Season '04

   4/12/2004
Tonight was the Inaugural Daegu Dragons Season 2004 Prize Giving.
Some people won awards.
Some people drank.
One person got a free haircut.
More to come when I'm a little less hungover... and someone tells me who the winners were.
Farewell to Ray who's off to Canada to pursue... whatever there is in Canada to pursue. A stalwart of our backline, known for dodgy facial hair, always going hard at training (always!) and most notably for getting tackled, putting the ball on the ground as per the rules then managing to knock it on while attempting to pick it up, knocking it on a second time as he again attempted to pick it up then knocking it on a third time before finally managing to pick it up cleanly just in time to realise he was over the try line and it was time to put it down to score... and the ref awarded it much to our opposition's (Busan), ourselves and especially Ray's disbelief. Gonna miss ya man, if you see James and Digger in Canada (it's a small place isn't it?) tell them to get their lazy selves back to Daegu, we're running low on players!

Some of the winners on the night were...

Lee getting his hair 'trimmed' by the lads.

A little bit of nakedness, no names will be mentioned...

A good night out at the Daegu Dragons 2004 Season Prize Giving.

   20/11/2004
The 'SUPER 3', Koreas version of the Super 12 pitted the best from Seoul against the best the US military has to offer against the best from Daegu, Ulsan and Busan in a three way 15s tournament. With much fan fare including a parade down downtown Daegu, marching girls and an opening ceremony that would have made the Olympic committee proud, the teams were ushered to the field to commence battle. The first epic battle saw the Southern BaaBaas (Daegu, Ulsan, Busan) take to the field to vanquish the combined US military team. With a clinical precision that only out of shape expats can deliver, the BaaBaas dispatched the USCST (US Combined Services Team) 22-5.
The loser of the first game had to shake off the loss and face the Seoul team. After a brief break the second epic battle commenced, the boys from Seoul doing the business and effortlessly overcoming a moral sapped USCMT team.
The third game, er epic battle, saw the BaaBaas take on the team from up north. A much anticipated game for both sides with Seoul wanting to continue their undefeated run in Korea and the BaaBaas wanting oh-so-much to knock them off their place as number one. The game started out much as expected with both teams going hard, no quarter was asked and no quarter was given. Pretty much an even first half with Seoul taking a 7-5 lead at the break. The BaaBaa's confidence was high and it seemed Seoul was a little shell shocked after the first half but the break gave the Seoul lads a chance to regroup and being the good team that they are they came out ready to play in the second half.
With a somewhat lucky try at the start of the second half the tide began to turn in favour of the Survivors and with their new found confidence they managed to put 2 more trys on and converted 3/4 to give them a 26-5 victory. In reality a close game but a deserved win to Seoul... BASTARDS!!!

The mighty BaaBaas.

The BaaBaas pre game, notice the mental intensity, the pre game mind games, rugby at its purest.

BaaBaas vs Seoul, by definition a 'run' is when only one foot at a time is in contact with the ground... run you lazy bastards!!

An unexpected streaking parachutist interrupted the game briefly...

Joe getting his wedgy on.

Joe contemplating what a great day of wedgies it was.

   9/11/2004
Road trip! Daegu's third excursion away from our home field saw the lads pile into a rented mini-van and Joes trusty vehicle and hit the road... destination, Samsung SDI just south of Ulsan. Arguably the best pitch (we will ever get to play on) in Korea albeit no longer the deep lush green it was during summer. The game, 'Southern BaaBaas' vs a Korean university out from Busan, the BaaBaas were a combination of the Daegu Dragons, Busan BoozeHounds and the Ulsan Playboys and numbered around the 30 mark. The Korean team were pretty much regulation Korean height and build and standing beside the lads from many far off lands seemed a little... well, little. Never-the-less they took the field and within 5 minutes found that they had conceeded 3 trys. It looked like we were going to absolutely cane them but either they got into the groove or we slackened off a little and it took a little longer to score trys after that initial onslaught. Having said that, over the 80 minutes the BaaBaas scored around 8-10 trys and converted a handful of them and never looked like conceeding a try.
As this wasn't solely a Daegu team any trys scored don't count (sorry Lee) and any conversions will be categorically denied.

Moments of note: having our Mr Reliable (not his real name, aiight I nice eh Matt) after numerous emails lecturing about the need to turn up for games managing himself to do a no-show, and what's worse is that it wasn't alcohol related, or so he claims. He did manage to find his way to the game which I'm sure will be noted come court time...yeah right!
Having driven a keg of beer all the way to the ground, proudly displaying it for all to see before the game then heart breakingly announcing to one and all that the tap had been left in Daegu it was then found that the tap was actually under the seat of the mini-van. Again no names will be mentioned as per Franks request.

Congrats to Fred who's about to become a father in two weeks, on behalf of the team we wish you the best of luck, we hope the delivery is quick and relatively pain free... oh, hope it goes well for the Misses too.

Some of the lads in the mini-van, as per usual, senior players (Gavin and Eddie) in the back, Frank gazing out the window wishing he could be a New Zealander and Lee riding shotgun telling Fred 'it's either left or right'.

