"Another champagne please, Mr Photographer, pretty please?"

More than 60 people turned out in style and elegance for one of the more up-market social events ever to grace the Dragons calendar on Friday (August 22). Given that the Typhoon 9 signal was hoisted, it was a pretty tenacious performance from an outfit on the top of their game.

Champgne football was catch-cry and the management at Heat in Wan Chai ensured the Dragons were at the smooth-flowing best. Ladies enjoyed free-flow champagne for the entire evening, with the carbonated vino bringing out their effusive, bubbly best.

Gentleman enjoyed hours of drinks for a set price of $180.

The evening warmed up with much socialising and banter before former President Byrne launched into a tirade about being unaccustomed to public speaking and a raffle draw.

It's a blonde-off

In a slight variation on regular events, ladies far outnumbered the men. The mismatch was such that by evening's end gaggles of ladies bouyed by the methode champagnois were in search of "single men, any single men?". This was great news for the single men, less so for the ladies, and a poignant reminder to those fellas at home to make sure they get along to the next event.

And with that, the crowd disbursed to the far reaches of Wan Chai and beyond to continue deep into the night ... and morning.

The typhoon's trail of destruction meant training for the Saturday was postponed a day. This was not an unwelcome development.
.......................

The pre-event preamble

It's champagne football, this.

Nature will provide the fireworks (hopefully) in the form of a direct hit typhoon. The ladies will be downing a torrential downpour of bubbly while the Dragons superstars will provide the gusts of hot air.

Lenny has some words of advice for the Tigers

The Thailand Tigers retained the Hamilton-Riddell Cup they took from the Hong Kong Dragons in 2006 with an 13 point victory over the visitors in front of a big crowd at the Pattaya polo club ground.

After falling to a five goal deficit, the Dragons stormed home in the second half to get within 10 points of the home side before the final siren sounded in the 14-a-side clash with the Tigers 13 points clear.

The Dragons started with Coz, Troy, Mick and Deano (ruck) in the guts. Backs were Mrad, Mongoose (Hughie), Boges, Lips, Crites. Forwards were Lenny, Wigger (Tom Stonier), Will, Faulks and Ralphie. Interchange was Carl, who played mainly on a wing, Doddsy who was in a forward pocket, Gav, who stepped out in the final seconds but was great support, Marathon Man Sam (mate of Mrad) and Dragon-for-a-day Kev, who played well around the ground. Special thanks to goal umpire Mohammed Mrad.

On a hot day with a two-goal breeze blowing to the northerly end, the Dragons controlled the ball for much of the first quarter but were unable to capitalise uip forward. The Tigers, fielding a taller and bigger squad, won the crucial aerial duels and turned possession into goals. At quarter time, the Tigers led 3.2-20 to 0.2-2.

Ralph takes a big grab in the goal square

The second quarter was a chess match, with both sides unable to convert opportunities. Ralph (four goals) eventually got the Dragons on the scoreboard but the Tigers managed two for the quarter from free kicks. At half time it was the Tigers 5.5-35 to Dragons 1.4-10.

Facing a possible blow-out, the Dragons regrouped at half time and swung key spine players into different roles. Crites and Mongoose went forward, Lenny dropped back, Boges moved to the guts to tag key Thai playmaker Hooie. Also dangerous for the Tigers were Jesus in the guts, Big Cleave (named Tigers BOG) and Aggots (3 goals).

The third quarter started with Mick Finnegan (voted Dragons BOG) roving the Thai ruckman to perfection and slamming down the guts where the Dragons goaled. Deano rucked superbly all day unchanged and was winning his share of tap-outs. With Lips outstanding in his rare backline sojourn, Lenny and Crites firing, Mick dominant in the centre and Will and Cozza manning up well against dangerous opponents, the Tigers were limited to two goals for the quarter. Wigger, who had taken many marks but kicked inaccurately, goaled and Ralphie added to his tally and the Dragons booted four. At the final turn it was 7.6-48 to 5.4-34.

With the scent of a possible upset in the air, the Dragons were as pumped as any team that had preceded it in the navy blue and red. A torrid final quarter saw a couple of flare-ups around the ground. When Bogan, who kept Hooie to a single kick in the second half, snapped a goal (according to the unerring eye of Mohd Mrad) over his head while lying on his back in the goal square, it was down to eight points the difference. But the Tigers struck back straight out of the centre within seconds and the margin would therein only be altered by minor scores. Final score: Thailand 8.7-55 to Hong Kong 6.6-42.

The entire Dragons squad put in a very commendable effort against a Tigers outfit that has definitely stepped up a notch and will be expected to claim some big scalps at the Asian Champs. With other players left behind in the capital for this match, they may well have their sights set much higher. For the Dragons, it was a great chance for a number of players to stake a claim to a spot in the Champs side and brilliant hit-out marked by a gutsy come-back.

