The glamour side from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, the World-Famous Newport Nasties Rugby team have opened their 2011 season with a couragous draw against the Withered Oaks at Oakhill College yesterday. The game was an epic battle between two evenly matched sides that included three Nasties debutantes, John 'Quasi' Chapman, Brad Fox and Greg Ware and was highlighted by a classic Skip McGrath TRY! It was also a return to where it all started for Sean 'Gunner' Gartner almost 2 years ago. "I remember it well - as if it was oinly yesterday....." Gunner said speaking to the media.

The second stanza began as the first stanza finished - with an increasing pace and bruising tackles. Gav ' The General' Sheehan was leading his troops by example into the battle that awaited and was rewarded soon after when Nasties Stalwart and part-time winger, Skip McGrath crashed over to slam the ball down for a 1-1 scoreline. '"Whats Troy doing out there....." TTE enquired. "Scoring my try....." Frank Elsworth protested in jest. Meanwhile Pup Walsh was left in 'Disneyland' after a crunching tackle that shook the grandstand and had to be replaced. "Ouchhhhh!!!" The Hoff shuttered. Debutate Greg Ware was unlucky not to score a five-pointer soon after when he was put through a gap by The General but was stopped short of the tryline. Despite a magnificent defensive effort by an enthusiastic Johnny 'Dundee' Fieneg who was playing on the wing in his return after a long injury, the Withered Oaks scored again to hold a 2-1 lead into the final stanza.

With the confidence of the Nasties gaining momentum the further the match went on the Northern Beaches side was gradually gaining the accendancy over their opponents. Ambo in typical fashion became a casualty along the way and it was with the help of the borrowed Withered Oaks players that would help push the Nasties to new heights. Foxy had moved from the wing to his natural playing role of halfback in the third stanza and combining with Gav and Gunner was menancing the oppositon around the park. It was eventually left to one of the on-loaned Withered Oaks players to score a brilliant try against his club to give the Nasties a come from behind draw in the final minutes of the match. "That was great, when is the next game....." Pup Walsh enquired.

Afterwards there was much banter between the players before leaving the ground and reflecting on a great afternoon of Golden Olies Rugby. It is now off to Killara on Sunday week to play a 4-way with the Petrified Forest and Gordon Stags. Training is on tonight at 7.30pm at Hitchcock Park.

Onwards & Upwards