Today the Vacaville Old Dogs made the trip north for a spirited day of Rugby.  There need be no mention of the score, as I one of the players deliberately did not learn exactly what it was.  Suffice it to say, Vacaville won but not by shut out.

With a showing of 16 players, we had one in reserve at the start.  Unfortunately he didn't get much rest, as within the first 10 minutes of the first half he was needed; our flyhalf (Justin) and our fullback (Mike) collided accidentally splitting Justin's head open like a watermelon, leaving a HIV blister in the middle of our pitch.  Okay, that might be over the top, but it was ugly and resulted in 15 stitches.  And for you perspective players out there this was an uncommon occurrence.  I watched the video, and they swung around a guy while trying to tackle him, directing their heads into each other.  With the injury and the resulting empty bench, the remainder of us played 80 minutes of hard hitting fast paced Rugby.

There wasn't an awful lot we could do to counter their more experienced backs.  They ran up the score pretty quick in the first half and reached their apex of trys/minute about 2/3 of the way through.  After that it tapered off a bit but the damage had been done.  Our bench was empty and we were sucking wind.

It was however mentioned by an Old Dog that "...these guys aren't the same team we played last year!".  Our match was much closer than it was in previous meetings, and we were playing with several 1st or 2nd game players.  When these players have a season of experience to combine with their vast athletic talent will make us a real force in Nor Cal DIII Rugby.

The third half however was spectacular.  I have never in my numerous (three) years of rugby experienced a better or wider assortment of food.  I have take my hat off to Rose and everyone else who contributed to it!  I had what fell nothing short of the best carne asada ever, followed by great sausage, pasta, chicken, bread and spaghetti.  Top this off with a wide assortment of beers, wonderfully awful songs, bagpipes by Dillon and the atmosphere of Steve and Roses' Bar and what you get is what has to be one of the Donkeys' best socials ever.