Scottish History and Carnoustie rugby

They both have similarities.

After monumental victories over the auld enemy, Scottish armies, non paid had to retire from the battle field to tend to their families needs, crops etc.

Carnoustie after a fantastic victory retire to what seems to come naturally, massaging their ego.

If you have advanced so far over the weeks, beating the top team what better way to celebrate. Get your feet up and chill out for the week. Cool beans.It makes sense.NOT

Its obvious it doesn't work. We need to realise after coming off the pitch against Alloa, that what seemed like a 100% effort from 15 men probably wasn't that true. Some put more in than others.

I always thought that when I entered the privileged position of being a 1st 15 player, I would have to fight for my position tooth and nail. Obviously not being the most talented player, you have to train harder and play harder. From the Ist game at 17 to the age of 32 I never came off the pitch or never called off even though I was ruined on numerous occasions. Totally discarding my injuries and concussions. Until a cup game against Cowdenbeath I came off with 5 minutes to go with a dead leg. George Taylor started laughing, being the historian he said that's the first time you have retired from the field of play. I didn't even realise as all I wanted was to nail the opposition. I know I'm a muppet LOL and you would be mad to follow.

Its not supposed to be a boast, but a reflection on how I committed my life to the team. I have a stupidly partisan attitude as well, but that's just me.

So when you think you're just there to make up the numbers you're not. These sort of attitudes do the team no good at all. Every player is there to make his mark on the team. Every player has a responsibility.Every game is different, some Saturdays we may not field potentially the best team, but these are the opportunities given to the team of the day.


We are in the transition this year of building and improving the team on the field and off. Its happening, but we are just asking for a bit more of faith in yourselves.

As you read the blog (if anyone is) its not all negative, this year so far I have enjoyed myself meeting up with old friends and meeting new. Its a great feeling to be involved in the club.

The only draw back was sitting in the van coming back from Waid with John, I'm glad I didn't have any razor blades. Talk about taking a defeat hard. Its shows that during our youth someone must have dropped some sort of bitter mind altering drug on Carnoustie which has effected Billy, John and me. To name just a few (wink).I couldn't get to sleep last night thinking about Saturday.

Temperance society

What a great result. I don't think Alloa could believe it. Neither could the Harris firsts watching.
It all boils down to the effort at training. Thanks Bill.

Over 80 minutes they didn't have an answer. In the set pieces we were average, which is something we need to work on. If we recieved 50% from the set piece the score line would have been far greater.
Our Rucks, Maules offensive and defensive play was top notch. Again a reflection of hard work at training.
Considering one of their backs was a Scotland rugby league player, he dropped the ball more than me.

Their options were limited when they realised that we had a skinny blond guy with a daft haircut, who would drop a goal from the half way line. What do you do in these circumstances. Start a fight on the touch line.

Grant and I have been working together this week and he said it was one of the easiest games he has played in this season. Makes you think on how far we have come, but to use the old cliche were are only as good as our last game. Against Waid this Saturday its going to be tough.

An inspiration for me was seeing Neil walking off the park you could see he had commited himself to every second of the game.


So we pull off a monumental result, have loads to drink then end up failing out with each other.In the olden days we used to just batter other people. LOL (oops History error)

I had a small compliant about the blog containing a lack of stimulating content. Here we go if your bored and want a laugh or want to gain an alternative outlook on our lifes in the solar system. Written by one of the greatest men to arrive on planet earth. I just stumbled upon this whilst reading about Don Garlits other passions.
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/aliens_dont_want_to_know.htm

History and the Future

Here we go again were not talking about past glories etc etc.
As has already been discussed top 1st 15's, league campaigns, and cup finals. Did you say finals as in two or more, yes but that's history,

Bill and I were talking about the elusive 2nd 15. Is it possible? Well on paper it seems so. It all hinges on people who can't or don't want to train, guys who want to have a bit of fun, young lads who want to get a bit of experience in the art of cheating, before stepping up to a new level of gamesmanship etc etc. Historically oops, we have had a great 2nds winning the 2nds league and ultimately taking the piss out of the 1st's.

The future of the club lies in two teams to achieve sustainable success. Who knows what lies ahead. Look around and unless your a dumb ass you can see loads of keen young lads that will be the future. God help them if they achieve success they won't be able to talk about it .LOL

The near future, besides Saturdays game is the festive period and the infamous dook. Bruce and I talked at length, on how we can maximise the event to benefit a good cause and the club. Before we collected for a young lad called Innes Wilson. If we could do something like this again it would be great.

Lets put more effort into the Future.

I'm away for a piss, that's me back, although I'm not going to talk about it.

The bear has landed

A great night out on Saturday. I think we looked like a team from an outsiders point of view.
I loved the SAS style Carnoustie live by.
''We are going to kick your arse Harris''. The voice resonating around the speedwell bar.

Well the art of surprise may be lost, but hey this is Rugby and maybe we are getting the idea. Telling your wife, girlfriend or even boyfriend ''Right honey that's me away to play a game of ruffty tufty rugby''. They don't realise, that not every man who walks out the door on a Saturday, is really playing rugby, by donning a strip and walking, jogging or even running around the park doesn't make you a player.

Now we seriously look like we are all turning up on Saturday to win games. This has implications for some of the above, who have decided to commit and come home with different shaped faces. Speaking of which, I went out with Scott Purdom two weekends ago. Talk about a change of face you can see he played to win.

Right back to the title ''The bear has landed'' Gavin Dissel a man of many talents as noted on Saturday.
Some people think if you play prop your not bringing much to the party. Well how untrue can that be. In my humble opinion, its only those and such as those who have the skills and hardness to play the position.
The prop is the source of everything in the modern game. Maybe in the past it was a position for ''big lads''. Well I hate to tell you this is as relevant to the modern game as dinosaurs are to mother Earth.
So Gavin Dissel is stepping into the breach. On Saturday night he was sitting at his arm wrestling table talking on all comers. I was one of the victims.
He said he wants to get into the team and he will do what it takes. Good on you Gavin.

Anybody score on Saturday?

After an onslaught of heavy golf ball fire. I was 10 over par by the time we got to the second pub.
Heather and I decided to have something to eat.We went to a Turkish. I looked at the menu and started to order , then said ''pint of lager''please. The look of the waiter was incredible. The sort of look you would get if you started to carve a pork roast at a bar mitzvah. Needless to say we left and told the Turks to shove it.
We nipped around the corner went to Zorba the Greeks kebab shop (its run by a couple of Turks) it was great.

Anyway back to the chase Alloa on Saturday a true test of team spirit.

Its hotting up on the comments page. I agree with the comments about criticism for some its harder to take,for me its been part of my life for 43 years. We are looking for positivity.

We are also looking for a Santa. Sorry Alex and Gordon your kind offer has to be refused.