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The Daly News is designed to provide you with all the up-to-date information on the Gosowong Barbarians, as well as candid takes on the day-to-day life of our Gosowong-based players. This section is authored by James B. Daly (Helicopter Pilot), and gives him a much-needed podium to air his many opinions away from the bar. This section is proudly sponsored by patrons of the Two Rivers Bar.
2006 Update 1. Since the inception of Rugby at Gosowong - things have taken off in leaps and bounds in a short period of time. The rate of improvement in player ability and quality has been a roller coaster ride for everyone involved in “the game that’s played in heaven”. Eight Gosowong rugby players have since been nominated and experienced the challenge of representing Indonesia, playing against teams from Cambodia, Brunei and Laos. Quality of players currently in the Gosowong stable are likely to improve as expressions of interest by locals to play rugby is on the increase. Players from Gosowong who have done representative duties for Indonesia are,
Congratulations on a job “well done”. Gosowong Rugby players have since traveled and played games in – Balikpapan, Phillipines, Jakarta, Bali and Cambodia. The list of invitations for our team to play in other countries is continuing to grow. 2. The Bali competition in October saw us come away with well earned silverware and Markus Lahonde getting best and fairest for the game. To beat Singapore Baa Baa’s in the bowl final was such a boost for the boys - and the after match salute by a Singaporean Baa Baa team member was justification of Gosowong strength and respect. The team that won the Bali cup known as - “the whales” - was from Mosman, Australia. These boys warmed to the Gosowong and Koteka teams and praised both local sides for grit and determination against all opponents. Rugby balls, jumpers and various other souvenirs were donated in appreciation of good rugby and to strengthen ties with the Mosman Rugby club. 3. To all involved in supporting and sponsoring “Gosowong Rugby” once again a big hearty “Terimah Kasih Banyak” and the learning’s in the short time we’ve been on the Rugby radar has firmly stamped ourselves on the map - not only as Rugby players - but as honorable citizens and proud company people displaying to the Rugby world that we too are competitors on the big stage. Cheers Walter
Tournament Results - 2005 Bali TensAgain the lads did us proud on and off the paddock in Bali this year. Managed to survive the onslaught with minor repercussions, which included yet another Bali bombing! What is it with these guys; do they really have a gripe against rugby? Unfortunately the draw was a little disconcerting, becoming victim to the Bali Chooks first up. Feathers started flying for about the first 5 mins but then the Chooks took the game by the nose downing our boys by 6 tries to nil. Second game saw a slightly improved performance against a scratch Taipei Baboons team with us almost managing to cross the line once as opposed to the Baboons 3 tries. After a belly full of lunch the lads gingerly took to the field to confront the Aussie team from Mossman, Sydney. We all had a bad feeling about this one which neither Blakie or myself fully remember the details nor want to recall the outcome! Say no more!!! Late in the afternoon was the play off for the Indonesian Cup. Being the defending team from last years excellent win against the Freeport Koteka’s, the lads took to the field with more than a slight hesitation after witnessing some excellent rugby being played by the Kotaka’s that previously morning. The Kotaka’s came in with flying colours, whitewashing Gosowong 3 tries to 0. On the Sunday, with one game remaining, the lads casually took to the field full of confidence against the young IDR Bentangs from Jakarta. Much to our blokes shock, horror, amazement and surprise the Bentangs played like tigers and finally creamed our lads 2 tries to one. A gallant effort by the Bentangs and an amazing improvement for their second major rugby competition. But all was not lost. This year the Indonesian Development Rugby hand picked the first ever all Indonesian International Rugby team to travel to Manila in December. We had the honor of having 4 of our lads selected: Marcus (inside centre) Ixson (front row) Yani (wing) and a new comer to our team in his first ever rugby competition, Welly (second row). Congratulations to these guys for a fine effort. Being selected in the first ever Indonesian International Rugby team has to be the ultimate for any rugby player. We are proud of you guys.
NEWS FLASH - Bali Tens for October 20051-2 Oct will see our boys once again attending the Bali 10’s. But this year will be something special. The Indonesian Rugby Development boys will be sponsoring the very first all 100% Indonesian International team to travel to Manila for the Manila 7’s in December. Our lads are wetting their pants in anticipation of a possible selection to represent their own country for the very fist time. Certainly a landmark event which should bring another slant to the Bali competition. The team to tour will be selected by the coaches of teams that have a national contingent on their teams, and will be announced on the Sunday evening, 2 Oct at the presentation dinner. We wish all the Indonesian blokes the best of luck at having a crack of being possibly the very first to represent their own country. What a proud moment it will be for any one of these blokes to be selected.
