Blog Notes

World's worst directions

A top blog here. This is what the tinterweb is for. Pointless but very funny takes on the useless and overblown self-importance of the everyday world. So every photo is the World's best/worst...

http://worldsgreatesturl.blogspot.co.uk/

Music Notes

MTV. How do they manage to fill 100 music TV channels with just 6 songs. At any time of the day or night you surf up and down the music channels and find at least one song by Rhianna, Beyonce or Lady GaGa.

Its programming by chimps. 

And how am I supposed to explain to my daughter that you don't have to take off most of your clothes to be a singer?

Baseball Notes

Watching the baseball wildcard game between St Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves. Always thought that adding a second wildcard to each division was a crazy idea, especially since there it is a single game to decide who advances.

And tonight's game is a great example of why, after 162 games to qualify, it is madness to have a single game decider. Simply put, bad officiating. "Blue" made a terrible call on an infield fly in the 8th inning, and the crowd went nuts. Cue 15 minute delay and huge embarrassment for MLB. And the Braves duly not beaten.

As the rest of the post-season, well there's no Boston Red Sox. New manager Bobby Valentine duly got his cards after a single, dismal season. So as usual its a matter of supporting anyone but the evil empire Yankees. 

Best story this season has been the Washington Nationals, after a string of poor seasons they have won the NL East and are generally regarded as having the best rotation in baseball. But they have to play the Cardinals first up.

Travel Notes

The world needs to stop for a moment. 

I reckon I've actually spent three full days at my normal office in the past month. As well as the usual weekly trips to Aberystwyth, there have been meetings in Llandudno, Shrewsbury, Swansea, Resolven, Llandovery, Nantgarw and Garwnant. Oh, and on Monday its Birmingham.

Worst moment? Trawling Llandudno on an out-of-season Monday evening during a torrential downpour trying to find somewhere to eat.

Best? Had a meeting at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday, and was able to have lunch sitting in the President's Box and look out over three guys mow the hallowed turf.

NFL Notes

Just a few weeks to go before the NFL comes to Britain. Yep, I've got my ticket for the New England Patriots game "at" the St Louis Rams at Wembley.

Before the season started it seemed as though this could be a blow-out, but the Pats have shown themselves to be fallible, and the Rams are off to a 3-2 start.

Saw the Saints Chargers game four years ago, and that was good fun, even though some in crowd seemed oblivious to the rules.

My fantasy football team, the Ebbw Vales Steelers,  is off to a 4-0 start, mostly due to Falcons Matty Ryan and Julio Jones, and running backs Arian Foster and Jamaal Charles. Don't think the Atlanta wave is going to last too long, but enjoying it so far. http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/863069

Rugby Notes

Top result last Saturday. Ebbw Vale beat Newbridge 37-7. It was a poor effort from Newbridge, the only team to do the double on Ebbw last season.

This from the South Wales Andrex:

Ebbw Vale and Newbridge met at Eugene Cross Park each seeking a fifth successive win, with the home side boosting a try count of 30 in only four fixtures.

The visitors had been no slouches in their quartet of games, crossing 18 times, and the game was expected to be a close encounter.

However, that’s not the way matters panned out as Ebbw Vale’s try-scoring exploits continued, no fewer than five being recorded in a fine 37-7 success which takes them above Bargoed.

Ebbw Vale head coach Neil Edwards expressed his delight at the success: “It was a good performance once we got going and we are obviously very pleased with the result.

“We started OK, but took a while to really get going and we had to react because there was a lot of pressure on us to get the win.

“We have a good squad here and matters are going well at the moment, but no-one here is getting carried away at all.

“We now need to kick on from here because there are some very difficult challenges ahead for us.”

Newbridge team manager Darryl Williams was gracious in defeat and revealed his side had deserved to lose.

“We made too many mistakes while they were very clinical in their finishing,” he continued.

“However, we now have another derby on Saturday and a game against Pontypool gives us an opportunity to bounce back.”

Scoring five-pointers for Ebbw Vale were number eight and skipper Ronny Keynes, wingers Tom Ashmead and Wes Cuncliffe, centre John Lewis and replacement scrum-half Josh Davies.

Outside-half Dan Haymond kicked three conversions and a penalty and Lewis landed a penalty, while Newbridge had one moment of glory a minute after the interval, when former Ebbw Vale scrum-half Tom Edwards charged down a Haymond clearance for a try which stand-off Neil Burnett converted.

Next up is a trip to Blackwood.

Ava's Diary

Told my first joke today.

Why did the cow cross the road? To get to the moo-vies.

Rugby Notes

Wasn't at last weekend's Ebbw Vale game, as the weather was too good to turn down a last fling of summer down in sunny West Wales.

Sounds like it was another impresive performance though, with Ebbw beating Pontypool 55-8, nine tries to one.

