Fatbastarding: NTA log
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Turned up at training, and it was cancelled! No notification which was a bit weird. A few of the other boys were there but just departing (I got there late). So I did a bit of running, some kicking, and some step exercises by my lonesome. Farkin cold tonight...
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Turned up late to training tonight and they had all the halfbacks they needed (I'm not kidding - the coach still wants me to play there) so I "ran" wing, which generally involved me trying to keep up with the fast people. Did some lineout execution and backline calls. The young bloke they had playing halfback has a pretty snazzy pass and just needed a minor correction to his body position - after that he was spot on. Always happy to help :whistle:<br />
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Talked to the 2nd grade coach after the game. Pretty sure I'll be starting on the weekend due to numbers, and despite offering my services at inside centre or flank, he's keen to see me at halfback :nta I said I was just happy to get on the park, and resolved privately to work on my left-right passing :shifty:<br />
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My left calf is hurting like a bitch. Suppose I'd better rest it as much as possible before Saturday, or get some goanna oil into it.... -
[quote name='MrBartMan']<br />
halfback - I want to see a photo of you in action please...<br />
[/quote]<br />
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That makes about 30 of us <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> -
I have a mate coming along this weekend as a spectator - I'll make sure to give him the camera <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
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Alright - just finished watching two hours of dire rugby (Oz v Wales), interspersed with some nice running rugby (Japan v Fiji). <br />
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Was informed that I'd be playing flanker for 2nd grade <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> So Bart - no photos required! Then they had one of their older hands turn up so I was nudged to the bench. Quite amazing to get nearly two full teams, especially for an away game. Spent most of the first half watching everything look shit for our side. We were down 3-0 at halftime due to a bunch of pissing about without going forward. They replaced 4 of the back 5 at halftime, including the entire back row (I played left flank - another guy my size played right flank). First scrum of the second half we had on their 5m line, so we shoved the shit out of them, the club captain picks it up at the back and smashes it over. 7-3. Then a bit later our former Fijian international flanker (and club president) playing at lock takes the kickoff, burns upfield, and we score shortly thereafter. 12-3.<br />
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Nothing spectacular on my behalf: 4 possessions, two successful passes. Got totally blindsided off one ruck and lost the ball when I hit the deck, but the bloke who stole it came nowhere near the gate. The ref was hesitant, inconsistent, and couldn't spot a bloke offside if his testes depended on it. But we won, so fuck him. My near-moment-of-glory came when I ripped through the middle of one of their mauls on our 22. I had the pill in my hands on top of the maul, but then it did that magic trick where its sucked down into the darkness and then they drove onward and collapsed it on top of me. Fuck it. I can't actually remember making a tackle purely because the opposition must not have spotted my sheer ineptitude at this facet of the game. They were looking for field position at that point to set up a rolling maul. We managed to hold them out. They had a massive Pom playing second five who should have just tried to run through those close ones of the ruck, but their lineout getting shaky at that point... Managed to make a nuisance of myself in general and got into a few rucks without a problem. <br />
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No significant injuries. Bruise on the left eye socket and a wonky finger, in addition to sore pecs from a maul landing on me. <br />
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First grade won too, about 21-13 I think after some soft work and poor discipline let in a try off a charge-down late in the game, followed by a yellow card. Held 'em out though... Considering we've been hammering nearly everyone, its a good wake up call for our boys to realise its not just a two-horse race in our Div.<br />
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I'm knackered. I think I would have performed better if<br />
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A) I didn't have a liquid lunch at work on Friday, followed up by a vegemite sandwich for dinner when I got home<br />
<img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> I'd eaten lunch before the game today<br />
C) I wasn't so fucking unfit.<br />
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There you go. -
[quote name='Virgil']<br />
Well done Nick, nice report too.<br />
After your senior international side's performance last night a call up might be on the cards?Â
[/quote]<br />
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While I was watching firsts, one of our props (who heard the coach offering me halfback at training) tapped me on the shoulder and said "SNK's just pulled his hammy - you've been called up!" <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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[quote]So you think you have found your rightful position on the rugby field, Flank?<br />
