Last updated by:
Peter Jovanovic
02/05/2008
Mad Dogs
Various mumbles are filtering through from the rampant Dogs tour to Malta and hot off the press is the first snippet from Gez:
Gentlemen
The Dogs have just returned from a very successful tour to Malta. We took 47 guys and played two matches. The first on Saturday was the main one against the best side on the Island Stompers TGI Friday who we beat 26-7 and then on
Sunday a Vets match against Malta Marauders who hadn't lost a match for three seasons & only went down a week ago by five points to Reading Rhinos (claimed to be the best Vets side in UK ?) - Well as the report from this weeks Times Of Malta (see below) states they got savaged by the Dogs 38-0.
Please remember these matches were played in 80 degree heat and the Dogs team were an ad hoc side who had been on the lash for three days and nights. I like the nonsense about us drawn from four top London sides, in fact three teams were represented Cranbrook, Maidstone and Thanet Wanderers; also whats this about late hits on the blind side and twenty extra subs ? - all sounds of sour grapes.
I will be sending out my match reports later but thought you guys would like this as soon as possible.
Cheers
Gezz
Rugby - Veterans season - Marauders savaged by Mad Dogs
Last weekend, Malta Marauders lost their second game of the veterans season, 38-0 to Mad Dogs RFC, a touring team drawn from four top London sides.
It was clear from the outset that Mad Dogs were in no mood for a sociable contest at Marsa and adopted a win-at-all-costs approach right from kick-off. A series of late hits on the blind side of the referee throughout the game marred what was billed as a 'friendly'. Mad Dogs were fit, well-organised and played to their strength, namely, the rolling maul.
Marauders' lack of match practice as a unit was soon exposed in set pieces, particularly at line-outs where they were missing three key players through injury. The backs were also lacking their usual cutting edge. They were not helped by having to play off the back foot for most of the game. A series of unforced errors in both the backs and forwards allowed Mad Dogs to turn over possession and score three tries in the first half, two of them converted.
No inroads after the break, Marauders forwards started to play with more cohesion and won clean ball in the scrums, which kept their try line safe for 20 minutes. Unfortunately for them, the backs were unable to make inroads into the
visitors' watertight defensive line.
In the last quarter, injuries started to take their toll on the home side and Mad Dogs, who had the pick of 20 extra players as substitutes, ran in two further tries. They were awarded a penalty try, all converted.
Man of the match for Marauders was Charlie Sammut with Roland Stevenson running him close. Phil Felice also had a solid performance up front.
Match reports:
Stompers 7
Mad Dogs 26
See attached for Malta Today Sunday paper report.
The Dogs main match was against Stompers TGI Friday who we were told was the top team in Malta. Our experience in playing in other hot climates has shown that the locals just love to run the ball and rely mainly on speedy backs to do the damage and if you have good British forwards and hard tackling backs then the opposition don't get the ball & your ok. This was the case in Malta.
From the kick off the Dogs meant business with "DC" Darren Cannon Thanet big 2nd row hitting the opposition receiving prop, putting him out on the sidelines with a bent nose.
The first half continued with powerful play from the Dogs forwards with Alan Easter the Thanet No 8 scoring a pushover try and then Ron Connell another Thanet man who had come on as substitute at prop for a short while for Whitehead, scoring a tremendous robust try from a rolling maul. Half time at 12-0.
The second half was more of the same with the Dogs backs starting to get into their stride using the useful ball provided by the forwards, this was brought to a worrying halt midway thro' the second half when the Dogs winger gave an interception pass to the Stompers centre who went under the posts. While the conversion was taken a number of mature Dogs supporters ran onto the pitch and administered a severe kicking to said winger a Mr G.C. from Cranbrook - well deserved was the opinion in the bar afterwards.
In the second half strong defence from the Stompers held back the inevitable for a short while but then a great scrum pushover try with Easter scoring and then a lovely jinking try from scrum half "Scrappy" Phil Metcalfe off the back of a scrum in front of the posts sealed it all. The two drop conversions excellently taken by Chris Catt.
Apart from those mentioned above all the young members of the team played extremely high quality rugby which must bode well especially for Cranbrook in the future.
One other point if you go to www.maltarugby.com then click on our teams at the top then Stompers then Stompers web site at bottom it plays their club song which is unfortunately for them - - - " Who let the Dogs out "
Malta Marauders - 0
Mad Dogs - 38
An interesting match this and a very sour grapes report in the Times Malta. First of all the Marauders wished to play Goden Oldies scrummaging rules (probably put off by watching our previous days game) then it was noticed after about five mins that they had 16 guys on the pitch. The Dogs again started strongly with the forwards intent on demonstrating their power with DC, Bigbird, Scotty, Bunyon & Connell to the for.and it became clear that the Marauders had no real answer to the Dogs front five.
