Fines vs Elite

Now, I'm not doing this cause I was in the points for a change, but with both finemasters piking on Saturday I had to step back into the role, have the book on me, and think that ben's been pretty crap in terms of posting fines - such a good way to have a chuckle at ourselves. Was a good night too - great to have Robin back and firing up at the fine session. Its fair to say perhaps a couple of drinks too many were imbibed. When we reconvened for the nix game the following day there was not too much interest in drinking ...

Anyways, a good win for the Stallions. It went a little like this:

Stallion - Aaron
Pony - Spencer - Family arrive just in time to see a monumental shank roll over the sideline, and have a good old family laugh at crap daddy. This including finger pointing and possibly tears (of embarrassment?).

MVPs:
3- Aaron
2 - Rauru
1 - Gus

Best fines:
Ben B - Ben throws short ball to Mike - never should that combination of names and words be uttered again.
Jason - Got sat on.
Jason - stepping up to take a free kick with the steely gaze - 'I do this all the time'-like. Umm last time we saw that face was before THAT penalty!Politely told that his services were not required.
Mike - The return of the Butch - a few very dodgy early moments.
Ben H - glorious defensive header - off one of our attacking corners.
Lloyd - Meh, played well - but didn't live up to marquee status.
Aaron - 'is it 6 minutes yet - I won't get fined if I sub now'.
Aaron - Shit celebration after talking it up all season.
Robin - the sell out uniform fine - yes, those who were not there - Robin played in sports shorts (admittedly pretty long ones).
Robin - Not quite the old Rob (perhaps you should have worn the old shorts).
Gus - Upsetting the marquee player.
Gus - Playing with shirt around shoulders - cue much hilarity and 'nudie man' from Spencer's kids.
Robin - the whitest knees ever seen on a football field.

Nice work

Fines and finemasters

I reckon after all the crying (mainly from Paddy) last season that the fine system was too harsh, too long, too discrimatory blah blah blah cry cry cry it may pay to have some discussion before the season starts about how fines should work. Sure Nick G hitting three figures was extreme, even though he was never going to have to pay that, but the system of using fine sessions as a piss taking tool and then not making those at the top end of the spectrum pay the full amount was not transparent enough for some. So how should we run the fine system this season? Any ideas?

Also, its time for a new finemaster. Who's up for it? the unlucky candidate needs the following abilities:
- To show up at the majority of post-game sessions.
- To have a pronounced evil streak.
- To be honest and fair in all dealings.
- To have a pronounced evil streak.
- Not to single out particular un-co, toe-hacking, blue boots wearing members of the Stallions for special attention.
- To have a pronounced evil streak.
- To write up fine highlights on the blog.
- To have a pronounced evil streak.
- Not be one of the key decisionmakers of the team (there must be a certain anti-authoritarian element here).
- To have a pronounced evil streak.
- Be prepared to lessen the quality of one's football so as not to stand out above other Stallions. You may have to miss the odd open goal or give away the odd pen.
- To have a pronounced evil streak.
- Not to steal all the money.
- To have a pronounced evil streak.

In fairness the task will be more difficult without robin. Generally you just sit back and try to capture everything he blurts out after a couple of post-match drinks - generally directed at Graham (payback for cricket season?).

These are the rules I have lived by for seasons. New blood required for sure. Any suggestions? Me thinks Jason and Ben B are definite contenders.

Aye'up lads, time for a bit of an update I reckon. The mighty Stallions remain undefeated for the season after taming the Tamils attack with a bloody-minded display at Macalister on Saturday. 

After finding ourselves rather behind the eight-ball with an 83 run deficit on the first innings the bowlers toiled away, and the Tamils were never able to pick up enough tempo to set us an attractive target. All of the bowlers started well, and special mention goes to Matt Boa for working away into the zephyr and picking up some deserved wickets. The catching was also (mostly) quality, with Pritesh picking up a couple of very tidy grabs and G-Mann once again making the impossible possible, clutching one which should have landed safely- apparently with the aid of two fingers... and a shoulder...?

Our desperate dash for 299 in 47 overs didn't quite build as we might have hoped and we finished with a jaw-dropping 95-3. The Tamils bowled well, and our batsmen made the decision to go at their own pace once the target had receded from view. Tony outdid himself with 41* off 150 or so, including a scoreless last hour. Pritesh scored a tidy 29, and The Butch cashed in at the end with a stunning boundary. 

