It was a great effort by the lads at South London Silverbacks to clear the lines of snow and get the pitch ready in order to secure the final game of the Australian Masters tour. Although very cold on the day, the Australian lads were relieved to be on the pitch again after their mid-week game in Hull was called off due to the wintery weather.
The Silverbacks, who had invited a couple of Wigan St Jude's and Medway Masters to join them on the day, played some enthusiastic Masters Rugby League against the much more experienced Australian side.
In fact, the Aussies left their best performance of the tour to their last game – the "Game on Ice" as they called it!!
The standard of the Masters played and the spirit it was played was thoroughly warming in a game which was dominated by the cold.
After the game, the players did pause on the pitch for the traditional circle and three cheers before a rapid exit to the sheds where the showers were thankfully very hot!
The social part of the day was a well prepared by the Silverbacks Masters with a warm chicken curry awaiting all, a well-stocked and well-staffed bar and live music!
The presentations were made to by the Australia Masters CEO, Malcolm Duncan, to the South London Silverbacks Masters club for hosting the day. In addition to the Spirit of Masters Awards presented to Australian Tourists Laurie Walker and Chris Kukutai, before their early departures home, awards were also made to Chris Ashton (SL Silverbacks) and Martin Fisher (St Jude's).
Man of the Match Awards from the Masters Rugby League to the Australian team went deservedly to Alan Strubey and to Paul Vaughan: both of whom played well in the conditions and who have been outstanding on tour.
The Australians have a couple more days to enjoy London before they jet off back under to the warm. It has been a pleasure to welcome our friends to UK again. Thanks to Malcolm Duncan for organising the tour, to Tour Captain Dave Amone who is always a character on and off the pitch and to all the Australian players and their supporters who are now friends for life.
We wish them a safe journey home!
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