EXETER V PENANG ALL BLUES 
After a lot of hours spent on our slow internet system Taff John got a reply
from the Penang RU explaining that they had found a local team to play us on Sat
aft. After dragging everyone from there beds after a hard night on the tiles the
day before. We boarded the coach and set of for the ground, closely followed by
Jamie Ditchburn on his hired moped.
The pitch was fine but the lack of changing facilities led to the locals
being treated to a fine display of British white backsides as we quickly changed
on the pitch. The All blues rocked up with about 30 seconds to go before KO, but
were already changed and ready to go.
An excellent start by the Lions saw us storm into the lead with three
excellent unanswered trys. The play in the loose some of the best we had
performed during the last year. This pattern would follow for the remainder of
the game, but for one slip which gave the Blues a rare attack at our line and 5
points. Some outstanding performances, most notable of which were the two
flankers and both wingers gave us a convincing and much needed 48-5 win.
| EXETER v QUINDAO 19 JUN 04 
So far this deployment we have played 15's, 10's, 7's and touch 7's against
girls, every permutation of rugby I thought existed? Wrong again Clubzz. Never
have I seen, let alone played bare foot beach seven's, welcome to Quindao,
China.
Before arriving the only info I had was Rugby match against Quindao on Sat
afternoon. As more information started to filter through and I thought it was
normal sevens. That was until we got to the beach and were gobsmacked to see
that we were in fact playing bare foot at the top of a beach on an area not a
great deal bigger than a tennis court.
Still not to be put off in the greatest of EXETER spirit we were soon
changing on the beach in front of several bemused onlookers, mesmerised at all
of these naked westerners ruining their day at the beach. Both Quindoa and
EXETER would provide two teams with each team plying each other once in a round
robin, 10 minutes each half game. The first team on skippered by yours truly
were up against the weaker of the two opposition teams. Quickly into the action
and the lads were loving it, a far cry from the continual moaning I had endured
on the way to the beach. It really was good fun, the pitch was the perfect size
and although rucking and mauling bare foot on sand was exhausting, we were soon
4 trys to nil up. Next the two EXETER teams played and in a real shock result,
the team Clubzz had loaded won 6-0. The competition result hinged in a play off
between the two unbeaten teams, East v West. Big Taff Thomas the main "Whinger"
of the day was having a field day and scored no less than three try's in the
final, not bad for a fat prop. EXETER won the game 6-0 again with Rubens and
Rocky scoring some great trys.
A quick shower under a pathetic trickle on the beach that cost us all £2 each
and we were off to a bar owned by one of the Quindao lads. Taff Thomas was
awarded player of the comp and EXETER had a much needed win under the belt,
albeit in "Bare foot beach Rugby" an experience we will never forget
|
EXETER V SHANGHAI HAIRY CRABS 12 JUN 04 
After our fantastic day in Hong Kong all of the team thought that we had
reached our crescendo for the trip, we were so wrong. In less than a week we
were in Shanghai in China and booked to play the Infamous 2Hairy Crab's), a team
that the whole of the far east seemed to know very well. It should have been
apparent that we were in for a treat when during the first night out ashore we
saw the city was littered with posters advertising our game and this week
another International test match to follow this time between China and
Singapore.
The coach picked us up and after a 30 minute drive we saw in the distance a
giant stadium not dissimilar to Wembley. As we got closer still thinking iwe
couldn't possibly be playing inside Mark Fishwick joked to me "Hey Clubz it
would be funny if we were playing in there?". As if on cue the bus left wheeled
and into the main entrance we went. Still convinced that we would be on an
adjoining training pitch we were led into the stadium and out onto the pitch
were a member of the HC met us and showed us to our dressing room. We hurriedly
changed, keen to get out onto the pitch and soak up the atmosphere. Quite a
crowd had already gathered to watch the test and our game was also being filmed
for broadcast later that day. The Hairy Crab's are a mixture of Expats form al
over the world but a very good side who only two weeks prior had beaten the
China National team in a friendly warm up game for there match with Hong Kong.
Kick off and straight into the thick of things we were amazed at the skill
and pace of there backs but seemed to be holding our own in the forwards with
Taff John in particular having a great game. A new center pairing of Phil and
Rubens were causing there own problems for the HC but half time we were 15-0 to
the worse, but had to concede to being down to three magnificent try's. The
second half came and we realy went for it with the forwards especially turning
the screw and even taking several balls against the head, Taff again making
great yards. After a sustained period of pressure on their line, including one
very bad decision to disallow one of our try's, Chuck Key delivered a great ball
from the base of the scrum to enable Clubz to hit Rubens at outside centre. He
soon showed why he is such an exciting prospect as he flew past three dazed
onlookers to score on of the greatest individual finishes the ship has seen in a
long time. With ten minutes left on the clock 15-5 looked very respectable,
however as always in these parts of the world heat and fatigue would be our
undoing, and we finished on the end of a 30 points to five defeat, not bad if I
don't say, to a team who recently turned over China and beat the previous
visiting ship LIVERPOOL 105-0. Heads held high the HC were very humble towards
us after the game and were definitely aware that they had been in a good game.