Our first fine session for the season was held later on at the Four Kings, and resulted in a substantial bounty of ex-potatoes and potted meat finding their way to our little grotto. Good to see a decent turn out, lads. Big fines to the Assistant Fine Master (that being young Master Seton) for schlepping off to Palmy for the evening, and taking the mythical Finebook (already christened "Big Bertha", apparently) with him. 

We've got Collegian Spartans at Mac 1 this weekend. A while since we've been squeezed into that corner of our favourite wind-tunnel. Let's see if we can add a bit of bite to our batting, and keep up the decent work in the field. 

MVP points for Saturday:

G Mann       5

A Liefting   3

P Patel        1

Stallion:   Pritesh

Pony:        Tony

Fines vs magpies

A sad, muddy game.

You are going to have to excuse me this week Stallions - my laptop has no connection to the blog, so I got tell you about last week's fines and awards, but no grand tallies until later in the week.

Oh yeah Robin - wheres the f**ken match report! Bring back Corey I say.

Much like the game, the fine session went pear shaped. Those who were left shivering in the changing rooms lost momentum, and it was decided that everyone from the wide midfield on just got the avergae fine for the day $4. This works well for the strikers who tend to get pinged a lot more than that.

Awards:
Stallion: Nick W - Most of our attack came from Nick, seemed the least affected by the conditions. Shame he still can't score for shit.
MVP:
3 - Nick G- Another big game, especially holding fort in that second half when everyone was pushing forward. There was one moment where a trade mark Nick running towards our goal with attacker at his shoulder, turn right, and deliver the big pass got a round of applause from the spectators. The same spectators who laughed at Paddy's terrible final corner attempt.
2 - Nick W - nuff said
1 - Tristin - why not? Good goal, almost another - and was the only stallion with a roast waiting on the table when he got home.
Pony - Mike B -tackles sting like a bee, but runs just like a little girl when the tackler gets up swinging! And the victim of the best line of the day. When the ref tells an angry Gus that Mike count be red carded for a professional foul, Gus responds - 'Him! He's not a professional'.

All fines between $3.50 -$6.50 - Robin pulling in the most.

Best fines:
- Ben B - Angry man from goal: 'Just hack the f**ker upfield!'
- Mike - Rocky vs Apollo fine
- Mike - The foul throw combo: pinged for a foul throw, argues with the ref that it was legal, then asks in the post match analysis 'what is a foul throw'?
- Ben H - the valet fine - asking all reserves to collect and serve.
- Paddy - Fraternising with the enemy - why don't you just go and marry the Magpies if you love them so much?
- Paddy - 'I thought I got 3 mvp points last week'. Umm, no.
- Jamie - Absolutely killing the huge midfielder with a shoulder charge - while recovering from a dislocated shoulder.
- Jamie - Forgetting his position - running out of Central D yelling 'Keeper's Ball'.
- Gus - Ref trouble. Gus, we would all love an explanation of what went down. Send me your description and I'll post it.

Those conditions were absolutely atrocious, and it sucks to now be out of contention. But a great chance to open up and play some good football over the next few weeks - assuming of course we never encounter those conditions again.

Fines vs Petone

Fines and awards vs Petone:

Stallion:
Jamie - 1st game in the field for 20 years! A great return. A keeper no more.
MVP:
3 - Mike B - 'these are my conditions' - so it proved.
2 - Spencer - Everywhere - huge game in the air.
1 - Gus - a goal of genius proportion and much more.

Pony - Sorry Ben H - it was generally agreed you were crap, and were responsible for the goal. Plus you had a pony moment - the little jig in the corner holding the ball up. Bad.

Best fines:
- Everybody who had less shots than Mike B!
- Gman - the anti Chuck Norris - 'i got a big throw and I ain't afraid to use it' - then why are your throws so floaty?
- Spencer - the first Stallion to wear skins.
- Spencer - wearing skins in the shower.
- Nick g - Literally throwing mud at opposition.
- Nick G - Hitting on Larissa's sister.
- Robin - the Don Clark fine - get over the ball son!
- Aaron - Claiming Tristin's goal (I'm telling you - it glanced my laces!).
- Gus - Eyeing up the naked, dreaded rugby player in the shower.
- Gus - The Glassons affair.
-Tristin - Shouldering Aaron away on the penalty spot.
- Tristin - So close but so far - the goal that wasn't.

