Sam holds nerve to seal another Extinct Volcanoes triumph
The Extinct Volcanoes remarkable form continued last weekend at the Bangkok Tens and they have now come away victorious in three of the four veterans tournaments they have entered. Only the application of some local rule changes in the 2009 Phuket Tens have prevented the Philippines over 35’s maintaining a one hundred per cent record.
The success of this team stems not from the many hundreds of years of collective rugby playing experience, or even in the undoubted skill and passion at their disposal. The secret is that they are all mates. The Extinct Volcanoes toured with sixteen players and every one played his part. Whether team members hail from Nomads, the Chiefs, the Eagles or even our northern cousins the Survivors, when the Extinct Volcanoes shirt is pulled on, all previous rivalries are forgotten.
The pool games on Saturday began with a 15-0 victory over the Phuket Viagrabonds, with both Max Stewart and Steve Mommaerts showing early signs of sparkling form which was to continue all weekend. The second game against local favourites Old Bangkok Bangers began well enough, with Max Stewart again the creator, but after leading 7-0 early on the Volcanoes took their foot off the gas and allowed the opposition to dictate the pace and flow of the game. Poor defence and communication saw three tries leaked and a 19-7 reversal gave more than ample notice that there could be no more lapses in concentration if the trophy was to be collected the following day.
In the final game the Volcanoes ran in tries at will against Old Thai Legends. One particularly thrilling passage of play saw 127kg Dan ‘Shrek’ Horsey pop up in the centres and take off like a startled hare towards the opposition line. A pass that would have made any international three-quarter proud, found an equally amply proportioned Suresh Mustafa masquerading as a wing, trundling forward at full tilt. Only desperate tackling prevented what would have been one of the most popular scores of the weekend. Another highlight was big, former international lock forward Justin 'Justo' Puiu, quite literally squirting his way through the defensive line and galloping over for a try on his 42nd birthday.
Second place in the group meant that the Southerners were the Cup semi-final opponents and a four try haul with contributions from Nick from Jakarta, Vern Nicholas. Sean Georget and Max Stewart ensured a 22-7 victory and a re-match with the Old Bangkok Bangers.
The final could not have started in worse fashion. Five minutes gone, 14-0 down and the crowd and the opposition believing the game was over. There is something special about the mateship of those involved in any capacity in Philippine rugby and that came to the fore in the following long hard nine minutes.
Just before the break the Volcanoes gave themselves hope with a Sam Chittick try and then Steve Mommaert's converted effort pulled them within two points at 14-12. The decision to run a kickable penalty three minutes from time could have been regretted, but for a further transgression by the now desperate Bangers. Moments like this require a cool head and in former Nomads captain Sam Chittick the Volcanoes had their man. He had had a superb game to this point and he held his nerve, sending the ball between the uprights to edge his team in front.
The Volcanoes then held out for the final two minutes to take the game 15-14 and add another trophy to their collection. Without a shadow of a doubt the Philippines Veteran’s team is the most successful team in the country proving that you can’t buy experience and it’s always better to be in a team with real mates.
Images courtesy: Richard Radier