Next stop QINGDAO!
| EXETER V MANILLA NOMADS 
Subic Bay in the Philippines was our port of call, but our game would be an
hours journey away nearer to Manila, in the Philippines Naval training base. The
Manila Nomads, as always in these parts are a mixture of Expats, North and
Southern Hemisphere with several of the base's recruits who are new to the
game.
On arrival at the base, along with our ships Football and Volleyball team, we
were shown to our changing rooms, or should I say to someone's front room! The
pitch surface was lovely and lush however both the Rugby and Football pitches
had no lines, markings or Goals. Some quick improvisation and use of chairs and
jumpers remedied that small problem.
Watching the manila lads warm up is obvious they were very raw, however very
fit and fast and as we would discover during the game, very well drilled at
tackling and rucking and mauling.
With our own warm up under the belt it was KO time, the pitch and weather
were perfect and it was one of those days when I sensed we would do well. How I
was right as after just 20 minutes we were 25-0 to the good. Our basic game play
of traditional up the jumper, route one rugby left them with no answer to the
size of our forwards. After half time we made several changes and it was in this
game that "Jelly" Fish finally came of age as a winger after putting in one of
the most complete performances of the tour, far surpassing expectations for
someone with less than ten games under his belt. Other notable mentions must go
to "Buck" Taylor at last back to playing to his own high standards and "Johna"
having a field day at No 6. Man of the match had to go to "Dave" Armstrong who
after threatening to produce for some time now, really did dominate the whole
game and was instrumental in everything good during the game. The final score of
60-5 was fantastic for the lads who deserved a good result after some narrow
defeats to some very good opposition.
The social on completion was brilliant with the hosts providing a BBQ, free
ale and most importantly a Karaoke machine, just don't mention it to Clubz who
got the lowest score of the night!!
|
EXETER V KOWLOOM RUGBY CLUB 5 JUNE 04 
Billed as the highlight of our Rugby tour to the Far East our game in Hong
Kong far exceeded all of our expectations. Although our bus driver did his
utmost to get us lost on the way to the ground. We arrived at the Kings Park
football club home of the Hong Kong National team at 1330, 30 minutes prior to
kick off in our game against Kowloom which was to be the curtain raiser for the
Hong Kong v China test match. The facilities were top drawer and the team felt
extremely proud as we took to the pitch for our warm up. The playing surface at
the club is a new astro turf being trialed by the IRB and it truly was the best
pitch any of us had ever played on. It is state of the art artificial grass was
as good as any real turf you will find in the world, even after being dumped on
it a few times there was no way of telling.
A sad day for our club in many ways as not only did we say good bye to our
Chairman Mark Durkin in Hong Kong but this game would be the last ever for Steve
"Sash" Ashmore in a red lions jersey. Our opposition for the day Kowloom started
to warm up and it was obvious from the start that we would have our work cut
out. Kick off and a crowd had gathered to watch and it really felt like we
playing in a big game. The game itself was very much a forwards dominated affair
with the Kowloom number 10 really punishing us with his positional kicking. One
of the Kowloom's stars their number 13 was having a field day with the ball in
hand. It was only after the match that we found out that he had just finished
his super 12 season with the Chiefs and would have been playing for Hong Kong
but for visa problems. Our front row also had a tough day of it but felt a lot
better after the game when we discovered that the opposition front three had
over 100 international caps between them and had all played in Hong Kong's
victory over Canada.
A few missed tackles and bad handling handed Kowloom a ten point lead at half
time, fatigue and heat exhaustion all added to the second half in which we saw
them score some wonderful trys. With five minutes on the clock some excellent
forward work involving Taff John and Sash gave us a great position to attack.
Phil the scrum half hit Clayton Patilla at ten who dropped a shoulder and
skipping between the two centres before bundling the ball down between the posts
for an excellent individual try. It was a great consolation for the team who had
worked their socks off in defence. Not to be disheartened a final 27-5 score
line was more than a great result for the Lions against far superior opposition.
A quick shower and change and out to watch Hong Kong put China to the sword,
we were well and truly spoilt by our hosts. Into the night and we were hosted in
Kowlooms bar in town the Devils Advocate in one of the best socials both sides
had ever been to. Sash got the send off he deserved and the Red Lions have
memories that will stay with the all forever.
|
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