And this week's Stallion is ...

Ben H ... another huge game in the middle of the park (well, often not in the middle ...) However, while the Fine committee were unanimous in awarding Ben the Stallion, he had too many indiscretions to take out the full MVP points/Stallion combo. I'm talking the whimpy dive/holding his back in the box, oh yeah - and when he laid off a beautiful ball to one of Karori's midfielders on the edge of the box, who then flicked it across for the equaliser. Apart from that (and about 7 other fines) it was a great day out.

Pony went to Gus for a range of indiscretions, including: promising a big game after 2 weeks absence, showing up late and hungover, putting in a late and hungover performance, getting hungover by drinking radlers, and being shit compared to Robin. Everyone is keen to see how the headband matches red hair. If its funny that has to be a fine. If its not very funny that must be a fine.

The rest of the session went a little like this:

MVP:
3 - Paddy
2 - Aaron
1 - Ben H

Best fines (well, beyond those of Gus and Ben):
- Corey - That huge airshot - a thing of beauty
- Mike B to Nick who has told him to harden up and prepare to come back on after injury: 'I'm not a wuss. I know when I'm injured'. Nick abuse. Not quite as bad as Tristin pretending not to hear him a few weeks back.
- Graham - ' the touch of the Rhino.'
- Graham - nakedness, and not learning from past nakedness fines.
- Nick G - Getting called out and spoken to by Steve. Twice.
- Nick G - being laughed at by opposition supporters.
- Paddy - family leaving straight after kickoff, returning just before the finish.
- Ben H - big head, no direction.
- Jamie - lack of video evidence.

Here are some tables. We have been very quiet on the paying of fines this season. Better step it up, or else there are going to be some BIG end of season accounts.

Today's Stallion and Pony

Its a beautiful day for football ...

The crowd has spoken - well 9 of us - and have selected our award winners.

Tristin wins pony by a landslide. Just goes to show - you can beat the Stallions on the field, but never deny them post-match beers.

Stallion was a much closer affair with Nick G just edging out Mike. Fully deserved, a big game - and you got to love it when the Stallion is also the most fined! Also comes with the bonus that since Tristin ain't playing today, Nick gets to wear the headband he did not last week. Funny how life works like that. Is it a coincidence that our 2 losses this season have come when the headband has not been worn?

Here are the updated tables:

The Electronic Vote vs Elite

Warning - this is going to be a long post ...

Awards:

And your democratically voted mvps are:
3: Robin (combined 14 points)
2: Nick G (10 points)
1: Mike B (6 points)

Honourable mentions to Panda and Tristin (if they had voted and given each other points this line up would be very different).

As for pony and stallion - I have nominations - look to the poll to your right. You have until Saturday morning to vote. Now (this is especially for you Nick) lets be honest here - 1 vote per poll per person.

I will run through the candidates now - although it should be stressed almost everybody struggled for nominations - a pretty meh game all round. I have dropped off some of the nominations that have no chance of being supported - ie the 2 people who nominated themselves for pony because 'I played like shit'. And for the pony all references to the second goal - since Nick G, Paddy, Jason & Corey were all blamed - the f**ken butler did it!

Stallion Candidates:
- Nick G - Big game at the back, 'he saved our bacon a few times'.
- Paddy - Another dominating game in the midfield. Kept the team together.
- Mike B - A huge game in defence (well, most said an excellent first half, a rather more shady second!). The nomination though is really for standing up and being big on D after taking so much crap coming into the team.
- Panda - Came on and sparked team to life, always in game.

Pony Candidates (some of these names may be familiar):
- Ben B - A fall from grace, from 'legend' double stallion back to Ben B 2005.
- Paddy - General whining, aggro, fighting and a shocking Butchard-like tackle, followed by a cowering away when they guy got up ready to fight.
- Nick G - Last week hangover - not wearing hand-earned headband, continuing to screw up goal kicks.
-Tristin - Forgetting the post-match beers.

Fines:

A long list here. Heres how this will work - I'm listing all nominated fines. These can be disputed in the comment box. If not successfully defended all these fines stand. Unless stated otherwise, all of these fines are 50c.