Tournament Results - 2005 Jakarta TensAfter mustering up, and squeezing out enough cash from our sponsors and NHM we headed off in search of glory at the Jakarta 10’s. But, glory was not ours to be had. Our lads were, to put it mildly “taken off guard” in a moment of lapsed concentration! Loosing the first game to Sangatta in what can only be described as “this is not the team who traveled to Kalimantan!”. Fortunately the lads fronted up for the second game with a little more enthusiasm and determination after a rather and stern and forceful talking to by JD, which did have some impact as they managed to knock off the newly form high school boys team with some reasonable efforts be displayed. But from then on, the rot started to set in on the remainder of the day with our boys loosing the next three games to the Koteka’s, Brunei Yachties followed by ISCI Dragons. Unfortunately, the Gosowong/Koteka’s game was the final for the Indonesian Cup which our boys won in fine style against the Koteka’s last year at the Bali 10’s. We put up a good effort but the Koteka’s were definitely by far the better team on the day. So much so, in the afternoon the Koteka’s had the ISCI team, who won the competition on the day, with their backs to the wall. Again, as always, another excellent competition organized by the ISCI Rugby Club. Thanks to all concerned.
Tour Match - April 2005 Sangatta, KalimantanGOSOWONG tours Sangatta, Kalimantan to stick it up the Expats... Our lads traveled to Kalimantan at the invitation of the blokes at Sangatta. Again, we fielded a 100% Indonesian team who, at the end of the day, left the Sangatta boys shocked and amazed. The game was played in quarters and the Gosowong lads just narrowly missed out knocking off the expat team. The final score being 29-27. From all accounts the Gosowong Barbarians held their own, taking out the first try only 5 minutes into the first quarter. From then on in it was hard nose to hard nose all the way. Appreciation was shown that evening at a mighty fine spread, when the Sangatta boys paid tribute to the relentless enthusiasm and strength, especially for some of our smaller players. Our boys were treated to some extremely warm and inviting hospitality displayed by the Sangatta rugby club. To Rod and all his team, a very big thanks and hope we can return the same for your club soon.
Tournament Results - 2004 Bali TensAfter 4 long, slogged out years of working the local boys into a rugby frenzy, it‘s now the “Year of the Big Pay Off”. The Bali 10’s in Oct 2004 was a resounding success for our lads. Fielding a 100% Indonesian contingent, the Gosowong Barbarians took out the Bowl, defeating the Freeport Koteka’s in an extremely hard fought and well deserved win. As you can imagine, nothing could disguise their excitement returning to camp, grasping their own cup plus the Bowl which now takes pride of place on the trophy stand specially erected in no other place but the Two Rivers Pub in Gosowong. Since then the enthusiasm has grown in anticipation of attending the Jakarta 10’s in May 2005. But before then we are in the process of possibly organizing a one off game with the Sangata boys over at KPC, Kalimantan. The invitation has been extended for us to come over and throw a demo game in the hope of encouraging their local blokes to the finer points of Rugby. If all goes to plan, we may be there very early April. This year will be an all out attempt to winning anything and everything we can lay our hands on. Thanks largely to our sponsors and supporters we may be able to attend 4 Indonesian rugby competitions this year - Sangata, Jakarta Manado and Bali. Our biggest and most exciting news is that we are in the planning stages of organizing our very own Manado 7’s competition which has been proposed for Sat, 25th June. Due to the Gosowong Barbarians location on the Island of Halmahera, it's been difficult for us to contribute directly to the encouragement of Rugby in Indonesia. Therefore, we felt that by organizing a Rugby 7's competition in our region it will be our contribution towards the cause. Manado is an obvious location as it's strategically located in Nth Sulawesi with close proximity to several of the developing rugby clubs in Indonesia such as Balikpapan, Sangata Saracens, Koteka's, and I believe the BP Project boys in Irian are trying to get a team together, as well as ourselves. Guys, it’s been a good year for us and again many thanks to the clubs that have organized competitions during the 2004 season. But without the generous support of our sponsors it would be impossible for us to even contemplate attending any of these venues, past or future.
Tournament Results - 2004 Jakarta TensYet again, another close encounter of the 6th kind for the Halmahera boys at the Jakarta Rugby 10’s on the 1st May ’04. As suspected, damage was inflected on and off the field, before, during and especially after the games! Names are withheld as it may incriminate some person or persons who no doubt would rather remain anonymous for obvious reasons!! This year we fielded a 16 strong Indonesian contingent along with three aging ‘has-been’ expats – one (who shall remained unnamed - initials, TP), devised a new angle on the game by waiting on the ground until the ball to come to him! Although the scores don’t really give a true indication of the quality of rugby played by the boys, it was unanimously agreed that this trip was probably the best effort by far in the short history of Gosowong rugby. The 10’s were held over the one-day, with us playing a total of 4 games. The Freeport Kotekas were the first up on the paddock to do battle with, and that we did in fine style. It’s the closest the Gosowong Barbarians had come to their very first win, drawing nil all. The Barbarians spent well over 70% of the time in the Kotekas half of the paddock. Unfortunately, due to lady luck, we managed to narrowly miss scoring two (almost) definite tries. Second up were the boys from the land of all work and no play, Brunei Yacht Club, and again, another gutsy effort from our lads, only to go down two tries to nil. Unfortunately, after the post feeding frenzy of lunch the toll was taken in the third game against the Jakarta International School (JIS). A bunch of unfairly fit, mean, fast, enthusiastic and hungry young bucks who's total age added to less than one of our senior players!!! Again, name withheld (initials TP). We immediately went into damage control and did manage to contain the score to a respectable level of four tries to nil. Later we were to learn that these young guns were runner up in the South Pacific Competition and eventually took competition honors later in the afternoon against ISCI Dragons. The fourth and final game was to be a total ‘white-wash or creaming’, called it what you may, as far as the ISCI Dragons were concerned. But the truth came out in the pudding. The Dragons got away to two quick tries in the fist half, one which was unanimously agreed to should never been allowed (naturally the Dragons contest that!). Then the Gosowong boys came back with a vengeance and managed to hold off with some mighty impressive defense, and on several occasions pressed the Dragons ability to hold there own line. No tries in the second half, with the final score two tries to nil. Thanks banyak to the ISCI Club for the competition. Hope to return next year with a much-encouraged team.
