A slight glimmer of hope?

SENIOR CANCELLATIONS:

Division One: all games cancelled except Naenae will now play Stokes Valley at venue to be advised.


The following senior grades are cancelled:

Divisions 4, 5, 8, 11, 14A, 14B, Masters 1,2,3 & 4.

Sat Morning Update:

All other senior lower grade games are cancelled,being Division 2 to 14B, and all Masters Divisions

Flash Footie

Nick needs this for practice, the rest of you can do it for fun ... a penalty shootout competition

And a dribbling one

Go on, its Friday afternoon ...

Greatest Football film ever

Starring Sylvester Stallone as Ben Brooks, Robin's shorts on the guy on the back right, and the greatest strip ever ...

And the winner is...

The emotion of presenting Paddy with the award became all too much for Halle.

The votes have been counted, and a winner has been confirmed. While Paddy had it wrapped up a while ago, the final game did result in a switch in second place with the London geezer Casey pipping Jamie at the post. The results are as follows.

Paddy - 99
Casey - 81

Jamie - 77
Nick - 69
Logan - 67

Aaron - 65

Corey - 64
Ben B - 63
Ben H - 58
Willy - 53
Geoff - 53
Dan - 53
Joe - 52
Graham - 46
Lachlan - 46
Rauru - 42

So well done Paddy and Casey, the cheque is in the mail (and yes Aaron, I'll put the money into your account!)

Saturday vs. Petone Dreamers at Nairnville 2, 2:30pm

Pity 'bout the weekend lads and it aint looking much better for a game this weekend either. Though we don't often miss two in a row so as long as the grounds are okay for one game each we should be on (with other grades cancelled). May be out of town though if Nairnville is a right bog.

In unheard territory for the Stallions we have 17(!) available players this week. Jamie is back, but only in the field so it'll be interesting to see what he's got, and Mike is keen to only test out his hammy again, so with only a small cameo he reckons.

That really leaves the option open for anyone who wants to take a week off, could even afford to have 3 people rest. We do need a ref (or two) though, so be prepared to draw the short straw and maybe have to do half a game. (You could look at it this way, if you make yourself unavailable this week, there's no way you'll have to ref) ;) haha.

Otherwise I will make up some sort've selection criteria before Saturday to sit out a few of you. Probably based on contribution to fine sessions - through appearances and dollars…
Either reply or post in the blog if you are happy to sit out.

The Dreamers this week are the only team we haven't played. They had some shite results early in the season but have tipped up some good teams recently so we need to go in hard at the start to put them on the back foot and let them worry about us. Let's get back to our winning ways, there are still plenty of games left for us to claim first place, we just need to fight hard again!

It is the first Saturday of the month so time for a 'compulsory' fine session again. Even though I can’t make it (like I need more fines) as I'm off to the All Blacks test. I didn't want to postpone it just because I can't go (rules are rules) but if everyone is keen to make it next week instead then all good (Just make yourself heard before Saturday).

Joe and Spencer are on beers this week, so we will at least have a few right after the game anyway.

Again, Panda don't forget the Stallion and Tristin don't forget the Pony - I have the headband, nice and UNwashed awaiting you (And Graham)!

See you at KP at 1:45pm or Nairnville at 2pm.

Nick

2009 Transfers ...

There is a long way to go this season for sure, but with all this talk about the transfer market in the international game, interesting to think what the Stallions09 might look like.

So we will be welcoming back Lachlan and Rauru - anybody else - when is Tangi returning?, Glen? Willy?

Doesn't really go with our 'only defenders with no interest in pushing forward allowed next season' Nick.

With Lachlan we will have 3 keepers, and more interestingly, with rauru - 2 captains. Original Stallion Captain vs winning Stallion Captain - hmmmmm.

What about departures? Anyone planning a move from Wellington? There is still time for a couple of career-ending injuries I guess. Are one or two of the old nags thinking of hanging up the boots? After all, don't teams regularly lose players after taking a title?

i really just wanted an excuse to show that great cartoon.

Scraping the bottom of the barrel now ...

Player Profile: Lachlan

Position:
On my back with leg raised usually in a hospital operating theatre…. If not then striker or goalie, I like to do as little running as possible.

Stallion Hall of Fame:
Inaugural golden boot winner (with a measly 4 or 5 goals as we only scored a dozen odd that year…) The most prone Stallion on the long term injury front. Stallion that has paid the most amount of money per game to play for the mighty team due to injury proneness.

How many seasons as a Stallion?
Hmmm 3 but technically you could probably argue that it equates to one full season. Still an original Stallion however and they are few and far between these days.

Are you a dual Stallion? If so what game are you best at?
No have not been called up for the cricket team probably because Rauru is scared ill show up his bowling skills again, long story short Rauru got spanked playing for Paekakariki, I came on to bowl for his expensive ass and took a five-for on debut and yes they may have been young but you didn’t get them out did you!

Greatest Stallion Moment?
Playing the inaugural season, yes we were shit but it was the start of what has become a proud institution and am pleased to see the tradition is living on!

Worst Stallion Moment?
Has to be the collecting the set of left knee ligament tears third game of the season in 2006. Was looking forward to a good season after a couple of years away and then it was all over in a flash… still an ACL tear didn’t manage to stop me from subbing Ben B after too nutsed goals in 5 minutes! I need video proof that Benny B has become Peter Cech the Second…

Describe your last goal for the Stallions.
Too long ago too remember, can tell you the worst miss however. Wainui at Wainui decent size sideline crowd. Ball was passed back to the keeper, sniped in and got there before the keeper, beautiful touch to round him and then side footed it gloriously right of the open goal…

Complete the sentence - As a player I am susceptible to ...
knee injuries… however have picked up a bionic leg for my return in 2009!

Most under-rated Stallion?
Jason – for a big man he has skills, saw him come of age his first year.

Finish this sentence. The Stallions need more?
Physios/Doctors/Trainers/Nurses in tight little skimpy outfits with black fishnet stockings and … sorry what was the question

Which international player are you most like?
Ronaldo (the original) injury prone, can score the odd scorcher, likes booze and food.

Where will the Stallions finish in 2008?
Better than we have achieved ever before hopefully, season looks as though it may have promise…