Rugby and Stuff!

The weekend just gone we had our Corporate Rugby Sevens comp Grand Final. Even though we finished the seven week comp in second place we still had to qualify to play in the big game against the team who finished in third spot. The team we had to play first was named Defcredit, and you guessed it full of Army boys. They had good things going for them and some not so good. They were super fit and they had enough players to field two teams but they were not the most skillful bunch of guys.

My younger brother Josh and teammate George takling a Defcredit lad.

We had a little scare in the beginning of the game and after the first half we were only one try in front. Second half started and we went up a level and they had no chance. This was a very physical game and we all felt a lot better when it was over.

That win had put us into the decider against Hot 100 who had gone through the season undefeated and the only team who had beaten us during the season.

Ready for the start of play the first photo of all three Phillips brothers on the same Rugby park. Josh closest, Zac forth down and me at the far end.

This Hot 100 team have been the favourites to take this comp out from the very first day, something we wanted to make sure did not happen. The first half of play there was a lot of physical play with flashes of speed and skill. We played hard and at half time we were all locked up. When the second half began it was like there was no half time break we started where we left off. Our biggest plus was our defence, they had the highest try scorer on their side and through the whole game he touched the ball twice. Our defence made them get frustrated and they started to give away a few penalties.

We are being awarded a penalty.

Our boys held strong and started to put some points on the board. So the unbeatable team was beaten by us in the final. What a great feeling and to do it with my two younger brothers was pretty special. I also had my wife and kids there to share the moment as well. For someone who has never played any form of Rugby Union and to finish the comp as the second highest try scorer I thought was pretty cool....10 tries. So this Rugby tournament has finished and this week training starts for the next one in mid January The Hottest Sevens played here in Darwin. This comp has a total prize pool of $65,000 so this is now a fairly major tournament on the international calander. So my fitness will continue through into the new year. Bring it on!

I should give a little weight update while I am here also, I am now sitting at 87.4kg lowest point so far. Currently feel like I have hit a little peak that I just need to push thru to start losing even more but why stop now, I have lost over 10kg since I began my fitness program. I will be updating more regularly so talk to you soon.

My Grandfather!

So I have gathered the motivation to jump on line and post something. So it has been two weeks since my Grandfathers funeral and I think it has knocked me around a little more than I would like to admit. In the lead up to his funeral all I could think about was if the town would actually give a shit about him concidering what Katherine is like at the moment. Lets just say it is a long way from the town that I grew up in.
When we arrived at the church the first thing I noticed was the cars parked all over the place. Then I walked in to the church and there were people everywhere I knew almost all of them and some a didn't. It was an interesting feeling that I had at that time, a mixture of relief and pride. The service was good there was some good stories told. Seen that when My grandfather arrived in Katherine the population was 400 we had a bit of Katherine's history mixed with my grandfathers.
When the service had finished we proceeded to the cemetery in a large convoy. It was at this time it hit me, I noticed that the police had blocked off the entire town. They were blocking vehicles from turning down the Victoria Highway from the Stuart Highway and then cleared the way through the town all the way to the cemetery. I started sobbing! I knew my grandfather meant something to this town and it was just received my proof.
When we arrived at the cemetery my brothers, younger cousins and I carried grandpa to his eventual resting place. When we put him down I looked up and saw a mound of soil with eight shovels stuck in it, then it hit me we will be burying grandpa. All the men of the family started shoveling, as we were filling the hole we were joking that he was looking down saying to God that he has finally made the lot of us do some physical work. When my family and I got back to the hotel where we were staying I started to notice the blisters on both hands and I thanked Grandpa for his last gift to me!

Back in action

Sorry I have been neglecting my blog probably too many other things happening at the moment. If anyone has been following my get fit quest I have broken the 90kg mark and now stand at 89.6kg. First time in the past 5-6 years since I was under 90kg.

I have been playing Rugby sevens over the last three weeks and I seem to be going alright. I have played 6 games and so far have six tries to show for my efforts. Considering this is my first crack at any form of Rugby Union I think that counts as a pass. It is fun playing on the same team as my two younger brothers a sense of pride to watch the two play and brotherly rivalry considering I have racked up more points than they have.

I was going to put some photos and talk about a whole bunch of stuff but the body has decided it is bed time so I shall do that tomorrow.