Tournament Results - 2003 Bali TensAgain, in Oct 2003, the Gosowong Barbarians dragged their sore and sorry arses home after another gladiator effort at the Bali 10’s. This year, as every other, they did us proud. Playing a total of 5 competition games over the two-day event, unfortunately close, but no victories notched up. But as per usual, after being sliced and diced, they are every bit as enthusiastic to dive head first into the next epic encounter, which will be the Jakarta 10’s in early May 2004. The feature of the entire competition was the landmark inaugural game played on the Sunday afternoon between the Freeport Koteka’s and our boys. It’s the very first time two complete Indonesian representative teams have competed against each other in the history of Indonesian Rugby. This event is now to become a regular feature at both the Bali and Jakarta 10’s competitions each year, under the title of “The Indonesian Cup”. Together, with the help of several keen local Rugby enthusiasts associated with Indonesian Rugby, and assistance from the IRB, there is now a proposed program being set in place to encourage the game of Rugby to Indonesians, for Indonesians. This personally gives us great pleasure here in Gosowong, as it’s been three short but hard slog years to rustle up a ragamuffin bunch of unsuspecting Indonesian guys that were completely unaware (on purpose of course!) they were about to experience the sensation of being run over by a locomotive! Absolutely full credit to the Kotekas who played like demons through out the competition, and at one stage had the Bali Chooks (who eventually took out the competition) up against the wall plucking their feathers! A big thanks to the Bali Rugby boys, a well run and very enjoyable two days for all of us from Gosowong. See you in 2004 with the new, improved and abridged version of the Gosowong Barbarian machine.
Tournament Results - updated on June 28, 2003Well, Jkt 10's is all over and the boys did us real proud. 5 Tries scored in a total of four games played, with another 3 tries gone begging. For the very first time since the club saw daylight, Captanio Pilch fielded a full National team for the first game against ISCI #1 team. The boys managed put in a strong first half innings but the second half saw the ISCI's pour on the pressure and took the game by a commanding margin. The remainder of the games, Captaino Pilch fielded his ailing and frail body, and took on the role as director of play. The boys were extremely unfortunate not to win their very first competition game in the second match against the Asian Vagabonds, coming home 2 points behind !! The team had the first time honor of making the final for the Plate against Brunei. Brunei finally took the honors leaving our boys runners-up. Clutching their newly won runners up trophy's, the Barbarians arrived back in Camp Gossipwong a very proud bunch of blokes indeed. Now the enthusiasm has doubled to wipe the bloody from the boots and prove at the Bali 10's, to be held 4-5 Oct '03, that Jakarta wasn't a flash in the pan stunt. As an little antidote, and at great personal injury to myself and the other expat players who could not attend this years game, Captaino Pilch took out Player of the Tournament. Good on you mate. From all of us, a job well done, we appreciate the effort.
General News - updated on May 22, 2003Well, well, well,............. the sordid duty of documenting the state of the nation, as it were fell to me!!!!!!! Our resident slackarse decided to update the pictures so check out the shots of me, Petersen and the Pilcher bringing the game of rugby to the boys at Ternate........... Drew a record crowd....... not sure what the soccer fans thought of picking the ball up and running with it though...... but there you go!!!!! What else is new?.................. Well the Barbarians are trying to bring the game of Rugby to Indo, so we're trying to set up some regional competitions set up, with a tournament based on Halmahera, as well as a Governors Cup to cover Eastern Indo........ stay tuned..................... The Saunders breeding program has been successful! Click here, for a shot of our renowned kiwi, with his daughter, Victoria Anne Sanders..... and as a special bonus... click here for a shot of our boy in action at the 2002 Bali Tens!.... Check back soon for a look at the club history which is being written now........ by the afore mentioned slackarse......... yeah maybe don't check back too soon!!!!!!!.............
Jakarta Tens Date Change - updated on May 22, 2003Fans/players note that the date for the Jakarta International Tens is now June 14th. For our fans that just couldn't get enough the Barbarians are fielding two (TWO!) sides this year! We'll be playing with the best of them at the ISCI grounds, so be sure to be there!!!!!! Seeeeeeeeeee ya.............................................jd
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