[/quote]<br />
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Yeah breakaway is where its at. Was a bit fitter last time I played it :shifty: I was puffing like an old busted steam engine. Were I 15kg lighter, I'm sure things would be easier. -
Interestingly, I never seem to seize up until 24 hours after a game. Last night I was a bit tired but felt OK. This afternoon everything started to hurt <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Bruises have started appearing on the chest, shoulders, and legs that weren't there last night (or I was too stuffed to notice).<br />
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At this point I'd like to thank the good people at Radox for their fabulous bath salts. I'd also like to give a hearty "fuck you" to the guys who built my house and put a bath in just long enough to drown a midget. -
[quote name='NTA']<br />
At this point I'd like to thank the good people at Radox for their fabulous bath salts. I'd also like to give a hearty "fuck you" to the guys who built my house and put a bath in just long enough to drown a midget.[/quote]<br />
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And may I point out that NTA is not a drowning candidate? -
You may.<br />
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Anyhoo, we've been told that training is Thursdays only, and a bloody good move it is too because blokes are turning up either Tues or Thurs and believing that's enough. It isn't.<br />
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The big problem is forming combinations, and the weekend showed us that more than anything. After examining the other team (Lane Cove) in a bit of depth, I discovered that while they don't have a lot of reserves, they are fielding pretty consistent lineups. While their second grade side has copped some mighty thrashings, they showed on the weekend that they're pretty handy in defence and know each other well enough to man up. Hence the 0-3 halftime score against us in second grade. Thank fuck we kept it away from the backs in the second half... and brought on our 6'4" 120kg former Fijian International at lock :whistle:<br />
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I've been standing on the sideline having a word to the coach, and he is eager for me to continue doing the analysis. I've been on the money so far...<br />
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Some of the guys are going to do fitness sessions on Tuesdays and I've elected to join them. A lot of blokes need it but probably won't show... -
Did some weights last night. 3 lots of:<br />
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10 x pushup<br />
30 x crunch<br />
30 x leg raise<br />
20 x shoulder press<br />
20 x bent row<br />
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The schedule will now become:<br />
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Monday: weights<br />
Tuesday: fitness training with the club<br />
Wednesday: fitness training on my own<br />
Thursday: full training with the club<br />
Friday: weight loss (fatburning e.g. long walk etc)<br />
Saturday: rugby<br />
Sunday: rest<br />
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:nta Yeah - alright. -
OK, I missed a couple of days due to work and sheer laziness! :shifty: But training tonight was full-on. Forwards and backs split off. Lineout practice, scrum practice, and then back together for some full team stuff. As we only had one full forwards lineup, I played opposition. Lifting at lineouts was actually easier than I remember, and lo and behold I got in some front row practice at tighthead - these blokes don't pack as low as I remember :nta Big lads though
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Mrs TA doesn't know, and none of you are telling, alright? :knubble:<br />
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Anyways, my left ankle was playing up a bit so if I get into front row mode I'll need to strap fuck out of it. My boots are cut a bit on the low side.... Or I could get a support.<br />
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[edit]And it was fucking COLD! Getting some seriously low temperatures in Western Sydney at the moment and it starts dropping pretty quickly from 7PM onwards. We've apparently got a game lined up at night in July - one side in the Division dropped their second grade, and because of a venue clash we've asked the Council to flick the lights on one Saturday for something a bit special. Hope I'm NOT playing that one <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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I'm also preparing to take over handling of the club website - its run through NSW Suburban Rugby Union, and they got Interfuse to develop a user management interface that you can tweak a bit (but not much). Going to do my best to make it presentable and then keep the updates flowing. The independent site we had is just too much of a bitch to update, and I think they were paying a bit too much for it. I'm not going to build one from scratch, that's for sure! I'll either shut the old site down to a forwarding link or use it to host background stuff like player profiles and other amusing whatnot. Not sure what the size limits are on the Subbies site... :nta -
[quote name='NTA'] Mrs TA doesn't know, and none of you are telling, alright? :knubble:[/quote]<br />
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depends on whether you behave yourself and don't abuse any Queenslanders?! <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> There's a juicy bait :fishing:<br />
