Sacre Bleu

Once in a while you just get beaten.  Not narrowly, not because of a bit of bad luck or bad decisions or the rub of the green or the attitude of the ref.  But because the other side were better, all over the pitch.

Everyone has their favourite French stars and teams over the years, the Serge Blancos, the Jean Pierre Rives, the Freddie Michalaks. It just so happens that right now there are about 15 of them at that level or higher, and when they collectively put their mind to it they are brilliant.

Ireland met brilliance on Saturday.  For the first 20 minutes Ireland camped in the French 22 and scored nil.  A 2 point game after 43 minutes, 20 minutes later Ireland needed 3 scores and France had closed the gate.  A late rally by Ireland’s bench saved the stats, but not the blushes.

Wales’s resurgence continues with a brilliant 2nd half display in Murrayfield, which must ease Andy Farrell’s task of picking at least 2 Welshmen for his Lions squad.

England predictable picked up the pace against the Italians and moved up the table to 2nd place – but hard to see France slipping up next week.

Table Topper

Our own league table has tightened up but some of the early leaders have held their position on the rails coming into the final weekend.

Jennifer Millman maintains her stranglehold on top spot with 150 points, Midge McClernon breathing down her neck just 2 point behind, and GAA coach Brian Williams 6 points further back.

“There is no truth in the rumour that my son did my entry for me” said a tense Williams from his office in the Dublin Temperance League.  “Only 3rd, pressure is on the others, I’m hoping to make a late charge next weekend”

Des Reynolds, professional sea swimmer, is also in touch in 4th.  “Take no notice of people who say I know nothing about rugby, I actually know where Murrayfield is!”

Next weekend will tell all.

Points make Prizes

Before we get to next week’s jackpot of €1,000 for the winner, we have a plethora of prizes to award this weekend.

Winner of  the Kirby Engineering Pack Leader Award  is Tom Steel, with an enviable 53 points from un unpredictable weekend, narrowly beating Colm Egan.

“That’s brilliant” responded Steel when contacted by the F6NF reporting staff.  “I won a book token once at school but this puts that in the shade.  Did you say it was a holiday in the Caribbean?”  Tom’s voucher for €100 is in the post.

The Leo Lynch Century Maker is shared between Michael Shalloe and Pete Yardley, both hitting the 100 mark this weekend.

“Best I’ve ever done” said a taciturn Yardley from his houseboat moored off Seaton Carew.  “It’s not a welding course is it, because I’ve done one of them?”

Of course not.  You will both be receiving a year’s supply of self locking nuts and accompanying bolts to meet a whole range of fastening opportunities.

Last time we had a tie for the Designer Group Smart Operator Award, split between Clive Reynolds, Dave O’Leary, Gary O’Keefe, Niall Durrad, Seamus Reilly, Shane McHale and Tim Mulcahy.  Using the Ireland/France score to weed out the pack, Gary O’Keefe comes out on top to snatch the prize, pipping Shane McHale by 2 points.

Team News

JJ Bowles maintain the top spot in the team table, showcasing the combined knowledge of the Darcy Gang from Limerick.  They showed a ruthless edge in team selection this year which seems to be paying off.

Chasing hard though is Something about Mary, headed up by Brendan Rushe from Meath, which used to be famous for drawing with Dublin in the All Ireland.

“We’re 11 points behind, but as nobody knows how the scoring works I reckon we can still pull it off” reckoned Rushe.  “It all depends on the final weekend and whether we get the rub of the green from the competition organiser”

The winner will receive €500.

Next Weekend

We wrap up next weekend with Ireland in Rainy Rome, France hosting Scotland and Wales entertaining England.  There is room for an upset yet.