April 11, 2015

 

 

This week was different,

‘rain suddenly stopped play’.

The world of cricket wept

for an icon, lost today.

 

This week left fans stunned,

to lose one so revered.

A top man, a legend,

a colossus, so endeared,

 

who came through the ranks,

to captain his country’s side.

A man of integrity,

rarely bowling a wide.

 

And who, when playing days over,

perfected the art,

of commentating on the game,

and recaptured our heart.

 

Both on and off the field,

he had things in hand.

His voice, a joy to listen to,

he took full command.

 

He could do the job blindfold.

He read the game well,

never missing a ball, and enriching,

a sometimes dull spell.

 

Dear Richie, we applaud you,

you were one of a kind.

Cricket won’t be the same,

now you’ve left it behind.

 

And as the bails are removed,

after this, your last test,

we say ‘Goodbye Richie Benaud’,

you were ‘simply the best’.

 

by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

April 23, 2014

 

 

For pity’s sake,

give it a break,

your lashing tongue

by now, must ache.

 

For pity’s sake,

I’m not to blame.

So you lost five-nil?

It’s just a GAME!

 

 

 

February 2, 2014

 

 

Saturday was a day to remember.

The Leader showed them the cultural scene.

Passing Bram Stoker’s home

and then onto St. Stephens Green.

 

They stopped for a pint in the Shelbourne,

then into Dublin’s smallest drinking den.

Before finding a bar with a telly,

to watch the footy – well, men will be men!

 

The girls went off to do some shopping,

saying ‘Can we stay out ‘till three?’

‘Oh, yes,’ cried the men with one voice,

while rubbing their hands with glee.

 

At last they could get down to business.

‘Another six pints of Guinness, good man’,

they shouted to the barman in eagerness.

‘This draught sure beats that in a can!’

 

The girls arrived back at three twenty,

thinking that they were so late.

But another game of footy had started,

so back out they went thinking, ‘Great!’

 

At teatime they walked along Grafton Street,

and stopped at Bewleys Tea Place.

Where they ordered sandwiches and coffee;

the day was still picking up pace.

 

In the evening they went to the Guinea Pig,

though they lost a ‘big brother’ on the way.

As one guy was still feeling very sick

and decided to call it a day.

 

The men soon got talking politics

and the world’s problems they did debate.

and decided to have some brandy,

when told that the taxi would be late.

 

Forgetting they’d lose an hour next day,

when all the clocks were put on.

They headed to a bar for a nightcap,

but one jumped in the lift, and was gone.

 

The Leader had been promised tickets

from a guy, who’d never let him down.

They were to meet him in the second carriage

of the next train heading for town.

 

This soon proved a journey to remember.

The passengers were crushed to bits,

One woman yelled: ‘You’re breaking my ribs!’

another screamed: ‘You’re squashing my tits!’

 

Each time they pulled into a station

the doors slid open and still more got on.

One of the girls nearly burst into tears,

as sadly, her bottle had gone.

 

The Leader came good with the tickets,

well, he got an all important two!

And with hindsight, for him and his best friend

it’d be a match they wouldn’t want to view.

 

They’d probably have developed heart failure,

or at least sunk in utter despair.

Because the game wasn’t so much a ‘walkover’,

as it was embarrassing beyond compare.

 

Two of them stood at the back of the stand

to avoid the inevitable squeeze.

Whilst others headed towards The Herbert Park,

for stew and Guinness to at least appease.

 

Some headed into the city,

to find a livelier spot.

And stumbled up the stairs to O’Neills,

into a room that was hotter than hot.

 

One poor guy was still feeling dodgy

and needed a place that was cool.

‘I could give all this lot twenty years!’

He thought, as he stood on a stool.

 

But age, in the end, didn’t matter.

as England won by a margin so clear.

And gave all the much travelled supporters

an excuse to down yet even more beer.

 

They then headed back to Mulligans

and ordered more beers and coke.

Where they met the Leader’s older brother,

who turned out to be one hell of a bloke.

 

He was just back from touring Australia

and he had an amazing grin.

Due to a plate of teeth made from titanium

that he said was almost ‘paper thin’.

 

The rest came in celebrating,

the unbelievable England win.

And ribbed the Irish unmercifully

but they took it well, on the chin.

 

Then they caught the train back to the hotel,

including the brother and the best friend.

At least they could commiserate together,

a sorrow shared, by good pals til the end.

 

The group then collected their cases.

Their adventure was over and done.

They agreed the weekend had been terrific,

and best of all – England had won!

 

 

 

 

January 15, 2014

 

 

With his future

hanging in the balance,

and the very next game

deciding his fate,

the referee makes

one wrong decision,

and the job’s bollocks’d;

all hope of fairness, too late.

 

 

 

December 18, 2013

 

 

The cheaters

The divers

The overpaid skivers,

who bring the game

into disrepute.

 

The complainers

The groin strainers

The pulled muscle feigners,

who fall over their

very own boot.

 

The time wasters

The disgracers

The off-side racers,

who still continue

to shoot.

 

The lazers

The grazers

The failed trail blazers,

who unashamedly

collect the loot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 26, 2013

 

 

He’s got out alive, some

never thought he would.

He’s turned his back and

waved a final farewell.

His place in history

forever secured.

Will his successor succeed?

Who can tell!

 

 

April 28, 2013

 

 

They’ve pulled the plug,

now they’re in the mire.

All assets gone, times

are really dire.

Only charcoal embers

remain from the fire.

Gone in a flash

like a funeral pyre.

 

 

 

January 28, 2013

 

 

With his future in tatters,

he stared out of the window,

knowing he was homeward bound.

The feet that he thought would

make him his fortune,

would soon be walking

on realistic ground.

 

 

October 24, 2012

 

 

That result will count at the end of the season

It’s the pivotal game to turn fortunes around,

and take us off the foot of the table, and bring

smiling faces back to the ground.

 

 

September 23, 2012

 

 

He spent his life in the ‘sin bin’,

both on the field and off.

Often arriving home legless, through

copious amounts he liked to quaff.

 

 

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