So as discussed last week I did manage to watch the England game on Sunday afternoon and I'm pleased to report there was a good win for our boys. Now, unfortunately for the Welsh us winning meant they missed out on going to the top of the world rankings and as you can imagine I felt very sorry for them!

As far as the game went, it wasn't a classic but we were way stronger than them and we out muscled them and looked very good in parts.

I can't see the point in all these warm up games as it just means everyone's players are at risk of getting injured and missing the world cup altogether, you'd be gutted if it was you, ask the Welsh fly half!

He's not going now! A couple of warm up games OK but four? I might also add I got up early and caught up on the Aussie/All Blacks game and I don't know why it is, but it all seemed a lot faster and more skilled than our game. Hey ho, we shall see how it pans out and meanwhile we play the Welsh again this weekend.

So what's been on at Tonville? Training is ticking along nicely but as usual we as always struggle with large numbers so all in all, we will be going out again this season with a relatively small squad of players, mind, we did that last year and look what happened.

Now having mentioned warm up games, we have a couple and the first is tonight against North Petherton who play a division above us.

It's gonna be a tough test and we have a few missing I think, can't believe I'm saying this at this time of year but it gives really rubbish weather which might cause problems with flowing rugger, but essentially it's a trial game so there will be mixing and matching for both sides in the torrential rain!

Down at the club we've been busting a gut to get this bar done and yet again it's been the usual chaps beavering away.

We did have a good stab at things on Saturday and big thanks to the Ashby's, Stops, Gordon, Andy C, Niki Groves, Lee Wright and Footy and it was an amusing site watching him struggle to carry a 4/6 plastic board into the wind.

We put up shelves, finished off cabinets in the kitchen, hung doors, cleaned and moved stock out of Abby's room and Lee even found time to fix the roof on the shed outside the back door.

All done in time to welcome Churchie's cyclist, who we kindly let stay free of charge. They were on their annual charity cycle ride around the country.

They were no trouble to host as it's a shower and sleep in the changing rooms, mind, it was a bit of a pit out the back which we had to sort out before they arrived.

Corrie had her "baby shower" thing at the club on Sunday which went well so I'm told.

I'm afraid it was back to problems with Town "yuff" at the weekend and on Saturday we had a group of about 10 under the trees down the back of the swimming pool.

I asked politely if they could move away and was met with the usual hostility and "why should we" and I got the usual unsavoury back chat. I went over to the sports hall to inform them that they had guests on their property but by the time I came back, they'd moved up the field. I feel the trees need to be cut right back along there to stop them from hiding in there!

Now, whether it's a consequence or not, we then had a bit of a scare on Sunday afternoon as reports came in the that the thatched roof on the pavilion had been set on fire but it was now out!

I went up to inspect and it wasn't as bad as reported but there was a smouldering pile of straw on the floor and lots of the straw reeds had been pulled out of the roof and scattered all over the place.

I think the heavy down pour of rain might have helped to put the fire out but it's all a bit depressing constantly having to deal with this. I guess a concrete square building with no windows is the answer!

Andy went to a council meeting to discuss 106 money, which is money paid by builders to the council when new houses are built.

This money gets earmarked for sports /out door activities so lots of the towns other sports clubs were there as well and there was a discussion on how it can be best used.

We are now considering a bid but it's difficult for all as it can't be used for building works. Our plans might fit the criteria as we want to use it to help with drainage work and perhaps trying to put in permanent floodlights.

Thursday night we had the first of our new season meetings and we started with the junior managers' one. It was nice to see people being positive but the usual issues raised their heads which are around the complexity of RFU's admin processes, player retention and of course the big one which is around trying to get more people to volunteer to help.

Our ethos, which is in line with all other grass roots rugby clubs, is that it's run by volunteers and our strength or lack of it, is determined by how many people we have helping. Hey ho we will soldier on.

We have the senior committee meeting on Tuesday night and then we're nearly into proper rugby.

On August 31 we have our last pre season game against North Tawton and the week after we start proper against St Austell at the Ton.

Don't forget your membership is now due. Stopper is your contact re this and also don't forget to have a butchers on our website, there's a lot of info on there about the club and what's going on.

So that's about it for this week. I might have a bit of local rugby to mull over next week.

#UTT

Jez