Ben B:
- Fall from grace - playing (at times) like it was 2005 again (Jamie cracks a little smile somewhere).
- Screwing up coming out to take the cross. Just lucky that someone (Corey?) was there to put pressure on the striker that prevented him scoring.
- Crap goal kicks.
- Fumble in the box.

Ben H:
- Bad role model - swearing in front of his own kids.
- Transforming into wild beast by the zoo fine - Partner: 'I haven't heard him talk like that before'.
- No shot striker - or no shots worth remembering ($1).
- Central mids giving too much space.
- Trying to claim that the 'good striker' mentioned in the other teams match report was him, not Tristin.
- The loudest 'Nutsed' call ever made (ever beat out Robin's the week before!).
- Nutsed 2 minutes after nutsing someone ($1).

Robin:
- Feather-brained - general mental slowness in getting into the right
position.
- Two kind-of strikes - one was really prospecting from way outside the box
when we were scrambling at the end, the other was a limp header straight to
the goalie. ($2 - 2 missed shots).
- Not calling nutsed - nutsed fear after last game.
- Having got over his fear of zoo animals from last time in Melrose.

Aaron:
- Center-mids giving too much space.
- Missed shot ($1).
- Dr Phil fine - spending valuable game time analysing relationship between Ben and his partner.
- Must harden-up/get more involved.

Paddy:
- Graham emulation fine - calling "Rob" when he kicked the ball, and
completely fluffing it, the ball going in the complete wrong direction.
- Not calling nutsed.
- Multiple Angry man/ref abuse ($2).
- Missed shot ($1).
- Centre-mids giving too much space.
- Shocking Butchard-like tackle ($1).
- ALMOST gave Nick the perfect pass when completely free and through, but it got intercepted. Unlucky but he admitted it wasn't good enough so that's a fine.
- Responsibility for final goal.
- Telling Ben to turn with the ball only for me to turn straight in to a storming opposition player.

Corey:
- Think he was behind his man when the last goal was scored, though
that was a bloody well-timed strike.
- Kicked ball into opposition's hand.
- Horrid collision in box, opposition limps off.

Jason:
- Not the running man. Claimed he was incapable of running when told to jog up to half way with the defensive line.
- Missed shot ($1).
- Self claimed 'general shit'.
- Giving too much space.
- Left marker, who scored the goal ($1).

Nick G:
- Continued goalkick shockers ($1).
- Angry man/ref abuse ($1).
- No headband ($5).
- Extra special crap goal kick that flies out, followed by ('Where is everyone! - who wants that ball!'). Finemaster special - double that - Nick joked about fining the whole team for this incident ($1).
- Giving man too much space.

Mike B:
- Floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee - floating throwins, ankle smashing tackles. (That's 2 fines me thinks - $1).
- A lack of any ball playing skills.

Tristin:
- Forgetting post-match beers. What's this worth? The same as forgetting the headband/pony? ($5?)
- Texting twice on game day - to find out both where and when we were playing ($1).
- The 'Not Willy' low workrate fine.
- No self fining.

Panda:
- Striker positioned in the defensive line.
- The smiling assassin.
- No self fining.
- No strikes, or nothing recalled ($1).

Right, I'm sure there are some errors/problems with this. Whatever. Can I go to work now?

Fined

Picture: Corey after putting his head on the line.

It was one of those good games - a good win and plenty of fines to keep the tally rolling.

$3 for all of you who missed the mandatory session - but at least you didn't have to stand outside the locked clubrooms for half an hour before heading to the B&B. Big ups to Corey who showed up after having a bleeding head, a huge black eye (with related headache), and working both before and after the game.

On with the findings:

Stallion - can there be any doubt? Who would have believed Ben would have won the coveted Stallion twice already this season!
Pony - Can there be any doubt? Nick G had absolute shocker - from showing up late and hungover, forgetting his boots, to playing like crap, not to mention the 5 terrible goal kicks straight to strikers feet, to blaming his reserve boots etc etc - not a good day out. Best moment - after 4 shit goalkicks asking for 'just 1 more' - the worst one of the lot. For that 1 game Ben was easily the best Stallion, Nick G the worst - poetic justice for all that abuse Ben has taken from Nick. A record $11 in fines for Nick.

