So another Presidents Day has been and gone in a flash. But what an excellent day it turned out to be.
The weather just about behaved itself and the rain kept off.

The proceedings kicked off with the by now obligatory 'snifter' up town for the players whilst the Touch Rugby crew were limbering up.
Under the expert organisation of Emily Tennent [thanks Emily] the touch game seemed to be highly competitive and the players who had dragged themselves back from the Emporium were an appreciative audience.

Meanwhile Chairman of Rugby Steve Dowson , suddenly given an unaccustomed free rein on selection of the two teams, took an age to come to a decision on the line ups.
But probably by luck more than design two fairly equally matched teams took to the field.

The main talking point was the appearance of the guest referee, one David Slinger Esq!
A cunning plan to keep him quiet by shoving a whistle in his mouth. - to be fair he did a decent job of applying the laws circa 1984, so fair enough.

As for the game - well it was end to end stuff, but I have no idea who scored, but that is not particularly important anyway.

The best thing was the great spirit of the game, plus the sight of a few old boys getting their boots on again - Derek 'off side' Jones had his traditional run out alongside Geoff Williamson and Dave Slinger, who had relinquished his whistle at half time to Mr Manson-Kullin who brought the game back into the correct century, took up the full back role.

Non playing Captain Richard Few was on and off the pitch proffering a bottle of port and doing Facebook live interviews throughout.
Fittingly the game finished 24 -24 - a draw for the second season in a row.

Then to the presentations; The two Captains : Andrew Thornber and Bob Wilkinson jointly lifted the Nick Hopwood Trophy.
The Bob Haworth Man of the Match Cup went to Richard Slinger and the Man of the Match for the opposing team went to Stuart Railton. (both backs-something wrong there)

Then a new trophy - kindly presented by the Silcock family - the Colin Silcock Spirit of Rugby Cup.

A splendid gesture from the President and family to the Club. Son John Silcock, no mean scrum half in his day, spoke eloquently on behalf of the family, and then the tension mounted as the inaugural recipient was slowly revealed.
Chairman Bob Wilkinson teased out the agony for a few seconds more, before, to great applause, a visibly shocked Andrew 'Ralph' Rigby was called up, to receive the Cup from the President himself Colin Silcock.

A lovely afternoon with so many old and new faces at Littlemoor; indeed a perfect way to round off the official 'on the pitch' action of the season.

Very many thanks to all who helped gathering the teams and guests together , plus a massive big up to the BBQ kings and queens Phil Isherwood and Sarah Reid who worked tirelessly feeding the masses.

Until next year.......................
(** there are a load of photos waiting to emerge from various cameras)