Buglers Announce their Intentions

It has always been said that you never knock a champion. In a world chocking on cliché’s, this one comes true more than most. There was a certain silence in the air last Saturday as Bugler after Bugler paid their fee and walked to the tee. No banter, no pleasantries, just a forced ‘hello’ and a steely glare. The time had come you sensed for the Premiers to stand up in the 2010 season. They, as did the Vultures, All Night Chemists and the Cup Hunters sat at 0 – 2 and faced the end of their season in the eye; 0 – 3 is the Latrobe Premiership’s ‘Death Valley’. The bottom most rung on a ladder that is too tall to climb, the foot of a mountain that is too steep to scale, the prospect of a 2010 finals campaign in July to bleak to consider. The Buglers, as they have in the past, responded to this pressure with the traits that has made it a champion team. Led by their All Latrobe star Left handed ROLY RYAN and end of season trip beverage coordinator GREG MADIGAN, the Buglers carved out their best score of the year, an imposing 190 points to overcome a gallant Triple WWW who were not disgraced. They have felt the pressure and heard the whispers, they knew that the time had come to get their season moving and now, like previous years, they have once again become the benchmark to which all other teams must measure themselves! The Cup Hunters, who are gone already, wait after Easter; things are looking up for the Premiers again.
The Tunners, well known for withering surges of momentum, also faced the bleakness of a desolate winter, devoid of finals, nothing to play for. Yet to taste victory in 2010, a draw in the seasons worst game sadly their only highlight with even that ray of sunshine clouded by elimination on countback from the ‘Eradicator’! They faced up to the Corruptibles who have been solid so far without being spectacular. A team that reads like a novel on a tram; gets you in but it is hard to focus as it is always a bumpy ride. They are consistent yet appear to unravel at times, posting high scores amid low numbers, joyous high fives amongst thick personal sledging. They are America in the time of the Civil War, a dangerous opponent to all teams when they pull together, a dangerous opponent to themselves when they pull apart. The Tunners caught them on a week that internal emails were sending poisonous darts and they made them pay. The victory, in a team that is renowned for a tight bond and team spirit, came from the clubs of 1 man; the last pick in the draft, the last pick in the playground, the last pick in life itself. CON SHEEHAN, announced himself to his team mates, to the Corruptibles and to the competition, that he has waited over 50 years to play for glory, and he intends to be counted. His 42 points was the steel in the knife that went through the Corruptibles heart and was the catalyst maybe, of the next great withering run that the tight knit Tunners outfit are famous for.
The All Night Chemists were short on players but not short on noise. They have been a little unlucky in the first 2 rounds striking teams that have fired and just needed to find a team a little off to taste their first win. The prospect of the highly respected Brothers in Arms side was daunting however it turned into a cakewalk. The Chemists were magnificent, led by Captain VINCE SOFO and supported ably by the pinch hitting RAY KELSEY. The Brothers in Arms had little chance against the onslaught. The Brothers are missing something so far this year. The normal consistency of scoring throughout the team has evaporated. The well of points that they drew regularly from the past 2 years appears to have sadly run dry. It has left this team thirsting for points and desperate to drink again. Their Captain is shattered, their All Latrobe Team Member has left the country and there appears no drenching rain in sight. The Easter Break will allow them to regroup, and they will need to as the Wood Ducks are the next target and are flying. Duck Season is approaching and last year it fell as the Ducks hit top spot. They then, fell out of the 8 after struggling to handle the pressure.
This year though, they have 2 juniors in HARRY and SELLARS who appear to have no fear, a better attendance of players and a dream to stay at the top of the pile. The produced the year’s top score of 191 against the previously unbeaten F Troop who slipped into last year’s wooden spoon producing old habits. It was an annihilation, with INGRAM, HAYES AND SELLARS all scoring 39 points. The Ducks intend soaring higher than Joe Cocker and enter the Easter Break brimming with confidence, content in the knowledge that their youth policy is starting to pay off handsomely.