Fellow blogger/accountant EyeJay was there, and so there are reports on his blog and on the EVRFC website:
http://thesteeldaffodil.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/ebbw-vale-55-pontypool-8-swalec.html
http://evrfc.co.uk/

Next Saturday is another Gwent derby, this time featuring Newbridge's visit to Eugene Cross Park.

Twitter Notes

Now, I'm down with the technology. I've been known to Twitter and FB, and of course blog.

But sometimes all this social media can bite you in the bum. And that's what happened to Waitrose last week. They were trying to generate some interest with the post "I shop at Waitrose because.." They should have known what was coming.

Some of the best responses included:

"I shop at Waitrose because I don't like being surrounded by poor people."
"I shop at Waitrose because Clarissa's pony just will not eat ASDA value straw."
"I shop at Waitrose because the toilet paper is made from 24ct gold thread."
"I shop at Waitrose because darling, Harrods is just too much of a trek mid-week."
"I shop at Waitrose because I was once in the Holloway Road branch and heard a dad say 'Put the papaya down, Orlando!'"

Rugby Notes

Another good win down at Tata Steel last Saturday. A 36-14 win, but without the winning bonus point, was a good result given the shocking refereeing display that meant that Ebbw saw three yellow cards. One was well deserved (spear tackle, albeit instinctive), one was for retaliation and the third for not committing a foul at all. 

So, despite 14 points from a possible 15, Ebbw drop to third in the table. Pontypool home is next up. This report from the EVRFC website:

Ebbw emerged as comfortable victors in this tough clash between reigning champions of Division Ones West and East. Playing on a table top surface, Ebbw always looked in control and put Tata under a huge amount of pressure, reflected in a penalty count of 16 to 10. Yet referee Mr. Morgan of Swansea saw fit to brandish three yellow cards to Ebbw and just one to Tata. Dan Haymond's immaculate kicking, the power of Spencer Gibson and Polu Uhi, and the excellence of flankers Cameron Reagan and Ronny Kynes represented the difference between the sides, while Ashley Sweet was prominent in tight and loose play. 

Gibson got the Steelmen's first try when he took a pass from Kynes 25 metres out on the right flank and crashed through five tacklers to touch down. Haymond's conversion added to his three previous penalties to make it 16-6, a lead Ebbw took into the break, despite being down to 13 with Haymond and Robert Sevenoaks in the sin bin. Tata had offered little, but winger Gbemi Fisher had featured prominently in their attacking play, and the pack, well led by former Maesteg favourite Gareth Edwards, had succeeded in slowing Ebbw's tempo by playing on, and sometimes over, the offside line.

A third Gareth Walters penalty early in the second half made it 16-9, but that was the closest his side got. Two more Haymond penalties stretched it to 22-9 before lock Ben Davies squeezed in at the corner when Ebbw were back down to 14, Kynes having been mystifyingly carded when seemingly competing fairly for the ball on the floor. Almost immediately, the Steelmen struck back with Polu Uhi showing fantastic strength and power to shrug off half a dozen tacklers in running in from 20 metres. Haymond's extras took the score to 29-14 and the scoring was completed when Ronny Kynes broke from a great line out drive to capture a third try which Josh Lewis goaled. 

Ultimately there was no bonus point for Ebbw, but they would have been satisfied by another big win, especially over the champions of the West who will certainly be in the mix at the end of the season.

Charlie Simpson, Tom Ashmead, Josh Lewis, Polu Uhi, Daniel Ajuwa; Dan Haymond, Josh Davies; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams (c), Robert Sevenoaks; Joe Bartlett, Ashley Sweet; Cameron Reagan, Ronny Kynes, Spencer Gibson. Bench: Josh Powell, Jonnny Bowen, Rhys Clarke, Will Owen, Jamie Jones.

Rugby Notes

Strange rugby days.

Narberth beat last season’s Div 1 West champions Tata Steel last week, so should have been a tough game. But Ebbw Vale won well 45-16 on Saturday without looking very good. Perhaps we’re used to watching Ebbw win and win well each week and so we’ve become greedy. But there was plenty for the coaches to work on: sloppy ball retention, some struggles in the scrum, and a few penalties given away.

Outstanding was No. 8 Spencer Gibson, whose running with ball in hand scared the bejesus out of the Narberth team. The rest of the back row, Ronny Keynes and Cameron Reagan were excellent too. Matthew Williams, “Chunky”, was a good cool-headed captain who appeared to leave the pack leader duties to the ever-solid Ross Jones.

The centre partnership of Josh Lewsi and Polo Uhi looked strong, whilst Dan Haymond at outside half connected well and scored a belting individual try. By the end the Narberth full back resembled a rather shell-shocked turnstile.

Tries for Dan Haymond, Polo Uhi, Josh Lewis, Ashley Sweet, Cameron Regan and sub Jamie Jones, all six tries goaled by Dan Haymond who also kicked a penalty.

Match reports feature on both the Ebbw Vale RFC website and the WRU’s, and there are lots of pics on the ebbwplayers website taken by Robbo (get well, Gra – I had to tell him to take lens cap off again).

