Peninsula tales

Peninsula Rugby Club kept a list of players
with talents beyond game proficiency, skills
needed to further the Club’s interests away
from the playing field. And the worthies with
specialised gifts were issued strip just like the rest
of us ordinary players, numbered and labelled
though on game days they were spectators

On this day was the culmination of a year’s
endeavour, we were to arrange a celebration
on retaining the Challenge Shield and revel in the
consummation of the Club Patron’s edict of free
beer (he was the Publican). Other Club business
necessitated elevation of sundry members
to club officer status.

The President egregiously stated, Men, go forth
and get food, Coach echoed his words and the
foot-soldier players hastened to obey. I recall the
beery resolve to catch geese we’d seen in a field
near the Pub, which we did, but I can’t remember
how or why three honest sheep just happened
to leap into the back of the truck.

At the function we had our pictures taken with trophies
we’d won, including shields, urns and cups ‘borrowed’
by our worthies mindless to traditions or sports they
might signify. And that’s why I say our club won
the Bangalore Women’s Polo Cross Memorial Shield,
May 1924; it is no lie, to this day the picture
hangs in the Pub.
© I.D. Carswell