CAISTER 2004

Weekend Report

After the great turnout of Caister 2003, Cheam vowed to attend to the max again, as Caister wouldn't be the same without the Cannon Fodder...

Leaky Bones brave decision to con us into believing that we had the Army at 9am meant that when our true tip off time was revealed (11am), the Friday night festivities were underway swiftly with the new and improved Chargers squad shirts and inspired drinking.  Cheam partied hearty and drank the whip dry with multudinous jugs of vodka redbull specials.   Tour name drinking soon proved to be a popular decision and excitement ran late into the night, with us stumbling behind trying to keep up as always.  New addition Suggs proved popular with the ladies as his comedy phone answering routine went down a smash...

Vital team preparation was the key...

Saturday morning brought the usual pain and tears but all managed to assemble at 11am for our first game against the Running Renegades.  Pre match comment from the locals concentrated on "Oooh, isn't he tall" "Stretch" turning out for the opposition.  A ding dong battle during the first half saw the lead change hands several times with quick realisation that Big Bear was never going to score like this again, especially as he was just due to collapse.  The whole team were stepping up and contributing.  The hangovers were nowhere to be seen... The second half was a tense affair and when Big Bear had a shot blocked out of bounds with two seconds left, it looked like overtime was beckoning. Cheam worked out a special play ("Let's have a shot").  The pass went out, Suggs went up, with the ball, shot, and SWISH, the 3 sealed the first ever victory at Caister for Cheam on the buzzer.  The bench invaded the court like a tidal wave of joy and Caister came alive...  

Of course, it could only go downhill from there...

Cheam D	No, he's not jumping...	Crucial stop for Cheam	Leaky Bones goes for Blood

Fry-ups were then the order of the day followed by a few restorative beverages and it was back on court at 1pm for our game against The Windmills.  After realising that these guys were freaky deakies and not tulips we set about being comprehensively more hungover than them.  To be fair they had good players, and they had also been clearly drinking only water the night before - surely a stewards enquiry for lack of alcohol was needed.  Cheam rolled out creditable losers at 51-28.  The final game against City Stags (at 6pm?!?!!??!) saw Cheam absolutely relaxed after an afternoon watching the rugby.  That relaxedness was probably a bit to relaxed as the least said about the last game the better as Cheam rolled out to a disastrous 28-26 defeat.  Lets agree to say no more... I did warn you that it would go downhill.  However, the disappointment of the loss was tempered by the knowledge that Cheam had lost it's 100% loss record at Caister and better yet still not have to get up on Sunday morning to play!!!

Anyone seen a phone????	The Big Fella on court	The Marlboro Kid thinks he's Karate Kid	The Flamingo Kick

Saturday night saw a return to the partying where we were warmly greeted by the DJ and all present.  Special night mentions go to "Good Work Fella" "I'm not Ed" freestyling with the Boiler Suit Stylie and Badgered for living up to his name (as did many, many others....)

I'm Not Ed freestyles...	The boys soak it up...	Leaky Bones redefines taste...	And the ladies love it!!!

Sunday saw the return trip home, and the promise to return next year and maybe play on Sunday.   But then again we'll probably think better of it...

The Birthday Boy...	Going...     Going...	Gone