This was posted on r.s.r.u. this morning.

An Appreciation

My first, tentative brush with the Glasgow Hawks was when they were being
formed during the nineties. I don't mean I became a follower or anything
but I did approve of what Brian Simmers was trying to do in the context of
a newly open game.

It didn't seem that long after the formation of the Hawks that I started
reading about Tommy Hayes, the South Sea Islander, who brought a touch of
excitement and variety - the sort that was, at one time, coming off a
production line in a Welsh village called Trimsaran.

I made a mental note to go and start watching the Hawks.

It didn't happen however and it took an unusual, and unfortunate, set of
personal circumstances several years later before I started the weekly
ritual of home and away with the Hawks and MYF.

For those of you wondering where this is going, I'll tell you. It's an
appreciation of a rugby player.

This weekend saw the last outing, as far as can be certain, of Mark Sitch in
the Hawks number 8 jumper. To me, Sitchie represents what is good and
worthwhile about the game I follow. This is my take.

The story I heard was that Mark Sitch showed up to training one night
looking for a game. His performance was such that he's been a stalwart of
the side since. He's missed very few games, and, as far as I've been able
to tell, put in 100% effort each and every time he's pulled on the jumper.
It's an effort that has been rewarded by plenty of MOM awards along with
the bonus of a bottle of whisky so it can't just be my opinion. In three
years of home and aways I think I've only attended one game where he failed
to appear on the pitch. If he isn't the leading try scorer in his position
then I'd be surprised. He regularly appears on the score sheet and not
just because he was one of a bundle of forwards who 'fell over' the line
together.

For the last year year he's been player/assistant coach to the forwards. He
hasn't enjoyed it. I suggested at the start of the season, either in a
review or a preview, that I never think much of the idea of player/coach.
Mark found out for himself the hard way that it's an uncomfortable role. On
the plus side he has learned that he doesn't much want to coach anyway. On
the downside his playing career with the Hawks is ending.

I'm not the greatest scribbler with an idea or a metaphor so try and give me
the benefit of the doubt while I try and explain something of my admiration
for the bloke.

In the first instance he's been a rugby player all his life. The game
clearly means something to him and he always tries to make the best of any
game he plays in. I've seen him get a little... excitable from time to
time, with a member of the opposition, or even with a team member. I've
never seen him throw a tantrum though or complain about the ref's
authority, or the hard knocks. It's always looked to me as though the game
is there to be played, hard and fair, I've never seen a single shred of
cynicism and neither have I seen the faintest suggestion of retreat in him.

He brings a build 'like a brick sh*thouse with a tile roof' - or as MYF
suggests 'a GOD'. He clearly works hard at his athleticism and his game.
He's also been smart enough to set the level he wants to play at and then
put in the maximum effort to enjoy the game at that level. He could clearly
have played at a higher level if he wanted but made his assessment and then
lived by it. He's the sort of bloke you can build a team around capable of
bringing others up to his level of commitment.

He's always been prepared to find some polite words for the 'hangers on'
such as myself. Taking my suggestions on board with a polite air of
interest - despite being obviously hare brained.

Hell's bells, he's polite, attractive (MYF says), athletic, a damn fine
rugby player... he must have some failings...?

Well, yes, like the rest of us he's mortal and sadly he's hanging up his
boots at least as a Hawks player.

Mark, Saturday afternoons won't be the same without the old peel and drive
from the scrum. Enjoy your retirement.

regards

The Green Phantom


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This article was posted on 3-Apr-2006, 13:58 by Hugh Barrow.