A great tour saw the Dragons sing and dance their way through Pattaya before heading to capital for an irreverent Sunday afternoon.

The hotel accommodation is top class and basement price (actual photo).

T'was the week of the tour ....

After much vacillation, we have somehow conjured a touring party to enter the fray in Pattaya, Thailand..

The squad of 18 players is as follows: Lenny, Carl, Mick, BGF (Gav), Sam Mrad plus brother Mohammed (non-player) and marathon-running mate, Tom Stonier, Troy Harris, Hughie the Mongoose, Will, Ralph, Doddsy, Boges, Deano, Faulks, Cozza, Crites, Lips.

The game is on at 3pm and consists of four 15-minute quarters.

To see the hardships we are facing, you can check-out the accommodation at www.cosybeachhotel.com

The rhetoric part of the story

For 18 brave souls, this is a tour into the heart of darkness. We will be outnumbered, on unfamiliar terrain, physically exhausted, possibly malnourished, dehydrated and lacking heavy artillery. We may be diminutive in number but in the words of our wartime leader John Curtin when the Japs were attacking the Australian mainland and ruling the Pacific and South-east Asian rim, "F-ck 'em" (actually, he was talking about the lack of support from Churchill's Brits, but you get my drift).

Thailand (who sided with the Japs in WW2, but I digress) will be prolific in number, well-drilled, bouyed by recent victories and motivated to atone for past ill-treatment at the hands of the mighty Dragons. This will be no picnic. We have toured with less (and lost on both occasions) but numbers will not daunt us. We have four or five debutants on tour so at worst we'll have something to amuse us.

Although we number less than 20, this tour will be big in many other ways. We have three Dragons on board with a combined 29 years and 150 games of Dragons experience so tour traditions will be strictly enforced - which is a good thing. The apres football scene will also likely see closer involvement between the Tigers and Dragons, who will share a bus and hotel and both be away from home and intent on having a rollicking good time.

The side is packed with mid-field type running players but lacking in height. Hopefully, by the end of the weekend, we'll be likening the side the Western Bulldogs. We are a big chance to win this one and the eyes of the Thai media will be upon us. The press release from the Tigers has been picked up by the world's news agencies.

The squad is fit with the exception of Doddsy, who tweaked a hammy at training Sunday and will undergo a fitness on a Pattaya dance floor Friday night.

Pre-tour report, June 20

The Dragons July 25-27 tour to Chonburi and Pattaya takes the team into unchartered territory to tackle a menacing Thailand tigers team that never fails to throw down a challenge. We urgently require a commitment from players to secure air tickets and hotel (pictured) bookings.

Email tours@hk-dragons.com to indicate if you plan to come on the tour to play the Tigers, who are fresh off a big home win over a talented Jakarta Bintangs side. Numbers need to be confirmed now. A lot of planning goes into such an ambitious and exciting tour into the unknown so get on board straight away.

The plan
This is a tour like few others. Bangkok is well-estrablished on the Asian circuit but Pattaya promises to be a new experience with great playing facilities and unique apres football scene. Events will unfold pretty much like this: Pick up at Bkk Airport on Friday 25th and transfer to Pattaya, Saturday 26th July transfer to/from Pattaya accom / ground, Sunday morning 27th transfer back to Bkk for a lock-in session.

Spondoolies

For all overland transport and the luxury accommodation it is an incredibly low, low 3200thb (approx 720hkd) per person for two nights (twin share). The bus promises to be a major part of the festivities - a 50 seater to be shared with the Tigers. It will be a good chance to see who tackles the pre- and post-game routine in the soundest manner. All drinks, fruit etc on game day are also included, (including a couple of frosty ones after the game).

Single room requirements will warrant an additional charge of 2000thb for the 2 nights (HK$465).

The two clubs will be playing for the long-running Riddel-Hamilton Trophy. the last two times the teams met in a full-length match was in Kanchanaburi in an epic Anzac clash. The Dragons had thought they'd won by a point but in a DVD-gate scandal, the game was declared a draw weeks later. Full report of that April 2006 epic is at:
http://www.hk-dragons.com/results_report.php?article_id=TCETAVA-H11V9UV-K2WF01E-JAZSMMN (or go to Game Write-ups, April 2006).

Training

With all that in mind, it is imperative we get in shape for the tour. Training is on this Sunday (June 29) at 3.30-5pm at the Stanley Ho Sports Ground in Sandy Bay , Pok Fu Lam. The following week, Sunday July 6 is at 5:00-6:30. Both sessions on Pitch number 1, which is the long synthetic grass pitch we used in the last session before the 2007 Champs. Map to the ground found under Club Info/Grounds. Bring runners, not excuses.