Belfast Harlequins 5th XV 2003-2004

The 5th XV had its usual indifferent showing in the league this season finishing near the bottom as normal, with some of the genius's at the branch conspiring to have the team relegated - sorry lads, not this year. 

Over the course of the season only 5 league games were won with one drawn. The team suffered a severe injury crisis in the second league game of the season that destroyed any chance of competing in the league.  For the third time in five years however, the mighty 5s reached the semi-finals of the Forster Cup but the enigmatic cup final still awaits...

Forster Cup Results

Sat 13 Dec	1st round	Ballyclare 4	H	W	24	7
Sat 24 Jan	2nd round	Portadown 5	A	W	48	7
Sat 21 Feb	Q Final	Queens 3	H	W	22	7
Sat 3 April	Semi Final	Dromore 3	H	L	12	24

The 5s however can be credited for the success of all the other teams in the club by winning the first silverware of the season, the YMCA Challenge Cup, back at the start of September.  This discreet trophy is usually lost behind the 6 foot tall plant vases won by other teams in the club.

YMCA Challenge Cup

Belfast Harlequins 5	v	Grosvenor	5	5
YMCA	v	BHSFP	24	12
BHSFP	v	Grosvenor	12	10
YMCA	v	Belfast Harlequins 5	0	17
Belfast Harlequins 5	v	BHSFP	15	0
YMCA	v	Grosvenor	5	17

This season the 5s were led by Rob Calvert who normally played centre but also flirted with the outhalf position held for the past 4 season's by club stalwart Roger (Ronan O') Gilpin.  Rob was never short of something to say and even maaged to blame one defeat on the hapless manager (who wasn't even playing) for bringing the medical kit on to the pitch whilst drinking a beer! 

Vice-captain Graham (Chick) Chalmers played Number 8 with great effect except in the majority of matches when his hamstring (sponsored by Cadbury's) snapped after an arduous 5 minutes on the pitch

The rest of the team varied greatly as the season progressed with the front row normally made up of Jamesy Graham, Stevie Uprichard (who was awarded player of the season at the Player's Gala Dinner) and Mark McCartney with Darren McCartney playing at the start of the season also.  Marko acted as the rock of the pack whilst Jamesy's sleek physique meant he acted more like an extra back row. Stevie's alround ability were indespensible.

In the second row Richard Cooper and Pete Stewart were joined by new boy Hugh Daly from GAA (who was awarded newcomer of the season) and the three combined to give a fantastic balance to the pack with Coop's athleticism and lineout prowess, Pete's skills in the tight game and Hugh's ramapant destructive running abilities.

The usual back row combination of Eddie Wilson, Stevie Weatherup and Chick Chalmers was greatly hampered due to injury and other commitments this season meaning that Niall Bryson, Neil Elliott, Wayne Storey, Steve Morrow, Gregg Kidd, Davey Vincent and uncle Tom Clobbly played throughout the season.

Scrum-half has been held by Chris Magowan since the foundatipon of Belfast Harlequins but half wasy through the season he moved to England (fearing that his position was under threat) and Andy Nixon was stolen by teams up the club.  The season ended with Brian Turkington coming in and doing a great job, certainly his passing is a lot better than Roger has been used to.  The last few games were played by Scottie Thompson who replaced Turk when he was unavailable.

Out-half after much discussion remained in the hands of Roger Gilpin who had one the best season's of his career (seriously!) and even acted as team place kicker to great effect as well as learning to attempt to tackle.

Andrew (Barney) Leitch started the season in the centre with Rob but missed a huge section due to injury and was replaced on the most part by new boy Paddy McShane as well as Barry Dowling.  Barney, had he not spent most of the season injured, would have undoubtably been a serious candidate for player of the season with his strong running and bone-crunching tackling.

Ally McCulloch again starred from the wing scoring a multitude of tries and was joined by Barry Dowling, Angus Mills and Michael Moley who alternated on the other wing.

Fullback was ofcourse Marcus Cummings who managed to avoid Dick-of-the-season again this year by not turning up at the players dinner to receive his award.  Andy Nixon deputised for him until he moved on to better things, which sounds a bit unfair as Andy is actually a very good player.

Sorry to anyone who has been left out but the list could go on and on since as usual the 5s used around 60 players throughout the season.

Match reports can be found for nearly every game this season in the 5s section of the site as well as plenty of other stats from previous seasons.  A few photos may be added to this section if I can remember how to upload them.