As a spectator, pre-season footy means sinking beers in the sun during an exciting and anticipatory period of the season, watching teams preparing themselves for the season ahead.

Saturday the 19th of March was no exception, Mosman rugby club welcoming Roseville, Lindfield and the Colleagues Convicts to their home ground on Balmoral Beach.

The inaugural pre-season round was yet again in the name of the Melanoma Institute, funds from the day donated towards this great organisation.

Lindfield got a taste of what the oncoming season in first division would be like, matching up nicely with Mosman. Roseville and the Colleagues Convicts got a few hit-outs too, playing against barbarian teams from the other clubs throughout the day.

Mosman vs LindfieldNot only do the Old Soldier’s promise exciting rugby this season, but they have also sweetened the home game deal with the addition of the Jackalope Food Co. Texan Style Sauce with your pulled pork and smoked sausage is a complimenting gift to Saturday rugby (and a few beers).

An air of excitement is clear amongst the Lindfield club, all members with high hopes for the season in the first division.

Mosman always offers great, organised rugby; their unrelenting organisation tending to tire out and frustrate the opposition, as they are just so hard to crack.

The Old Soldiers earned their spot in the Kentwell Cup through sheer hunger, a desire to win which is notable in every weekend.

The first grade hit out at the end of the day clearly expressed these strengths from both teams, the game ending in a draw at four tries a piece.

Both of these uniforms supply good reason to follow the Kentwell Cup this season as they will make their own impacts respectively.

As published in the Kuringai Examiner March 21, 2016 – http://www.kgex.com.au/rugby-melanoma-cup/

Over the weekend the Old Soldier competed once again in the annual Crescent Head 7’s Tournament…From all reports everyone is alive and well!

Game 1 – LRU 26 def Old Bar 0

Ready, set, GO!

The enthusiastic Lindfield starting 7 began at a frightening pace as the bigger Old Bar team were bashed and battered at the breakdown. Forced to secure the breakdown with 4 men in light of the twin jackal threats of Mal Gandar and Eddy Turk, Old Bar struggled to find any room out wide and when an eventual turnover did occur the ball was quickly shifted to the wing.

With his first touch of the ball, in his first EVER game of rugby, Xavier Costa set the ground alight with a blistering turn of speed that resulted in a try down the left touchline. Not a bad start to his career!

From our next penalty tap, Matt Cary cleverly recognised space in the backfield and put in a cheeky grubber that Sean Townsend regathered for an easy score.

The playing styles couldn’t be more different, with Old Bar’s one out hit ups no match for the passing game of Lindfield that continually found space on the flanks. In the blink of an eye, Sean Townsend and Josh Rickard Ford were able to take advantage of our attacking overlaps for two more length of the field tries.

An impressive first up performance.

Game 2 – LRU 28 def Mudchooks 5

Against a much tougher opposition, we spent much of the first half defending as the Mudchooks retained possession through the efforts of their creative flyhalf. The pressuring defense of Felix Buddy saved us time and time again. Pleasingly, every breakdown was ruthlessly attacked by us, and after three legitimate turnovers were controversially ruled illegal by the ref, we lost our cool. Ellis Freedman was unfairly sent to the bin (after some dominant work at the breakdown) and we conceded our first try after being down to 6 men.

In the second half the Sussman brothers ran riot, with Mik and Drew linking on the edges to set each other up for their own tries. With the Mudchooks resolve weakening, Rig muscled his way through the defensive line for a try and Xavier Costa added to his tally with a neat in and away that left his opposite man grasping at thin air.

Game 3 (CUP QUARTER FINAL) – Drummoyne 20 def Lindfield 0

Our reward for topping our pool was a cup quarter final against Subbies heavyweights Drummoyne. For the first time in the day we met our match in the breakdown, with Drummoyne comfortable retaining possession and happy not to contest our own ball. The net result of this was their defensive line enjoyed the benefits of an extra defender effectively negating the speed advantage we held out wide.

Down 5-0 at the break, we felt like we were in with a shot, but an early yellow card in the 2nd half meant we would have to do it the hard way with just 6 men. Drummoyne quickly capitalised with 2 tries and the game was effectively over. Mal Gandar was solid from kick off receptions and McWannell logged big minutes when players wilted around him.

Big efforts all round but outclassed in the end.

Tournament Most Valuable Player – Xavier Costa

A star has been born! Not since Daniel Bozic has a soccer turned rugby player made such an immediate impact. Known for his lethal speed, it was Xavier’s courage in contact that was most pleasing. His efforts at the breakdown in defense had many convinced he was born to play openside, but his nose for the tryline most certainly indicate a hugely successful future in the 15 man game. Well done Xavi!

Congratulations to Josh Rickard Ford and Xavier Costa also on their dead heat in the 100m sprint, beating the fastest sprinters from all other clubs!

Big thanks to Josh Rickard Ford and Manager Cam Smith for their huge effort organising the weekend and ensuring the whole operation ran seamlessly – much appreciated guys.

Last year, Lindfield and Mosman Rugby Club’s played a trial game against one another at Wakehurst, where funds were raised for Melanoma Institute Australia.

This year, we are proud to announce that Lindfield and Mosman 1st Grades will go head-to-head for the Inaugural ‘Melanoma Memorial Shield’. This shield was donated by an Old Soldier in memory of not only his father, but for other rugby players who have lost their life to melanoma. Roseville Rugby Club has been invited to take part and play a round robin with both Lindfield and Mosman 3rd Grade sides. These three clubs have all been effected by this terrible disease and on the 19th March they will remember those lives and celebrate the great game of rugby.

Saturday March 19, 2016 at Rawson Park, Mosman.

More details to come.

It’s that time again where we get together and start planning the next season.

The LRU Annual General Meeting will be held at The Northbridge Hotel at 7pm on Thursday October 1st. Players, supporters and friends are all welcome.

See ya there.

Lindfield Rugby Club’s Night of nights!

This night we celebrate the incredibly successful 2015 season where the LRU won the NSW Suburban Rugby Club Championships.

When: Friday, September 18 at 7:00pm
Where: Kirribilli Club – 11 Harbourview Crescent Lavender Bay, Milsons Point
Dress: Formal Wear for the Men/Cocktail Dress for the Ladies.

Tickets: $95 for Players/$80 for Partners – BUY HERE

Only space for 120 seats to its first in-best dressed!

Old Soldier.

It’s that time of year again, Grand Final weekend, and this year the Old Solider is competing to take home 2 pieces of silverware!

2015 Grand Final series features Lindfield Rugby Club battling it out for the Stockdale Cup and Robertson Cup – in 2nd Grade and Colts respectively. 2nd Grade take on old foes Forest, in what is expected to be a very physical encounter, while Colts again meet UNSW in what is slated as being a chance of redemption for UNSW, after last year’s final capitulation to the Old Soldier!

Kick-off times and other details are below. Let’s get behind the boys on this special day and launch our Division 1 campaign with winning to shields for 2015!

SUBURBAN RUGBY 2015 DIVISION TWO FINALS SERIES

Where?
Eastwood District Rugby Union Football Club
“TG Milner”
146 Vimiera Rd
Marsfield NSW 2122

Robertson Cup: 11.40am Lindfield v UNSW
Stockdale Cup: 1.20pm Forest v Lindfield

All the best to the boys on Saturday. Let’s get around and support them – and maybe have a couple of beers too.

OLD SOLIDER!