nto the final quarter of 2007 What a ride it has been. Our e are approaching the end of another busy year I club continues to go from strength to strength. I mean 32 W and there is lots still to come. We have had turning up for training on a Sunday afternoon.!! Unheard of visitors from Happy Valley RFC in town recently and in the western world. And then there is the after training, what a great weekend. We also played the Southern- “rehydration” sessions at the restaurant across the road. ers a couple of weeks ago and won 15–7. A magic Beer drinking records tumble by the week. The restaurant game and better still, all those who turned up to play owner must be a very happy fella. managed to get game time. The Hong Kong Valley Boys were in town recently for a I would like to remind all that the committee does it’s game and the Banger won by a convincing score 1-0.!! best for the benefit of all the membership. We don’t What can we say about the Colts that has not already been always get it right, but we try our best. If anyone has said. The historic victory 15-7 against the Southerners was constructive criticism, we have open ears but please simply a magnificent team effort. Tom’s training is obviously keep it sensible. paying off Those of you who toured to Phuket, will recall that we The Rugby World Cup continues to thrill. The 2.00am kick- gave 14,000 Baht out of the sock for the benefit of 2 offs are taking their toll, however worth staying up for. children to enable them to go to school for one year. I Some real surprises amongst the “minnows” . have received the details on the children we are A lot of club activity coming up. With the Bangkok Interna- sponsoring and have put them on the club notice tional 7’s on the 26th October and the tour to the Angkor board in the Wall Street club rooms. I encourage you 10’s, Phnom Phen in November. to read it. Other social activity in the wind is the end of year party. Not The Cambodian tour is fast approaching. It would to be missed. Details to be advised make the organisers job a little easier if you would Remember, if you ever want anything included in the Ban- respond promptly confirming you are on board. The ter, send me an email [email protected] committee have also made a decision, based on a member survey, we will tour to the Vintage Rugby Mike celebration in Christchurch NZ in 2008. Hope to see you all there as this is the big one. The inaugural Banger-Lions Ball is on October 13th. We need you support. Proceeds will be shared by the Bangers and Lions to further rugby in Thailand. Our sponsorship proposal is ready to send to inter- ested companies who would like to sponsor our ac- tivities. On the subject of sponsorship, we are joining with the Bangkok Lions in a coaching clinic organised by Andy Campbell. This will be the first time we have sponsored youth rugby in Bangkok but it certainly won’t be the last. Your's in Rugby Andrew • GOOD WORKOUT AGAINST PATTANA STUDENTS The recent game against the Pattana International School students has now become a regular fixture on the Banger rugby calendar. Not only does it give the students the opportunity to test their skills against experienced players moreover provides a “rugby bridge” for graduates to join the Bangers and play for the Colt’s. • HONG KONG VALLEY RUGBY CLUB WINS ONE LOSES ONE The Hong Kong Valley Rugby Club was recently in town for two matches. The Banger side played the Hong Kong Old Boys and their first grade side played the Southerners. The Bangers managed to salvage a win. After the post game beers at the outdoor restaurant, the Valley boys were treated to a BBQ and free beers back at Wall Street with the ongoing party stretching later in the evening down in Soi Cowboy • BEER RECORD SMASHED AT AFTER GAME FUNCTION The after game beer sessions hit a new high. 101 large bottles of Heinekens. Mind you they had some help from Southerners. Wise heads have decided to separate the after training and after game beer records. The after training score stands at 81. • 32 ROCK UP FOR TRAINING Two weeks ago 32 players turned up recently for training on Sunday at the Pattana International School. This broke all club records. Considering that players have to travel from all over Bangkok to get to ground, this shows a real commitment and effort to the team and club. Its no wonder that the Colts are playing so well. • BANGER COMMITTEE START EARLY TO SIGN NEXT SEASONS SPONSORS The Committee are on the ball this year coordinating next years club sponsors. A proposal will be sent out to all cur- rent and past sponsors and all corporates that have shown interest in sponsoring the Bangers for the 2009 season. Company budgets for the next fiscal year are generally set in November-December of the proceeding year. The committee in their wisdom, decided to get cracking and get the club proposal out early. • REBEL TOUR TO FAT BOY TENS A non playing Banger squad attended the Fat Boys Tens in Angeles City Philippines recently. There was no rugby as it teemed down for the entire weekend. This did not stop the lad enjoying themselves and indulging in what Angeles City has to offer. • BANGERS OFF TO CHRISTCHURCH VETS TOURNEY The committee decided at their last meeting, the club would send a team to the Vintage Rugby carnival in Christ- church, New Zealand, October 2008. Member were asked to vote whether they wanted to go to the Golden Oldies Rugby Festival in Edinburgh Scotland or Christchurch. The New Zealand “Garden City” won by a whisker. • BANGERS COLTS BEAT THE SOUTHERNERS The Banger Colts have come of age. There historic win against the Southerners 15–9 on the 23rd of September was well deserved with a good all round performance. There have been signs that Bangers were on track for a victory against their expat rivals, when the veteran side played so well against the Southerners recently in the Pattaya Tens. THIS YEAR IS ENTERING it’s last quarter and from were I sit on the Sideline, it has flown by… We have seen so many dubious referee decisions this year. The most notable being all decisions that have gone against that mighty All Blacks. Sport is as close as you get to justifiable religion. Good honest contests played in the context of winning, none of this cowardly terrorism carry on. The world will be a better place to live, if only we could contest all disputes on the sports field rather than on the battle field. Now that I have got that off my chest…... You can see from what I have scribed, I am getting old, my playing days well behind me. Still one has to wonder if we had it over again……would we do the same. Wonder no more, as we will never know because it doesn't happen like that……How many times have we heard the commentary team screw it? IF ONLY he had passed the score line would be different……IF THERE was another 10 minutes left it would be a different story…………IF THEY had found touch we would have a lineout 10 meters out instead they are having to defend. All poppycock dribble that what it is. Nothing more nothing less…………see you at the Wall of Knowledge. Remember The Sideline Eye is always watching WHO TRAINS PLAYS In an obvious deference to the SAS motto ‘Who Dares Wins’ some rugby clubs try to impose a stricture of ‘Who Trains Plays’. At the Bangers some people say we should follow this rule but, in my opinion, we cannot operate such a dictat for many reasons. It would not take a be-wigged barrister to the court of King James to find loop holes in this restriction. Also, once you impose one law you will find it’s a slippery slope to a whole string of qualifications for playing. There will always be exceptions for good reason. Here are some I’ve encountered over the years :- Who trains plays except when we’re short and you have two legs to make up the numbers. Who trains plays except new guys who have great looking wives or girlfriends. Who trains plays except anybody who has dirt on the coach. Who trains plays except potential sponsors with big bucks to spend. Who trains plays except members of swinger clubs who pass on phone numbers. Who trains plays except guys who don’t make fun of the coach’s junior in the shower. Who trains plays except guys who show up for post training record breaking drinking. Who trains plays except guys who ride mopeds 15 kilometers to the game in a rainstorm. Who trains plays except guys with a Jonny Wilkinson making a comeback syndrome. Who trains plays except smart asses who we want to see get smashed. Who trains plays except minorities protected by the UN and sing Bread of Heaven. The list could go on so if you have any other exceptions send them to me at [email protected] and you can be sure of a game anytime. I HAVE BEEN GETTING HASSLES from Mike, for my late submission of my few lines for this edition of the Ban- ter…….the delay was for a reason I wanted to include yesterday’s game -23 Sept - against our friends the Southern- ers.