MATCH  REPORT

BHSFP  RFC    V    PERENNIALS

50^th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION MATCH

As the first event in its 50^th year celebrations Belfast High School Former Pupils played Perennials at GWMSC on Sunday 14^th October 2007.

For those who are not aware Perennials are essentially an invitation side comprising players who have reached, lets say, a more mature age. They play around 8 –10 games a season and while they take their rugby very seriously the social aspects of the game are much to the fore. The Perennials also raise funds for charity and are excellent ambassadors for rugby in all respects

For this match High School put together a squad of players all of whom had qualified by reaching thirty five (Years) while some had exceeded this milestone by a considerable margin. All players had an association with the club in the past either as a player, supporter or as a former pupil of the school. In all the squad totalled around thirty players. Equally, for this occasion the Perennials produced similar numbers of players and as always approached the game in a spirit befitting the game of rugby.

Throughout the match, which comprised of four twenty minute sessions the pace was frenetic with those of more tender years sticking it better than the chaps slightly longer in the tooth. With the weather excellent and copious amounts of water being taken on board it was reassuring to note the 4 (yes 4) members of St Johns ambulance watching over proceedings.

With such notables on the pitch as Denis McBride , Maurice Field , Colin Wilkinson, Ian Brown , Rab Irwin, Gary Leslie and Derek Wilson to mention but a few, the watching crowd which must have numbered two hundred were treated to some great rugby and some marvellous craic throughout.

In all, Perennials scored 8 tries against the Former Pupils 6. Taking into account the conversions the final score was High School Former Pupils 36 - 49 Perennials.

The High School scorers were Graham Cloke , Peter Haveron ,Ian Elliott (2) , Derek Wilson and Davy Patterson. Mention must go to Peter Haveron a past stalwart of the Former Pupils who travelled from Scotland to play in this match. It was good to see him secure a try with a neat sidestep and as is his won’t knocked over the conversion as well. The Silver Fox strikes again !

There was a rumour going round before the game that Sebastian Chabal was present as a guest appearance. The crowd were not disappointed however to see that it was really Raymond Chicken who looks more like Chabal than the man himself !

Following the game all present retired to the Clubhouse for a few liquid refreshments along with some excellent post match grub.

High School President , Ken Hutchinson thanked Perennials President Leslie Blackburne for bringing his team and supporters to Greenisland in support of the 50th Anniversary of BHSFP and passed over a charity donation. In response a Perennials tie and plaque were presented to Ken in appreciation of the day.

All in all this was an excellent day for Belfast High School FP in kicking of the 50^th year celebrations but most of all it was a day when rugby was the real winner.

Labor Ipse Voluptas.