A reminder that the dinner is on Friday night at Dolphin Heads. Dress code is number ones, cost is $60 per head. This will be the final year that River Street Productions will will be on the bill, so get along and see the curtain fall on a piece of Camelbok history.

Two minor premierships and converting one on GF day was a great result for our efforts through the year. With much of our squad available again next year I am sure the Boks can go one better in 2009.

The Camelboks took what could be called a make-shift team with several players having little or no time in A Grade and a host of blokes playing out of position. The front row of Barter, Kneipp and Wright have played about 80 minutes between them this season and were asked to play a full 80 each due to the lack of reserves on the bench. At the back Karmichael Walker filled in at fullback with Bart and a guest player "The Crabman" playing on the wings. The match also saw old-school South African flanker Derrick Henning make his A Grade debut along side Kuttabul's boom junior product Dan Ireland. Pre-game things were looking bad enough that the coach had to pull the boots out and sit the bench.

What these players dished up was easily the best performance by a Kuttabul team this year. Against a huge Polynesian team, the Camelboks ran in 6 brilliantly constructed tries. The forwards played tight, tough rugby and supplied good ball to the backs who carved up out wide. The tight 5 were able to hold and then push the larger Bowen scrum, the loose forwards continually isolated their big runners on the fringes and stole ball off them at will. The Kuttabul halves were brilliant with Craiby feeding Nigel with long flat balls from the ruck enabling us to open up their midfield. Nigel had his best game in a green jersey and quickly had me taking my boots off after he was twice levelled by huge tackles from the Tongan inside backs. They breed them tough across the ditch and with the memory of Danny breaking ribs last week fresh in my mind, Vagana thankfully was back on his feet to direct the play.

The first half was a display of flawless rugby, tight in the forwards combined with brilliant attack in the backs. The second half into the wind the boys showed toughness, determination and discipline to hold off the big Bowen team. As a coach and long time player at the club I couldn't have been prouder of the commitment the boys displayed.

Kuttabul 38 def Bowen 7
Tries:
Neame 1
Bartlett 1
Usaia 2
Walker 1
Crabman 1

Conversions:
Neame 4

Absolutely Drilled:
Neame 2
Walker 1
Froggo 1
Kneipp 1

Hard to pick the 3,2,1 as everyone put their hand up. At a pinched I'd have to single out Damian Royan who played one of his best games of the year and led the team from the front, the front row of Barter, Kneipp and Wrighty stood up and then dominated their opposite numbers and Nigel Neame was brilliant at flyhalf, showing not only skill but toughness when needed. Out wide Bart, Walker and the Crabman took every opportunity and turned it into points.

Next week we are on the road again heading to Airlie Beach. We are in the back-end of the comp with the finals in view. Everyone will want to play in the final series and it is games like last weekend that stick in the selectors memories. I'd suggest if you want to be a part of the squad going into the pointy end of the comp that you need to be putting your hand up in the next few weeks.

Get back to me with availability.

Reserve Grade had a big win over Slade Point on Friday night (44-7). There were some great performances and some nice tries. Easily the pick of them was when Wrighty went into the ball playing slot and ghosted his way through the defensive line curtesy of a deft show and go. After displaying some nimble footwork, Wrighty laid on a nice pass to put Peni around the fullback. Equally as satisfying was that Peni then put the brakes on and make Teki chase him 50m to the try line.

After next week we will be in the back half of the competition. The season seems to be flying along and soon we will be looking at finals football. We have some great momentum going into the 2nd half of the season and we not only want to maintain this, but to build on what we have achieved in the early rounds.

With only around 10 comp matches left I'd like to see a commitment from the entire squad to finish the season as minor premiers in both grades. Generally speaking the commitment has been good with numbers and availability but I'd like to see all squad members make every effort to attend training Tuesday and Friday and the matches on the weekend.

In other news, the Camelboks will welcome another Fijian to the club this week. Usaia's big brother has arrived in the region this week. Don't know much about his rugby but if he is half as good as his little brother he will be a bonus to the team.

We have matches against Cities on Friday night (???pm) and the Raiders on Saturday 3.30pm

27/05/08

Another good win on the weekend against Cities 24-7. Kuttabul still lead the competition in both A and Reserve Grade.

Training this week at Lions on Tuesday and Friday nights at 6pm.

Matches are against Slade Point in Reserve Grade on Friday night and A Grade take on Bowen at Quarry Hill Saturday at 3.30pm.

Great win by Reserve Grade last weekend, beating a mostly A Grade Cities outfit very convincingly. The team is playing a great brand of rugby and they could beat most of the A Grade teams in the comp.

Tough lose to A Grade against Slade Point, we were the better side for much of the match but ended up on the wrong side of the score-board. Slade point showed us why they have won the premiership three years in a row and we will look forward to the rematch next round.

Thanks to the lads that sat the bench in the A Grade match.

Training will be as per normal this week (Tuesday and Friday 6pm at Lions) with Dave Cameron taking the session on Tuesday night.

Thanks to Bruce and Kettles and Co for putting the goal posts up at Lions over the weekend. It has taken some planning and much work to get them up. Also thanks to Shane Moloney for the fabrication work that he was able to completed at cost-only. The goal kickers in the club won't have any excuses now.

The boys opened their season with a good win over Brothers on Saturday. By all reports the win was well celebrated at the ZeeBar afterwards. There will be a detailed match report posted on the web site latter this week.

We have Slade Point this coming weekend and they are the defending A and Reserve Grade premiers. Sladies also won in 2006 and 2005 and have been the benchmark here for years. After the false start for reserve grade on Saturday, this will be a great game to start the season with.

Training at Lions at 6pm Tuesday and it will include a session from Steve Dowden so bring down your gear for contact.

Dayne Davis will have his first run on Tuesday after arriving this week from Canada. Dayne plays provincial rugby in Canada and is also a handy ice hockey player. Dayne is living with Sladie and is going to work with one of Wade Jacksons many business interests. Penni is working there as well.

If you are unavailable for Saturdays match or Fridays team run contact me as soon as.

• Subs cost for 2008 will be $150. This will cover player insurance and training kit. For your dough you will also receive a training jersey, polo shirt, shorts, socks and footy bag. We are logoing all the gear so it will look pretty sweet. The club will take a loss on the subs/training gear but we don't want to increase the cost to the players. Which brings us to the next point.
• Sponsors. We are still looking to bring new sponsors on board to help with our relocation to Lions and replacement of damaged training gear. Don't be scared to invite your employer/clients/contractors to be part of the Bok sponsorship for 2008. You can explain to them how good it will be for business to be affiliated with a local iconic sporting club like the Boks.
• The club has signed a player from the UK. Lee Sims is a backrower from Wales and has played Wales U18 and is also contracted to the Ospreys U20 squad. Lee also represented Wales in Surf Lifesaving and coincidentally competed in the flags and beach sprint. Lee is arriving on the 21st of March and is moving into River Street. If anyone has an old bed that you can spare or want to get rid of, contact myself or Dammo.
• http://www.kuttabulrugby.com/ is the link to the Camelbok website. Register at the forum page as I am also posting info about training there.
• We are still trying to secure a trial match for the 29th March. If the match doesn't go ahead we will have a development day/night (something similar to the poker night). The Stingers play in the arvo against Cairns and we have the Zee Bar booked for part of that night.