Bartalk 28 - SEASON REVIEW 2014

Last season was a watershed year. This season is the season we came back from the brink as a competition. With last year’s competition starting there were just two teams, Box Hill and Maroonda. Endeavour Hills after a few games also came on board. We all wondered what would happen this year. University, Melbourne Chargers and Melbourne returned to the field. In addition, Endeavour Hills and Eltham combined to become the Barbarians. We now had a six team competition.

Box Hill player numbers looked good until Clint Capell defected to the seniors, Nick Reid was unavailable and Graeme Featherstone surrendered to wear and tear injuries. To make matters worse the Unquenchables travelled to Canberra to play the ACT Vets which resulted in Ant Balocca and Francois Darcas sustaining season ending injuries. This also happened with Fast Eddie. The result was that we were down six players with the season only just started. We had cameo appearances from Kevin Sandells, Pommie Paul, Clive Welti (often refereed), Steve merchant and Nico Vlok.

Nevertheless it was a successful and highly enjoyable season. We hosted the ACT Vets in a return match which may become an annual event. The Ramage brothers Carl and Paul were outstanding as were Richard Bristow. Russ Roth, Carlo Fogale, Huw Edwards, Gerard Swaine and Chis Swaine. Unquenchable stalwarts, Kevin Walsh, Glenn Hill, Pete the Navigator, Dennis Collard, Geoff Rielly, Stu Ramsden, Colin Read, Mick Crowe, Peter Fuller and Ian Moore(when he wasn’t injured).

We hit our peak at Melbourne playing the Barbarians with five tries scored in the first half. Jono in his only game this year combined with Gerard in the centres. They were creative in attack and punishing in defence. The second half saw another two tries scored and at least four forward passes called which would have resulted in trys. All in all it was a memorable game. Our games were always hard fought and keenly contested with Maroondah.

At the Annual Unquenchables dinner Huw Edwards won the Mick Headberry Award for best player, Andy Munro, Prick of the Year, Carlo Fogale the Jockstrap and Dennis Collard the Doug McDermott trophy. He is still trying to work out why. It must have been because of his unbelievable try against the Barbarians when he outsprinted the other 29 players to score under the posts after selling a superb dummy to run at least sixty metres. Bryan Brudett was awarded a special trophy donated by the Ramage brothers in recognition of Grumpy’s dedication and whole sale commitment to the Unquenchables. We are still however trying to work out why Chris Pratt started this year on the wing and ended up in the second row. Bryan made some unbelievable selection decisions and coupled with the strategy “don’t kick the f&#@*^g ball” ensured all players showed their talents to their very best.

On a sad note, Scott McGowan just three weeks after returning from our Old Boys Competition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia passed away playing touch at the club with his fellow team mates. He will never be forgotten.