Annual Christmas Exiles v Club Select
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The annual Christmas game between the Exiles and a Club Select took place on Tuesday 27th December at Hamilton Park as a pre-cursor to the Ulster League game between Ards and Ballynahinch
This year the game took on the extra significance of being played for the Michael Taylor Cup. Organisers and life long friends of Michael; Stuart Paul, Colin Ritchie and Gareth Paden were pleased to see such a good turn out to support the game and the fund raising on behalf on the Anthony Nolan Trust.
Ian Presho aka Baby Oaf, captained the Exiles team of Pudsey’s All Stars which included Jonny Fletcher, Pete Thompson, Alex Hollywood, Neil Armstrong, Chris Agnew, Willie McAllister, Ian Prseho, Gareth Paden, Andy Fletcher, Simon Cherry and D Heron.
The opposing team of Nutt’s Crackers was captained by club President Gary Presho and included Jonny Millar, Dave Wickens, David Chivers, Ricky Coates, Paul White, Peter Devlin, Conor Fleming, Chris Deans, Andy Wright, Robert Smith, Ryan Mills and Jamie McCarthy.
Refereed by Ricky Moore the game was played in a festive but competitive spirit. The back line of Pudsey’s All Star was to pose a threat all game to Nutt’s Crackers but with ‘Big Oaf’ in the center this threat was nullified on many occassions in the first half.
Nutt’s Crackers too many a persons surprise led 33 – 29 at half time through tries by Wickens (2), Chivers, Smith and Wright. Pudsey’s All Stars’ tries were scored by Armstrong, Jonny Fletcher (2), McAllister and Thompson.
As is the tradition of this game try scorers must convert their own try by drop goal; Wickens (2), Smith and Wright converted their scores and were assisted by scoring under the posts.
Pudsey’s All Stars rued their missed conversions by Jonny Fletcher (2) and Thompson……….or was it just good defending by Nutt’s Crackers forcing them to cross the line out wide.
The second half then became the Pete Thompson and ‘Eggy’ Agnew show; Thompson the school teacher returning home from Gueensbury School, Bedfordshire handed out a lesson to Nutt’s Crackers and showed all his magician like skills, ghosting past would be defenders; he was ably supported by Eggy who showed what a loss he has been to the 1st XV these past few seasons unlocking defences with his ball carrying and distribution skills.
Pudsey’s All Stars scored scored a further 4 tries in this half, 3 by Thompson, 1 of which he converted the other by Cherry which was not converted. In reply, Nutt’s Crackers scored a converted try through Ryam Mills.
The final score was Nutt’s Crackers 40 v Pudsey’s All Stars 51.
In the club house the Michael Taylor Cup was presented to proud captain of Pudsey’s All Stars Ian Presho.
Man of the Match awards were presented to each team; Ryan Mills for Nutt’s Crackers and Chris Eggy Agnew for Pudseys All Stars.
All players enjoyed their post match stew, mulled wine and camaraderie but the real winner of the day was the monies raised for the Anthony Nolan Trust and the memory of Michael Taylor.
The organisers would like thank all those who helped out on the day and to those who donated prizes for the ballot and a special mention to Mark the caterer for providing the post match stew.
“So good to see many faces return to Hamilton Park over the Christmas period; too name but a few.
Kyle Montgomery home from Chigago
Bryan Stewart home from Hong Kong
Stuart O’Neill home from Knoxsville, Tennessee
Jonny Fletcher home from Devon
Pete Thompson home from Bedfordshire
Alex Hollywood home from Wales
Connor McCullough home from London
Chris ‘Chick-a-dee’ Rodgerson home form London
The ‘Dundee Mafia’ – Darren Kelly, Nathan Cahoon, Adam Lowry
Happy new year to you all!!”
There was just over £300 raised from the raffle and a whip round from the playera involved in the exiles v Ards select match.
Two teams of over fed players took to the pitch for a good clean fun game of rugby.
The warm up consisted of a pint of stout and a cigarette. The first half was played
at an unbelievable pace considering all the turkey and beer.
The half time port set the players up for another battle with lots more end to end scoring.
At full time Pudseys all stars just edged the win.
The man of the match awards went to Chris Agnew and Ryan Mills before Ian Presho lifted
the Michael Taylor memorial trophy.
Photos to to follow.
