Fellow member

Gents - the longest day has passed, spring is almost in the air and the mighty OH is naturally blooming in anticipation.

I am pleased to report that our plan to lull the league opposition into a false sense of security by appearing weaker in the winter months, has worked. We look forward to a festival of fluid and feisty encounters in the coming weeks, with your Captain, Stuart Smith, set to continue a rich vein of honoured fixtures, for which he deserves much credit.

We 'welcome' back Hitchin on the 12th Jan, after a rather one-sided away fixture, then have 2 weeks to recover, before locking horns with Hammersmith & Fulham, on the 26th Jan. This leads into our third fixture of the season with Old Millhillians, albeit the first at home, on the same day England are due to beat Scotland at Sweatyfield, with Messrs Parker and Alexander quietly encouraging Johnson and his boys from the stands.

Looking back so far, the season has been an almost indistinguishable blend of commitment, camaraderie and occasional commiseration on the field. A new nucleus of post grads has bolstered the heart of the 'squad', aswell as bringing some much needed youth and sideline support to Croxdale Road, in the guise of Mr Norman Marks - many thanks.

A narrow loss to Old Millhillians in the opening cup game, turned to relative joy, when our opponents were 'outed' for their use of unregistered talent - perish the thought! Though a good showing from a numerically-challenged OH team in the 2nd round at St Nicks Old Boys, made for an early exit from the national competition.

Haringey were the first to visit the impregnable fortress of Croxdale Road, and duly appeared to have brought too many players as they ran riot, in a very organised and focused fashion. Picking themselves up from a heavy defeat, the following week saw the boys fight tooth, nail and a tremendous thunderstorm to overcome the eclectic Kilburn Cosmos. For those of us that travelled down there - who can forget the rain and the wonderful hospitality of the community pub where the Tri-Nations boys from Kilburn Cosmos laid on a kids disco for those with particular interests.

Old Actonians at home was definitely a 'should-have-won' fixture - we look forward to turning round the 3 point deficit at their place in late February. 10th November was a highpoint in English rugby, as young Mr. Wilkinson kicked England past the World Champions. Unfortunately for the travelling OH that day, they met a determined Hitchin side, who decided to employ some interesting makeover tactics on certain of our players' features. Old Grammarians provided our closest home and away fixtures of the season, in mid-November and mid-December and perhaps to be expected, each team won on home turf.

Duckworth and HAC passed without incident - except a flurry of points from the guns of the artillery in the second half.

And so to Chrimbo - and the traditional fixture against old mates at OMT's - as usual, a good result.

The social side has been strong if selective, with the re-emergence of the now annual Spoof Cup and live music once again testing the structural supports at OH. Dartin Mavis rocked the clubhouse on the 15th December with a full compliment of classic rock and own composition. Two-fifths of the band were most at home in the heart of the bar, having spent some time there in past years and the 3 guitarmen that made up the frontline will no doubt return in future, more comfortable than when they arrived, after a storming performance.

The Past Players Lunch was slickly served up as usual by Ray Kipps and we now look forward to another Annual Dinner in the convivial surroundings of the clubhouse at the end of January (26th). The afternoon of that same day sees the first Vets match (and I mean the first) of the season, with a ragbag of international talent being rallied to take on a team known as Abba Revival, comprising of alumni of Aberystwyth Uni and current stars of Oxford Harlequins and Romsey RFCs. All supporters and/or hecklers very, very welcome on that afternoon - 2.15pm (ish) kick-off. We then have an A XV /Vets XV match versus the Kilburn Cosmos second team on the 9th March at home.

Spirits are high, availability is improving and the winter drudge is over -onwards and upwards.


Simon Gresswell

H 01296 682949
M 07899 956776
O 0208 250 1263

simon.gresswell@unistudios.com