The Welshman's Fate

Posted by Martin Silverstone | Date created 2010-06-07 15:11:30

The week in review, a love story and much more

There was a lot of rugby for an off week. Beginning last Sunday the high school and cegep all stars took the field at Concordia for a series of entertaining matches featuring the top under 18, under 16 and under 14s from across the Montreal region. Ste-Annes had many representatives including delgrosso and Carriere, both of whom performed admirably. Mac High had a small contingent down there including Jon Vatcher, Zak, Jason, Sean Smallwood and everyone's favorite rugby player....Cross.

On Monday night the Saints sprung into full action for the first time. Around 100 kids ranging in age from 4 to 18 were out at ecole st george. The Saints trained hard. The first series of matches will be on June 13 when we will host junior programs from around the province at a Jamboree. Lee Bieber is looking for volunteers to help with set up, bbqing and coaching. Let her know (leebieber@videotron.ca) if you are available and want to be part of the fun.

Wednesday night was poker and if you haven't been to a poker night yet you should think of attending. You never know what surprises await. This week participants were treated to Pushap somosas and fine cheeses offered by Oliver Devolpi. There is always a celebrity or two in attendance and of course the money is put to good use buying balls and helping rent buses.
Saturday the weather held out long enough to get the game in against the tourists from Waterford. A large crowd gathered despite the lack of any other games. The fans were not disappointed, as it had to be one of the most exciting games at ESG in years. And the rugby wasn't half bad either. The first half saw Waterford take control with strong lineout ball and a powerful scrum. In the second half both teams abandoned caution to the wind and the result was Champagne rugby at its finest. The ball was flung wide in attack and counter attack and in the end both teams stood exhausted but rightfully proud of a fine exhibition of open rugby. The final score was 20-19 for the visitors.

The action didn't end there, however, as much merriment ensued on the sidelines as the Irish and Ste-Annes players and friends, both those who played and those who watched, enjoyed a raucous afternoon of singing and drinking games. The game on the field proved to be top notch with the Caribou under-20s defeating their Ottawa counterparts in a close struggle.
Meanwhile on the touchline, there was shooting of a very large boot (first time I'd seen it done from a billy-boot) and a good time was had by all, with many friendships begun. Later that night as we enjoyed a not so quiet drink with our Irish guests, one of the younger Irish players remarked on how wonderful our girls were--easy to talk to, fun to be with and so, so beautiful (these were almost his exact words).

By way of a warning, I told them the story of another tourist who played in a game at ESG almost 30 years ago. In this case it was a young Welshman (he was actually at the game with one of his daughters, the youngest of four) from Bridgend who as the kickoff of that long ago game was imminent, ran to the sideline to ask someone to hold the change in his pocket. The girl that stepped forward to help our handsome wing forward, was also easy to talk to and fun to be with and so on. So much so that he fell under her spell and as fate would have it, he ended up staying in Canada and marrying her.

At McKibben's, I left after a beer or two, and as I walked out the door, the younger half of the club was just arriving to entertain our guests. The Irishmen swarmed around Beccie, Miller, Lindsay, Steph, Tess, Chelsea and others, and their laughter followed me down St. Laurent, a loud reminder of how the Welshman's fate had already been all but forgotten.

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