Apologies reader, it's taken me a while to summon up the strength to write this, as it lead to me suffering that most horrific of injuries, the "dislocated wallet"!

For your entertainment, and because i can, i'm going to attempt to recant the tale of "challenge bradders" in a literary manner! And please do remember to wrap up warm this winter dear reader!

Twas a cold and wet october evening. . . . Under the floodlights the senior colts gathered for another week of "challenge braders". Once again the long distance drop goal was the hurdle facing our young hero. Under pressure from his rotund coach to warm up and get on with it, bradders took two practise attempts. Unbeknownst to him, his nemisis, the ever cunning cad (or words to that effect) perie had rolled the challenge ball in the development pitch lake, to give it extra weight, to stop bradders' in succeeding! Perie moved the challenge to the worst part of the arena, all heavy and rutted, to put the final nail into the coffin of the young colts' chances.

With a growing crowd of his expectant friends, and the words of the dastidly perie "pulled left and short" ringing in his ears, bradders swung his leg like a pendulum, striking through the ball it flew like a raven ( well it's a tenuous link to the same author) and flew upwards towards its destination!

Time stopped. . . Well it did for perie. . . It seemed like the best of times and the worst of times (sorry - can't help myself), flying towards it's target like a dagger towards perie's wallet. All hope was placed on it falling short, like many of the great human endeavours, but it continued straight and true! "cruelty thy name is bradders! (last reference to literature - honest). In almost a state of shock, bradders celebrated in his usual unassuming manner, almost embarressed at his superhuman feat, whilst perie in shock at the financial ramifications (please remember dear reader this was to avoid payment on the shorts -please support the splendid club shop) still stared on in disbelief!!

Although i'm certain that you dear reader will be happy for young bradders in his victory, there must be a tinge of saddness at the death of "challenge bradders". But rest assured i may have lost the battle, but the war is far from over! I shall set another devious and hairbrained challenge for a "gentlemans" wager. "challenge bradders" has some more twists and turns to go through yet!

I couldn't possibly write anything without the traditional notes of thanks. Thanks to our friends paul + jase from fleetwood and sedgely park respectively, a real pair of gents. Liam nicholls from the rfu (good lad), andy thompson from the raging bull colts league (top man), lancaster brewery for the support (mainly in forgetting my wallet dislocation-it's a multi functional brew!). Ian (saint) thompson and john (sbs) uttley for the sponsorship, all my friends at the club, in all the sections, and finally you the reader for the patience and the time spent reading this. Cheque's in the post, please don't try to cash it!

Cheers

Arth