It’s the 11th of April 1999, Wales 27 England 31, the game hadn’t been going Wales’s way then all of a sudden, penalty Wales, the Captain Rob Howley opts for a lineout, Garin Jenkins to Chris Wyatt off the top, Howley spins out, Neil Jenkins pop pass to the rampaging Scott Quinnell, a little bobble and a switch with Scott Gibbs in midfield and the rest is history, a bad day at the office turned around in a split second.

Spool on to the 20th April 2005, and another Captain, Mark Howells, he opts for a ride up Turners Lane charging through the centre, Thornton, Morgan, Hart and James on the flanks providing back up over his shoulder, Wherlock and Williams already up front leading the battle, quick breather while Roberts, Greenhaf and Watkins join in from fullback, deft shimmy into the woods, ghosting past trees with a quick wiggle of the hips, brushing away with contempt the futile tackles of the trailing branches, again surging forward, but the move comes to an abrupt end, he has led us up a blind alley, quickly turning, the Captain spots a gap, goes it alone spurred on by Crockett’s whinging, all alone with no back up, the trees are closing in fast, the rest of the team look on pensively as the Captain is engulfed by the heavy onslaught of bracken and pine trees, again he tries another gap, and again he is spurned, the Captain is having a nightmare, frantic calls from his team mates who have a better view of the field of play, seem to fall on deaf ears, desperate times as the Skipper’s world falls apart around him, but courageously he tries to continue his futile attempt at a ride and salvage some pride, but desperate situations require desperate measures to combat them, and from the fringes Howells Jnr and Crockett step up to the plate and grab the reigns with such gusto that it leaves Scrippsy breathless and frantically fumbling for his inhaler, but they have rescued the situation and this seems to give the Captain a new lease of life and suddenly he is up front again and despite Crock’s protests, the Skipper cleverly alters his game plan, and head down aims straight for the warmth of a cosy watering hole, straight between the doorposts and touches down at the bar for a wonderful score. Backslapping and compliments all round as the Captain basks in the glory of rescuing a somewhat impossible situation into a superb victory which will be savoured for some time!!

After catching our breath, we found ourselves safely encamped at the Halfway public house in Pontllanfraith, and soon we were chatting around a big table and generally having a laugh, after a few topics of conversation we got on to the subject of the London Marathon and how well Paula Radcliffe had run, inevitably we started talking about her unscheduled toilet stop and were debating whether it was a ‘Number 1, or a ‘Number 2’ that had caused her to squat in the gutter, as we were mulling this over Scrippsy could be heard saying “Well I don’t bloody care what it was but I would love to have been right there having a bloody good look!!!”
Suddenly realising that all eyes were on him he immediately turned from his usual grey pasty complexion to a shade reminiscent to a Belisha Beacon!!!

Armed with this little nugget of information about Scrippsy’s voyeuristic preferences, we continued our cosy little conversation, with the occasional swear word thrown in from Beaker. It was a nice change to find somewhere different for our half time refreshments, and the absentees last night certainly missed out, Bernaard was away with work in Russia, Ryan the Dream was on another sleeping shift, Chrissie is nursing his injured knee, which apparently could jeopardise his participation at the forthcoming Clic24 event, and if this proves to be true then Ryan the Dream, Dai Shop and Marty must surely be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of having that somewhat forgotten Moo Johnny Mechanic joining their team!!!

On the theme of forgotten Moos, I think we should take this opportunity to try and persuade those members who have not yet joined us on a ride this year to don their helmets and get out on the trail, so Kev the Gallon and Bully it is time that you made an appearance, as the rest of us are in danger of forgetting what you look like!

There was also a birthday Moo last night with Tom celebrating his 33rd birthday, and once again he displayed that he becomes very eloquent when he has a ‘few on board’!

Crock has really got his hands full this month, and the date of destiny is looming, because next week is the monthly awards week and Crock has to choose who the recipient will be of the ‘unorthodox behaviour’ award, several members have made strong claims this month, one perhaps more than others, but I’m sure Crock will make the correct decision. Also next week it is the turn of Jock to take the ride, so be prepared for some technical sections and fast descents!!!!!