Next up is a tough game away at Tata Steel (is it Ta-ta or Ta-tar?) down in PaTalbutt.

Christmas Notes

Argh!

Its the first week of September. The sun is shining. Its the first week of the new school year. Everyone is just back from their summer holidays, all relaxed and tanned.

So, what's on the supermarket shelves? 

Christmas stuff. This selection box was spied in the Co-op /Somerfield in Aberystwyth. I had to check to see if it was early for this Christmas or left over from last Christmas.

In the good old days, the Crimbo rush didn't start until after Bonfire Night or Halloween. Talk about wishing our lives away. 

Rugby Notes

Missed a good first outing for Ebbw Vale last Saturday. They went to Ely and handed out a thrashing to Glamorgan Wanderers.

Wasn't there though (I was enjoying a last glimpse of sun in Tresaith) so here's what the EVRFC website thought of the game:

Ely stroll for 12-try Steelmen: Glamorgan Wanderers 13 Ebbw Vale 76
Ebbw opened the new National Championship with their highest ever league score, running in 12 tries in a 76-13 victory. Ronny Kynes got the scoreboard rolling from a lineout drive, Josh Lewis converting to make it 7-0. Ebbw attacked from the restart but, with an inviting overlap, there was an interception and the Wanderers ran in a good try. Any thoughts of a tight tit-for-tat match were dispelled by half time, with Ebbw having added tries from Josh Lewis, Mathew Williams, Wes Cunliffe (for the bonus point), Cameron Reagan and Luke Davies to give them a 38-8 advantage. 

Ebbw carried on where they left off the interval and could certainly not be accused of relaxing as Charlie Simpson (2), Spencer Gibson, Ronny Kynes (2 to make it a hat trick) and Tom Ashmead touched down. Conversions came from Josh Lewis (5) and Dan Haymond (3).

In an excellent team performance, the experienced Mathew Williams led by example and debutants Spencer Gibson and Polu Uhi made very impressive first appearances, causing constant problems for the home side. There will be much tougher challenges ahead, most notably and immediately at home  next Saturday to Narberth. who dispatched last season's D1W champions, Tata Steel, 45-21 in their first game, but, as one old stager reminded us all, "You can only play what's in front of you." Ebbw did that extremely well and there were a lot of happy, smiling faces heading back up the A470 on Saturday evening.

Team was Charlie Simpson, Wes Cunliffe, Luke Davies, Polu Uhi, Tom Ashmead; Josh Lewis, Chris Thomas; Ross Jones, Mathew Williams, Robert Sevenoaks; Joe Bartlett, Ashley Sweet; Cameron Reagan, Ronny Kynes, Spencer Gibson.
Bench: Josh Powell, Jonny Bowen, Rhys Clarke, Dan Haymond, Josh Davies.

Tomorrow Ebbw have a far tougher challenge against former Division 1 West outfit (as they say) Narberth. I'll be there.

Rugby Notes

Its almost here.

The new rugby season is looming fast. Ebbw Vale plays this year in the newly formed/created/dreamt up/invented league SWALEC Championship. Its made up of 6 teams from last year's Division 1 East, 7 from Division 1 West, and unlucky Pontypool who were cut adrift from the Princiaplity Premiership.

First up is, as usual, Glamorgan Wanderers away followed by  a home game against Narberth. Some new trips this year and some old acquaintances to be remade. I've not visited the grounds of Tata Steel, Whitland, Narberth, Cardiff Met (UWIC in old money, or SGCHE in even older money)

Having won Division 1 East in each of the last two seasons, this looks like a tougher task. The drop-off towards the bottom of the division was marked last year, but that's unlikely to be the case this time around. A few players have left and there are a few new faces, but new captain Ashley Sweet has a good nucleus to work with. Good luck guys, although I can't be at the first game. Remember - "all the time, ref!"

Things I don't understand (OK, this could be a long list, but this is just for starters):
How is Bedwas worth a place in the Premiership?
How is RGC 1404 (the made up North Wales region) in Division 1 East? East? 

Joke Notes

As usual this time of year, the media draw up a list of the best jokes from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. From amongst the ordinary and/or dross, a few gems:

"When I die I want my remains to go to my iPod, my iPhone and my laptop. I want to be left to my own devices." Gareth Richards
"I'll never forget the day when I got a rear-view mirror installed for the car. I never looked back after that!" Jimmy Cricket
"I find that ants over-praise me. Sycophants? Yes I am." Tim Vine

And a few off the telly:

"The Scots released Al-Magrahi because he only had three months left to live. That still made him one of the healthiest people in Scotland." Frankie Boyle
"How does Bob Marley like his doughnuts? Wi' jam in!" Peter Kay
"I spilled spot remover on my dog.. he's gone now." Stephen Wright

Notice that there's nothing by Michael Macintyre here. There's a simple reason...