Franie Briley opened the scoring having only just arrived that morning from the UK picking up a pass and skimming thro' what seemed like the the whole field and going under the posts.
From here on and especially in the second half the Marauders were trying to stem the flow and the Dogs backs Bates, Mike Catt, Shawn Charlton started to use the good ball delivered by the forwards, Tries were run in by Cobby, Churcher, Charlton & Bunyon plus a penalty try given when Luke Day was tackled without the ball just as he was about to collect and score in front of the posts. Matt Bates scored four conversions.
Due to the heat of 80 degrees four 15mins quarters were played and rolling subs allowed, the Dogs using no more than the opposition. By the end I think the opposition had wished they could have kept the extra man on the pitch.
Any stories, comments, etc please address them to Gez!
Mad Dog shirts at a premium!
Mad Dog shirts are unique & not sold to anyone, only to those that have played for the Mad Dogs. To emphasise this latter point it's worth recounting the true incident when a group of us Dogs went to the Hong Kong 7's some years ago and Robin Strutt as is his want went off on his own and ended up getting juiced one night with the well known All Black winger Stuart Wilson who was staying in our hotel, both were wearing rugby shirts, Wilson an All Black one & Strutty a Mad Dogs. Wilson offered his as a swop for Robins which he did but the next day Strutty remembered his mistake and went to Wilsons room and demanded an exchange back telling him that he couldn't have the shirt because he hadn't played for the Dogs.
Stuart Wilson exclaimed " but I've given you a genuine All Blacks shirt " Robins response was " well I can buy one of those off the rack" and took his Dogs shirt back.
Down under!
Another bit of news! One of our Mad Dog stalwarts, Gareth Knight (Anchorians), found himself playing this July in the Sydney Suberbs League, Australia for a team called Killara Raiders against a team Sydney Convicts who happen to be the Gay World Champions having won the title last year in the USA. He said his team was stuffed (presumably he meant on the pitch?) and when he late tackled one of the opposition the guy called him a ****, which Gareth thought was sort of appropriate (the missing word rhymes with one of the following, twit, front or back - no prizes for guessing which one). I'm sure he kept his back to the wall in the shower and was very nervous when he dropped his soap !
Mad Dogs bite back!
Parkhouse 10's South London - August 2007
The Dogs are back and what a glorious day with 14 teams entering the competition resulting in one winner. - Mad Dogs 27 - Charlton Park 12. They won the trophy plus £250 quid, which I have since heard was consumed over the bar at the Swan, Sutton Valence that night.
The Dogs didn't look like ever losing a game and what a team the puppies were. The oldest in the squad of 15 was 22 years old and five of the team were sons of Mad Dogs. Game results below:
Group stage.
Dogs 48 - 0 Parkhouse 3rds
Dogs 26 - 0 New Ash Green
Dogs 5 - 5 Erith
1/4 Final: Dogs 51 - 0 Badgers (last year’s winners from Reading)
Semi Final: Dogs 38 - 0 Aylesford Bulls.
Final: Dogs 27 - 12 Charlton Park
Total Points for 195 - Against 17
The supporters all agreed that the Dogs played the most fabulous rugby of the day with hard committed tackling coupled with aggressive lines of attacking and it would be wrong of me to pick out any specific players for plaudits as they were all stars.
Considering that our team is an invitation side (drawn from four clubs Cranbrook, Maidstone, Westcombe Park & Saracens) who haven't played together before but were up against club first teamers, the result was all the more satisfying. The Erith result was an aberration but decisions on the pitch didn’t go our way, which our supporters were quick to point out!
The Mad Dogs had the most vociferous support on the touchline with about 30 traveling supporters. It was nice to see Tanks, Phil Hodges, Tony Clarke & Pete Maddocks of the Anchorians along to relive old times. Tanks of course back at Sutton Valence led the singing in his inimitable style showing the Pups what that side of a Dogs event is about plus Strutty illustrating what punishment can be expected if you lose your Dogs cap - - assumed the fetal position and received a serious kicking in the pub car park by about twenty guys (I have just seen him down in town today (Monday) & he can't climb his ladder)
So thanks again to the lads for giving us old Dogs a superb day to remember and sorry you guys who didn't get along to support.
Event report by Gez Higgins
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