Durban Falcons R.F.C.17 v Butleigh Amateur R.F.C.34

Returning to Durban for the third leg of Butleigh’s 11 day tour of South Africa a trip to Kings Park stadium to see a super fourteen match between the Natal Sharks and Perth’s Western Force was arranged. So impressed, following Butleigh’s midweek game, had the 6’8” President of Drakensberg rugby club Gunter Muller been having won his three pints in one drinking competition whist being pinned upside down in a handstand against the clubhouse wall that he offered invitation tickets to the four largest men in the Butleigh squad to his personal hospitality box for the match Gunter like’s big men.. Although it was more intimate than usual and the bar within the box had to be restocked three times during the match the twenty one Butleigh players that gained access reported well of the experience.
Following the game the Butleigh squad adjourned to ‘Eighties night club’ situated within King’s Park stadium before moving to the city’s casino where it became evident that Colonel Ian Saunders excellent touring form was firing undiminished.. Not only had he survived, suffering only a bruised shoulder, being run over late one night, but had thrived in heavy seas shark viewing from a submerged cage five miles off Cape Town. He had also partly resolved a communications misunderstanding with his long suffering incredibly patient wife six thousand miles away in England over an intercepted text by Trigger Macnab.
The Colonel, somewhat neglectfully, had left his phone, whilst taking refreshments with friends elsewhere, on a table that included Macnab as a guest.
The Colonel’s wife in a moment of fondness had, in the text suggested that her husband’s performance the night before leaving for South Africa merited the accolade of ‘sex pot’. Trigger , in the Colonel’s absence, thoughtfully replied that such would be the passion on his [ the Colonel’s ] return that he would render her senseless which, he added some what controversially, would be easily achieved since she didn’t have any. Having sent the text Trigger then ordered a substantial round of drinks on the Colonel’s bar tab instructing the waiter to navigate the bar calling in a firm voice for the ‘Sex pot’ to settle his account.
With these distractions only a few day’s behind him Saunders ‘very sensibly waited in the casino until daybreak allowing the early morning light to assist in the walk back to the hotel. Accompanying him were Brooking Clark and Will Askham.
Nearing the hotel the Colonel by now striding purposely along the beach promenade decided on an early morning swim in the nearby Indian Ocean and with out pause for the sensibilities of man or beast stripped to nothing marching towards the surf and Madagascar.
Returning from the sea there was, however, disappointment concerning the whereabouts of his clothes which along within his companions were missing. Stumbling along the beach in fruitless search Saunders came across a number of senior citizens taking the early morning air and a prayer group holding a service on the sands. Resourceful tactics eventually allowed the furnishing of a fallen palm leave however sanctuary within his residence at the Blue Waters hotel far away across a busy duel carriage way still lay a quarter of a mile in the distance.
Later that evening Butleigh’s final match kicked off at the impressive Durban Falcon’s rugby ground. Two pitches, floodlights. grandstand, swish clubhouse overlooking a glittering light spangled city with family B.B.Q’s and background music adorning the touchlines greeted our arrival.
The pace of the game seemed as furious as the Winterden match but with James Phillips moving from no 15 to scrum half supplying a three quarter line of Moose, Andrew Joyce, Tom Collins, John Cox and Will Askham with Trigger playing full back a game full of flair from both sides evolved. Captain Andy Quinlan scored, as he had in every match, a vital try, there were also touchdown’s, as Butleigh came from 17-14 down midway through the second half for Collins ,.Rodgers,.Askham, Lockyer and Brooking Clarke.
Moments of individual initiative throughout the week might include Joseph Steadfast Smythe’s hiring of a five piece samba band that arrived at Butleigh’s first match and setting up on the touchline played high tempo Caribbeant enlivening the team’s performance.
Further initiative followed a barren four hour fishing trip overseen by a warden who upon retiring allowed Chris White and Steadfast to switch direction casting successfully over a seven foot high fence, into the nearby out of bounds trout farm. The resulting catch was prepared by the hotel for dinner that evening
Quite outstanding however, would have been the doubling of the £600 budget for the end of Cape Town dinner organised by Tim Alchin and Tim Gelfs at the llin quzse Kurdish restaurant by the hiring of vibrant belly dancer Miss Elloa Shaka who performed with suppleness beyond natures hopes,
Leaving for Heathrow on the back of eleven days touring that included abseiling, quad biking, Battlefield visits, fishing, golf, surfing, paintball, cage diving, fantastic rugby, horse riding within awesome scenery tempered, with the realities of visiting the soul of Africa orphanage and visiting Nelson Mandela’s prison cell on Robin island so it might be appropriate to mention Butleigh’s quite magnificent tour organiser Andy Nixon through whom this whole incredible adventure has been staged.



Butleigh RFC Charity Donation to the Soul of Africa

Arriving at Durban on the third leg of Butleigh’s eleven day tour of South Africa a visit to the Khulani children’s shelter run by Mike and Sarah Gedge situated within Durban’s Park hill suburb allowed Butleigh Rugby Club to present a cheque for five hundred pounds to the soul of Africa children’s charity.
Founded by Prudence Mwandla who cared for young children left abandoned at Durban railway station by parents either to ill with aids or drifting off seeking work so a link, upon a visit by Lance Clark, was initially forged with Clark’s shoe foundation in England.
Lance within a supportive visit to assist and advise the South African footwear association was introduced to the Khulani shelter which at the time housed 85 children struggling in one bungalow with one toilet and one washroom. With generous financial support from the Clark’s family trusts a crèche was created to care for the youngest children whilst Khulani was upgraded to care for those aged 7-16 giving comfort, educational skills and computer literacy enabling employment opportunities upon leaving the centre, where appropriate the children are reunited with members of their family each weekend
With aids affecting a large proportion of Africans many children that are born carrying the condition sadly die by the age of five. All the children supported by Khalini centre are, however, aids free but come from traumatic family situations.In the shelters caring environment they sparkle with confidence..
Butleigh’s donation will be used to help develop two more centres within Durban and hopefully following the introduction to this charity by Miss Emily may be continued in the years ahead.
The monies for the donation were raised at Butleigh’s magnificent 7’s rugby tournament last August bank holiday under the inspirational flair of Butleigh Chairman Colin Gravatt. It will be of great interest to the club to follow the progress of this involvement.






.