Some info has filtered back to the UK but we thought we would give you a little more......
After squeezing all the luggage onto the coach we breathed a sigh of relief and began our journey to Heathrow. The lads were suprisingly quiet and we felt like our adventure had started, I am sure the boys will have let you know that it came to a sharp standstill on the M1 motorway when a substantial plume of smoke was seen coming from the rear of the coach, safely on the hard shoulder the driver carried out some investigations and his conclusion was "we are going nowhere" With these words our hearts sank. Over the next one and a half hours there were frantic calls to Teamlink TUI, Wilfreda and South African Airways. Our second sigh of relief came when our replacement coach arrived. The boys had watered the roadside there were groans of hunger but we pushed on and arrived at Heathrow behind schedule but in time for check in. Surely nothing else could go wrong...........or so we thought. Nick Middleton was refused travel for having a passport with no blank pages. Thinking Adam would be upset at this was proved wrong when he said can I have my money then"
Nick finally joined us 2 days later and two hundred quid lighter, Scott and Paul drank his share of the beer in the meantime.
From now on things seemed to go quite smoothly, flight was on time, coach to hotel was on time and we checked in with very few problems. The next day we went out & about visiting Constitution Hill, Soweto and Ellis Park. For some of this we certainly had our eyes opened during this tour about South Africas history.
We then came to our first match day - DRFC V Rand Park High. This was an interesting and close run game that all Donny lads played in. It was played on the hardest pitch we had ever seen, brown grass poking out of the ground left the lads asking was it safe to play? Despite this the game went ahead and took to the last second for a win to be claimed. Sam Colbear kicked the winning conversion giving us 13 points to Rand Parks 11. Great result for not only the team but for Sam on his 17th birthday. What a way to celebrate.
Rand Park as hosts were fantastic, the boys were treated to a night out at HOOTERS Bar!!!! Whilst the coaching team were looked after by the teachers in a local bar.
Today has seen our 2nd match against Bryanston High. The boys returned to School after a night with the hosts and prepared for the match. The pitch seemed a little better as it had been watered for the game but was still very dry and hard. Doncaster scored 50 points to Bryanston's 7 giving us a convincing win against a very accommodating group of people. Our opposition thought we were mad English men when we went for a dip in their outdoor pool which was freezing! All the players plus John, Dave Jack, Steve, and Nick took the plunge some willingly others by force. Nick is still trying to dry his money out! The hosting at Bryanston has been excellent, parents have washed & ironing the lads clothes whilst the coaches have been wined & dined at the schools expense.
Bryanston also transported the boys to a local shopping complex, Santon City, and coaching staff to & from the game saving us the taxi fares. Fab!
Whilst with hosts some lads have been treated to nights out, parties, visits in the local area including Montecasino. Others have received gifts such as a Sprinbok shirt.
We are now preparing to move to Durban and will flying to the coast tomorrow at 11am (ish)
Please do not worry the lads are all fine but here are the injuries so far:-
Danny Simpson - right shoulder, recovering well.
Ben Fairclough - calf injury, seems to be enjoying the massage far too much for my liking.
Adam Middleton - left shoulder injury, still playing.
Lawrence Arnold - split head open in Bryanston game, 4 stiches at local hospital but fit & well with a huge smile on his face.
Near Misses
Matt Myers - fell down an open manhole on 1st night, grazed shin up like a flash & no whinging!
Chris Trem - Hooters finished him off he siad goodbye to his dinner and was a little pale the next day.
Paul Tinker & Scott Colbear decided to take time out from the main group & find a golf course. After finding a foreign taxi driver who had no sense of direction they ended up at a burnt golf course then the poshest course in town and finally a driving range a short walk from our hotel. At this point they handed over a small fortune to the driver, shot a few balls , drank a few beers and walked back to our hotel.
Having trouble with photos but will keep trying.
Steve, Yvonne and the gang
After squeezing all the luggage onto the coach we breathed a sigh of relief and began our journey to Heathrow. The lads were suprisingly quiet and we felt like our adventure had started, I am sure the boys will have let you know that it came to a sharp standstill on the M1 motorway when a substantial plume of smoke was seen coming from the rear of the coach, safely on the hard shoulder the driver carried out some investigations and his conclusion was "we are going nowhere" With these words our hearts sank. Over the next one and a half hours there were frantic calls to Teamlink TUI, Wilfreda and South African Airways. Our second sigh of relief came when our replacement coach arrived. The boys had watered the roadside there were groans of hunger but we pushed on and arrived at Heathrow behind schedule but in time for check in. Surely nothing else could go wrong...........or so we thought. Nick Middleton was refused travel for having a passport with no blank pages. Thinking Adam would be upset at this was proved wrong when he said can I have my money then"
Nick finally joined us 2 days later and two hundred quid lighter, Scott and Paul drank his share of the beer in the meantime.
From now on things seemed to go quite smoothly, flight was on time, coach to hotel was on time and we checked in with very few problems. The next day we went out & about visiting Constitution Hill, Soweto and Ellis Park. For some of this we certainly had our eyes opened during this tour about South Africas history.
We then came to our first match day - DRFC V Rand Park High. This was an interesting and close run game that all Donny lads played in. It was played on the hardest pitch we had ever seen, brown grass poking out of the ground left the lads asking was it safe to play? Despite this the game went ahead and took to the last second for a win to be claimed. Sam Colbear kicked the winning conversion giving us 13 points to Rand Parks 11. Great result for not only the team but for Sam on his 17th birthday. What a way to celebrate.
Rand Park as hosts were fantastic, the boys were treated to a night out at HOOTERS Bar!!!! Whilst the coaching team were looked after by the teachers in a local bar.
Today has seen our 2nd match against Bryanston High. The boys returned to School after a night with the hosts and prepared for the match. The pitch seemed a little better as it had been watered for the game but was still very dry and hard. Doncaster scored 50 points to Bryanston's 7 giving us a convincing win against a very accommodating group of people. Our opposition thought we were mad English men when we went for a dip in their outdoor pool which was freezing! All the players plus John, Dave Jack, Steve, and Nick took the plunge some willingly others by force. Nick is still trying to dry his money out! The hosting at Bryanston has been excellent, parents have washed & ironing the lads clothes whilst the coaches have been wined & dined at the schools expense.
Bryanston also transported the boys to a local shopping complex, Santon City, and coaching staff to & from the game saving us the taxi fares. Fab!
Whilst with hosts some lads have been treated to nights out, parties, visits in the local area including Montecasino. Others have received gifts such as a Sprinbok shirt.
We are now preparing to move to Durban and will flying to the coast tomorrow at 11am (ish)
Please do not worry the lads are all fine but here are the injuries so far:-
Danny Simpson - right shoulder, recovering well.
Ben Fairclough - calf injury, seems to be enjoying the massage far too much for my liking.
Adam Middleton - left shoulder injury, still playing.
Lawrence Arnold - split head open in Bryanston game, 4 stiches at local hospital but fit & well with a huge smile on his face.
Near Misses
Matt Myers - fell down an open manhole on 1st night, grazed shin up like a flash & no whinging!
Chris Trem - Hooters finished him off he siad goodbye to his dinner and was a little pale the next day.
Paul Tinker & Scott Colbear decided to take time out from the main group & find a golf course. After finding a foreign taxi driver who had no sense of direction they ended up at a burnt golf course then the poshest course in town and finally a driving range a short walk from our hotel. At this point they handed over a small fortune to the driver, shot a few balls , drank a few beers and walked back to our hotel.
Having trouble with photos but will keep trying.
Steve, Yvonne and the gang