BaaBaas vs Korean University team, awesome pitch, with real posts!!

The Southern BaaBaas in all their glory.

   18/8/2004
This weeks battle saw Daegu (plus a couple of Busan and an Ulsan player) take on the Osan Airforce lads in a full 80 minute game of 12s (6 forwards, 6 backs). Being the finely tuned teaching machines that the majority of the team are, we took to the field keen to mix it up. A blistering first half saw the Daegu side take a handy lead into the half time break after keeping the Osan lads scoreless. The second half saw the scoring continue but unfortunately the Osan guys managed to cross the line 3 times much to our disgust.
Thanks to the guys from out of town for bolstering our squad, you're welcome back anytime! Cheers to the Osan lads, was great playing ya and even better drinking with yas.
Try scorers... Eddie 3, Lee 3, Ray 2, Frank 1, Mat 1, Fred 1, Rich 1, Gavin 1.

The Daegu lads with a smattering of Ulsan and Busan-ites thrown in for good measure.

   11/8/2004
A brisk wind, a damp pitch and a field under lights set the scene for Daegu's latest battle. A game of 10s against a combined Busan Ulsan side. Having won the toss Daegu elected to play into the wind, a couple of early exchanges and the teams appeared evenly matched. A couple of tries to the visitors and one (Eddie) to the home team saw Busan/Ulsan lead at half time. With the wind still up and being down by just 1 try Daegu took to the field with their confidence up.
The second half saw Daegu post 3 (John, Ray, Lee) unanswered trys and take the match 20-10. A good game and a good aftermatch... cheers to the Busan/Ulsan guys for the game and to the Daegu supporters for braving the elements to cheer us on.

The victorious Daegu Dragons

Daegu and the combined Busan and Ulsan guys

And a boat race post game...

   11/7/2004
Sunday saw Daegu host its first tournament with teams from Busan, Daegu, ,Humphreys, Osan and Seoul competing. First game of the day saw the hosts play arch rivals (yes, having played them once we can call them arch rivals) Busan. A great game with our forward pack providing great ball saw us revenge our previous loss to them, 5 trys (Lee 2, Digger, John, Jono) to 3.
Our next game against Osan was a keenly fought contest with the effects of the previous nights liquid refreshments being quickly sweated out. A good performance saw us winning 3 trys (Lee, Ray, Gavin) to 2.
Game 3 saw us play Humphreys, with our confidence high we took the field and rapidly found ourselves on the wrong side of the score sheet, with a try to Lee right on full time we managed to draw the game 3 trys (Ring in dude 2, Lee) each.
Unfortunately with a rising injury toll and fatigue well and truely setting in we took to the field to play our last game against the much vaunted Seoul Survivors. With too much fire power they descimated us many trys to 1 (another ring in dude).
Although embarassed in the last game we managed to do enough to come second, a much improved result. More work to be done and more players needed but the signs are good.

In additional news... farewell to James, good luck big fella!
  Also recently spotted was the elusive Jono, being the quintessential NZ lad from the country he has managed to avoid nearly all the trainings yet mysteriously turns up for the game, luckily he scored a try and did 'aiight' further reinforcing his belief that training is 'only for those that need the practice'. Good to see ya on the field Jono!
  Not only is Frank 'the man' for organising the tournament, he does the business on the field and also finds time to moonlight on AFN tv. Stay tuned to see Frank offer incite into how rugby can reunite the North and South, end world poverty and score him women. The interview (for real) should be on AFN soonish.

 BTW has anyone seen Eddie? Rumour has it he is undertaking monk training in a remote temple down south somewhere. Any news??

Guys and Gals of the Daegu Dragons representing on their home turf

Resting between games, looking pretty shagged

Daegu (various shirts) vs Humphreys

Good scrum lads, sound technique...

Grass, oh so sweet grass

   5/5/2004
This saturday saw the Daegu Dragons take to the field for the first time. Competing in a 10s tournament up in Seoul the team piled into the rented van early saturday morning and hit the road. After an entertaining trip up we arrived right before kick off and quickly hurried onto the field quickly dispensing with all preset moves and lineout calls and going with the, 'throw the ball around' game plan. Our first game saw us up against some Airforce lads whom we dispatched with quiet, ruthless efficiency out scoring them 3 tries ('ring-in center dude', Fred & Lee) to 1. Our next game saw us up against Busan, comprised of Expat teachers and a few Ulsan (Korean corporate team) players. A very physical battle took place and while they scored first we quickly answered with 2 (Frank & Gavin) tries to take the lead into the half time break. Unfortunately a dominant scrum by the Busan side limited our attacking play and with fatigue setting in they managed to come home strong with a 3 try to 2 victory

Congrates to the former rugby virgins, great debut by all of ya!

Cheers to Frank for getting it organised and also to Fred for organising the vehicle and kindly driving everyone up and back again. Also it should be noted that you have been nominated for the next GreenPeace awards in the category of 'contributions to the recycling of plastic bottles' Good effort!

The guys and gals of the inaugural Daegu Dragons Rugby team.

Waiting between games, enjoying the sun.
A few of the lads enjoying a quiet beverage or two back in Daegu after the conclusion of the days events.