Run. Run. Run.



‘Tomorrow is another day, and there will be another battle!’

Baron Sebastian Newbold Coe KBE (1956-). Athlete and member of the East India Club





And now, Men, on this serious last day of the working week, when I come, as it were, to make up my account with you, let me take to myself some degree of honest pride on the nature of the charges that are close to me. I do not write this accused of condottiere or of neglect of duty. No! If there is to be a levy against me, all are of one kind: a demanding wanton to run with the ball. For long, these 29 inch legs have pushed a ridiculously out-scaled torso to the ends of the pitch; farther than a cautious progenitor would warrant, and farther than the opinions of many coaches would have wished me to go. However, in every game I face through life, on the upper fields, in the borders, in the Auld Reekie, and our ultimate travels, I will call to mind this accusation, and feel instantly comforted.



As to the opinion of the people, which some think, in such cases, is to be implicitly obeyed, they compel us to ‘play what is in front of us’. Men, the following I know will shake many of you to the core. This Officer does not either understand this phrase or care for its existence. Such ‘business speak’ only leads to the insidious art and perverse industry and gross misrepresentation of back play. Rather I urge you to play ‘with what is behind you’. Our game is simple. 15 men will always stand in front of you, which shall never change. Our job is to hunt as a pack and evade their grasp. I have always found this a battle best met head on. Simple straight running on my terms, with a direct drawn bead for the proboscis. Do not stop. This modus operandi with 14 in support and the Regiment shall ascend beyond which only few dare imagine.  We are all a sort of progeny that must be mollified and managed. I think I am not unyielding or formal in my nature. I would bear; I myself have played my part in, many innocent buffooneries to divert them. But I recognise that the festive observance has now concluded and it is once again time to galvanise. 



Men let us ever remember that our interest is in mastery, not vanquishment; and that our real eminence rests in the victories of pluck, not those of perturbation. It is my basic hope that all who represent our great game, Rugby Union tomorrow, may be moved to higher and nobler efforts for their own and the game’s good, and that out of this second city may come not only greater manoeuvres, but, more essential than these, relations of mutual respect, confidence and friendship which will deepen and endure in all.



Adjutant General has had 8-weeks in the laundry basket and The Prince has velcro’d his right shoulder.



The Regiment for tomorrow’s match against Cambuslang RFC at O.A., 2:00pm kick-off, is as follows: 




15. D ‘Intention’ Campbell


14. R. ‘Decision’ Taylor

13. T. ‘Intent’ Herron

12. D. ‘Aim’ Hoffman
[c]

11. R. ‘No Plan’ Love

10. A. ‘Commitment’ Fleming

9. M. ‘Pledge’ Aird

1. C. ‘Promise’ McLay

2. G. ‘Proposal’ Reid

3. C. ‘Resolve’ MacPhee

4. A. ‘Proposition’ Drummond

5. H. ‘Resoluteness’ Parker

6. M. ‘Staunchness’ Borthwick

7. G. ‘Perseverance’ Woolard

8. R. ‘Single-mindedness’ Shedden



16. W. ‘Obstinacy’ Wong

17. A. ‘ Obduracy’ Tilston

18. G. ‘Tenacious D’ Hollerin



Yours as always, running towards the gunfire. 11am Flying Scotsman. Pulling armpit hairs. Never wearing white boots. The need to pee at five to three. Forwards should always hunt in packs. Grasp the waistband. Never face the grass and never put your hands on backwards. Challenge your twilight hours. Teamtalks in the showers are the German way. Altos Band. Pate Pies. Cammy Little’s novel.

 

Disco



Supporting Note: When was The Brecko ever a ‘Grafter’…?

This article was posted on 14-Jan-2011, 12:27 by Hugh Barrow.