MVP:
3 - Ben - nuff said.
2 - Jason - Picked up that Nick was umm below par and took over the main central D role - didn't even roam upfield seeking that goal!
1 - Tristin - 2 more goals, hard to argue.

Best fines:
Paddy - star returns to team after a 3 week absence, team turns to shit. Not a cut above ...
Paddy - spending most of the game on his arse.
Corey - the bleeding like a stuck pig fine.
Graham off a throw - 'Who wants head?'
Graham - Yelling to Rob that the ball was for him, when Rob was off the field.
Robin - the loudest 'nutsed' call yet - all good - except that it was obviously done by accident, off a cross/shot. In this case it was more embarrassing to be doing the nutsed than being nutsed.
Robin - then apologising to the player he nutsed, saying that he would get fined if he didn't yell it.
Aaron - warned by Steve for kicking the ball away after being penalised for elbow to back.
Ben H - that stupid celebration: 'My right foot, my right foot - I scored off my right foot!'
Logan - $5 - No showing a game to be part of the 48 hour film fest - you got off lightly.
Mike B - Another ankle breaker, and penalised for double knees to back (see below)



And saving the best for last ... Ben H - 'I can't take any throw-ins today - I might spread my Hep A!'

Fines/awards tally below ...

Thank God we don't get official refs...

Another good YF thread - this time about the cost of getting cards - apparently Capital Football may have doubled their fines.

How about this sad story:

'1st red card - sent off for hear say

2nd red card - saying what the f**k is that for

3rd red card- "this is f**king ridiculous"

4th Red card - failing to leave touchline after card

5th card - never got shown but from players and coaches alike ripping into ref at aftermatch'

One other guy claims to have racked up $900 in a season and a half.

The good news that only official refs have the balls to send people off, and to impose the mandatory fines. I wonder how some of our offences would have gone gown with an official ref - Mike's tackle last week surely would have been sent (and cost him a couple of hundy!), a bit of ref abuse would have been punished. Anything else?

Another poster observes that Capital Soccer posted a $70k profile last year - a connection?

The return of the super-stallion, a new pony and a new goal (or 2) for the best of the season poll

Photo: Ben H was a giant amongst the Waterside Magpies.

It was a small session back at the Bull&Bear and some tough decisions to make - a few names entered and then crossed out - especially for MVP points - so no complaining - if you ain't there, well you know the score ...

Stallion - Ben H - enough has been said about this sterling performance.
Pony - Graham - complaining in the player profile that you have never had one didn't help, but there were some great moments - especially the missed goal followed by the anti-roar, the long ball, slip over, followed with 'Yours Rob', oh yeah - running around shirtless for half an hour on the sideline. Good game though.

MVP:
3- Ben H
2- Corey
1 - Ben B

MVP points are looking a little random now with the whole team performing pretty damn well. How can Nick G only have 1 point, Robin and Gus a combined 0, while Tristin has 7!

Some fine highlights:
- Mike B's big 2 second late, double feet, spikes up, lunging tackle. Vintage Butch, should have been sent off. An 'I'm back' tackle announcing a dramatic return to the Stallions. So close to being a pony moment.
- Ben B - no friends (Luke's disappearance)
- Nick G - lack of respect from Tristin - 'Leave the free kick!, leave the free kick! why didn't you leave the free kick?'
- Tristin - selective hearing.
- Corey - breaking down again and forcing injured Mike to replace him.
- Jason - bringing out the people's elbow.
- Graham - 'Don't come in Rob!' - did I get that right?

New theory - its too tricky to put tables into the side bit so they will go in here from now on.

Sanity restored

After a particularly mouthy game Ben H has managed to crawl his way back to the top of the fine table. It helped that Patrick didn't play I guess. This weeks awards/fines go a little like this ...

Stallion - Spencer - played in multiple positions, seemingly put under pressure everywhere but dominated everything. 2 standout moments - winning a huge midair heading collision, and reeling off a great shot which the keeper saved but commented that 'I though keeping gloves were supposed to save fingers' - now thats stallion-worthy.
Pony - We have already had a good chuckle at this one - thanks Nick, that was one for the ages.

MVP:
3 - Aaron
2 -Tristin
1 - Spencer

Fine highlights:
- Nick G - the pen incident totalled $4
- Jason - forgetting his boots and driving all the way back to town.
- Ben H - crying, bitching, whinging.
- Ben H - 'Ben's on the D, Ben's on the D' - Ben was never on the D.
- Ben B - suggesting the pre-game penalty tourny.
- Logan - from hatrick hero to one goal yawn.