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[quote name='NTA'] And it was fucking COLD! Getting some seriously low temperatures in Western Sydney at the moment and it starts dropping pretty quickly from 7PM onwards. We've apparently got a game lined up at night in July - one side in the Division dropped their second grade, and because of a venue clash we've asked the Council to flick the lights on one Saturday for something a bit special. Hope I'm NOT playing that one <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
[/quote]<br />
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Jesus...toughen up ya big homma! Some of us would give our left nut to be allowed to play at all. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Once you're out there running around and getting all sweaty, the cold shouldn't affect you, should it? Then again, you are a NSWelshman, who are generally known for being a bit soft, I suppose. :whistle: -
You're a QLDer - you've got fuck all idea what real cold looks like <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> My calves and lungs are not liking the night air at the moment, at least under any sort of exertion. :nta<br />
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And today I am reminded why I actually don't want to play prop. Everything from shoulders to tailbone hurts
I definitely found some muscles that time had forgotten.... -
Played half a game for 2nd grade today - in the second row! Highly weird experience. Its just like playing front row, only not nearly as much fun. Its sort of like playing flanker, except you're locked away in the middle and are completely ignorant of the scrum (or anything useful) finishing. I have concluded it is a position where they put the idiots who don't actually need to know anything about rugby. No offence intended to anyone, unless you happen to be Phooey. If the cap fits.... In any case, I wasn't used at lineout time because our regular hooker wasn't around, so we improvised - by throwing to 2 every time and the new guy there who is tall, skinny, and easy to throw in the air.<br />
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It seemed to work - we went up 7-0 pretty early, then ground out the rest of the half with a series of mistakes. Ref looked like he turned up pissed, and wasn't enjoying the bright sunshine. Got penalised for offside (which I was) and carried it up a couple of times, successfully protecting possession each time. Couple of mauls and rucks involved, nothing tremendous to report, replaced at halftime because I'm so unfit. We took a couple of tightheads off them so I must have been pushing enough at scrum time. Second half the boys really picked it up (ala last week) and we cruised home with the bonus point. Killara just ran out of puff. Final score must have been about 24-3 or something.<br />
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Firsts piled on a few tries in the first half, then lost their shape for minutes 40-60. But they came back after conceding some points and killed them off quite nicely, the very speedy left winger getting the hat-trick with a couple of amazing runs down the sideline. Fuck he's quick. Final score? Shit I dunno - 5 or 6 tries, half of them converted, to two tries converted and a penalty. Figure it out.<br />
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No injuries to report, despite playing on the shitty council-owned ground which picked me up a few grazes, and rather interestingly taking my socks off to find a few ounces of turf stuffed down them. "Ah", I said to myself, "that would have been me getting dragged along the turf by that tackler who wouldn't release".<br />
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No games next weekend due to the long weekend, and I'm caught between giving my problematic calf muscles a rest and doing some fitness work. I suspect I'll split it 50/50. -
Nice work Nick, halfback to prop to lock <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
You know i hear Knuckles is looking for such a utility player to take to France later this year :whistle: -
Nick, you must be some kind of shape-shifter to cover all those positions, or are you just that good? <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
Enjoy the week off. -
cyclo - if I concentrate I can re-organise my flab into many shapes. I'm like the human mimic! <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Nah - I'm equally shit at each position so I get slotted in wherever they need me <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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Virgil - I haven't officially played halfback yet, and I will deny any rumours to that effect :whistle: Even at the ruck where I picked up the ball I ran straight into the teeth of the defence without even contemplating a pass.<br />
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OK, got the tape measure out today for a checkup (Mrs TA had noticed a decreasing waistline). Last measurement:<br />
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[quote name='NTA']<br />
Chest: 130cm<br />
Gut: 118cm<br />
Butt: 124cm<br />
[/quote]<br />
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Today:<br />
Chest: 126cm<br />
Gut: 115cm<br />
Butt: 122cm<br />
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Gotta be happy with that even if I have been the same weight for the last few weeks. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Muscle mass is increasing somewhat, especially chest, shoulders, and abs.<br />
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In other good news, I think my calf muscles are finally adjusting to the stress of rugby - was a bit stiff last night and waking up during the night to tend to Little Aussie, but feel fine today!
