While the Cats's Away...

Postcard from our captain in the UK. His gift from us to Prince George.

St Patricks V Roosters 27 July 2013

this week by Nick

With our fearless leader over in Scotland researching medieval weapons to overcome the Hurls and Glenhuntly for the finals, it was left to the “has been” captains, Yuri and Nick, to oversee the team for this round.

You know the old saying – when the cats away the mice will play. Now, a group of mice is commonly referred to as a family, a horde, or a mischief. While resisting all but 1 reference to John Steinbeck’s “Of mice and men”, we called ourselves “a mischief” for this fine day.

The mischief met at Yuri’s place (Neeill, Bruce and Nick). Bags and gear in tow, it resembled some sort of kids camping trip. But no sweets of any kind were allowed, as Yuri had us remove 3 cases of red wine from his boot before we left.

We got in a car to begin our travels to St.Pats, Murrumbeena, but the car kept on breaking down (Yuri assures us this is “BMW technology”). Yuri also shared with us his dislike for “Dan-a-nong Road” and refused to let his Satellite navigation guide us (the only thing that probably worked in the car). Great things were sorted out en route to the big game - a group of swans is called a flock and 4 middle aged Roosters trying to play sport on a Saturday afternoon was a “mischief”.

Shock horror, despite having no intention of doing so, the mischief arrived at the courts a full 20 minutes before 1pm. Then shock horror no.2, the mischief performed some warm-ups (of a kind). Bruce had a face-off with the sky stretching out his back, Kneill stole some kids basketball and shot a few hoops on the adjacent basketball court, while Nick moved side-to-side like a game of pong. Yuri was off checking under his car to see what the hell was wrong with his engine. Yep, the mischief were performing some high performance moves, when one opposition player turned up just on 1pm.

His arrival was enough to confirm that our best laid scheme had not gone awry (Go Mr Steinbeck!) – the relief from the mischief that were in the correct place was palpable.

Show courts 1 & 2 were used for the encounter. As was expected, but not actually discussed, Nick and Yuri paired up while Bruce was left to chance with GNeille and his new racquets. With synthetic grass, no wind, (except from Yuri’s car exhaust and Neille’s still recovering lungs) and an overcast day, the tennis was most enjoyable.

At the halfway mark, the teams were 1 rubber all and the mischief were down by only 2 games. In the reverse rubbers, the mischief as a collective horde, responded to the urgency of the situation and took both rubbers 10-8 and 10-5. Roosters, victory and mischief were all mixed in together.

A winning high come over the mischief and the serving of party pies and Tim Tams for afternoon tea was a welcome return to our childhoods (hence the mischief felt compelled to hang out on kids play equipment soon after).

Yuri’s car got us back home via the Nipion Hwy (still no Sat nav) and with mission new knowledge accomplished, all mice scampered home. We can now relax through the Rd 13 Bye for this upcoming weekend. Fair to say that Roosters will now be playing finals, but still have Parkdale away in Rd 14 on 10 August.

Fearless captain will be back by then................hopefully he will pleased!

     

Postscript – Congratulations to Vic and family on the birth of baby boy Jasper on 26 July. Best  wishes to all. We look forward to a new generation of son’s Levi and Jasper, carrying dad and the Roosters forward into the future!

Next week: a BYE

Thursday 6.30 pm hit up as usual

AND A HIT FROM 1PM AT THE NURSING HOME ON SATURDAY for all interested.

then dad's back, we have one last game away then FINALS.

And finally...

referencing current affairs about Catholic tennis (and not gratuitous nudity):

24-year old tennis ace Agnieszka Radwanska was kicked out of her role as ambassador for a Catholic church group called Youth Crusade following her nude photoshoot for ESPN The Magazine's "Body Issue".

The church group deemed her appearance in the magazine as "immoral behavior" and cut her off from their group.  

Senior Catholic priest Father Marek Dziewiecki told the Telegraph:

"It's a shame that someone who has declared their love for Jesus is now promoting the mentality of men looking at a woman as a thing rather than a child of God worthy of respect and love."