Not that many really, we must have played quite well.

With fines adding up ye olde fine tin will be waiting to be filled at games from now on.

Fines/Awards vs Olympic

Whatever ...

Awards:
Stallion - Logan - Goal with first touch as a stallion, first game hatrick.
Pony - Aaron - Best team goal never scored/claiming Paul's goal.

MVPs:
3 - Paddy
2 - Tristin
1 - Paul

Fine Highlights:
- Jamie - Not bringing the video camera on a day the Stallions score 11. (Jamie - you riding remarkably high in the fines stakes, considering you haven't played a second of football!).
- Ben B to backs - 'I'll smash you if that happens again'.
- Ben B - No clean sheet - you set high standards in the first couple of games.
- Aaron - 'Rob's having a good game, shame he can't shoot' - mere seconds before Rob drills one into the net.
- Jason - Still not supplying the finebook - you better bring it Saturday!
- Paddy - For the second week in a row trying for but failing to get a nutsed.
- Paddy - Not calling 'nutsed' when he finally got one.
- Nick G - Brings in a friend/ringin who totally outshines him by scoring 2 goals.
- Ben H - Using that John Wayne-like chin to bring the ball under.
- Logan - hatrick on debut, goal with first touch.
- Logan - Hiding from the Raiders before the game - who were playing with 10 men since Logan turned his back on them to play for the mighty stallions!

All that and 11 goals.

Picture - Ben H, a football, and that mighty chin.

Finelicious

Here are last weekend's awards and fines vs United Terrace. Fines/award tables to the right, below polls (including 1 oddly small one).

Awards:
Pony - Paddy - mass forgetting of pony, verbals with justice, crapped pants(?).
Stallion - Tristin - good goal and general play (Oddly he also got fined for hogging it, lack of vision and 2 missed shots - Welcome back Tristin!).

MVP:
3 - Tristin
2 - Ben B
1 - Nick G

Fine highlights:
Jason - 'the flying twinkle'
Ben H - 'The voice of reason' & trying to kick the ball with 1 foot, missing and hitting with other.
Joe - calling for a penalty when fouled by Hodges.

eijets - all of you.

Finally the fines have come back to ....

Picture: Some bloke who can probably carry off wearing blue boots.

First fine/awards session was a small one kindly sponsored by Marist in their Kilbirnie clubrooms. Pitiful turnout, but everyone was drenched and muddy so excusable (but still finable) this week.

For those of you new to this and to remind the old hands these sessions take place with whoever hangs around to have a drink after the game, a practice the Stallions firmly encourage. If you are not there to defend yourself you have no comeback, fines are collected through the season and go towards a team event or two. The decision is final. No emailing the finemaster to defend yourself or ask what happened - has to be done on the blog in full view. We also award stallion/pony (who has to wear the pink headband the next game) and mvp points.

There are fines for no shows to the clubrooms, and an additional no good reason fine for the fine committee to consider. For example, this weekend Jamie got a no show fine, but was granted leniency on the no good reason. Having a kid is one way to avoid the no good reason fine - so get busy.

Fines and award tables to your right.

So onto the first game of the season. The awards go a little something like this:

Pony - Aaron - Invoking the Ludlow curse, and then taking out the team's star player in the warmup. Enough has been said about this. Always happy to make a future classic stallions moment.
Stallion - Ben B - Took on the keeping roll (and squeezed into that jersey) just minutes before kickoff, no prep time, atrocious keeping conditions, memories of terrible keeping lurking in everyone's minds, but did an amazing job. Did I dream up Ben charging out, climbing high, and punching the ball clear?

MVPs:
3 - Jason
2 - Paddy
1 - Corey

Fines:
For once Ben H ain't leading the race. Early days my friend. Fine highlights include:
- Ben H - shiny blue boots. All boots, no play.
- Jamie - self-inflicted Ludlow curse.
- Paddy - not calling an offensive 'nuts'.
- Corey - showing that he can last a full game without breaking down.
- Jules - The Ric Flair fine - always coming back for 'just 1 more match'.
- Jason - multiple equipment malfunctions - shinpads lying all over the park, waved around.

A nice, gentle start to the season's fines.