange equipage but, according to Sky News, could find no reason to order it off the road.
The motorcycle’s licence and roadworthiness certificate were in order. The rider was returning with a load of shopping stowed in the hull. Unusual, but everything in order.
Wait ’til he puts on the wings. This obviously is a measure in anticipation of clogged motorways in the event of a “no deal” Brexit, when the only way to get your shopping done will be to fly over the traffic jams.
WHAT’S the difference between a cat and a comma?
One has the paws before the claws, the other has the clause before the pause.
Character is what you have left when you’ve lost everything you can lose.