Shall we Sing a Song for you?

Update

Meant to say there’d be a prize for first person to find somebody we know, and then Cromie goes and beats us all to it!

Where’s Tom’s van though? Not at Knockbracken!

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As if Ulsterville needed any more distractions from work, today Jonny got me on to Google’s Street View, which now covers 25 UK cities, including Belfast. So you can basically get high quality photos of anywhere in Belfast (goes as far as the first half of Lisburn and the end of Carrick) that’s viewable from a road.

The first port of call was obviously Ulsterville itself.

Sadly all the pictures look pretty unimpressive at that size, click on them for bigger

The next obvious place to look was Renwick, as we started to get excited about the idea of seeing somebody we knew (Strob’s and Joel’s houses were also checked, but there wasn’t much to see except the white stallion…)

However the lack of people and parked cars on Elmwood made us suspect it was either a Saturday or the Summer

And a quick look in behind confirmed that there were no cars in the car park

Further scientific tests also confirmed the photos were taken at some stage last summer:

Well the first clue was obviously that it was sunny and people are wearing shorts! But more importantly, Monte Carlo was still known as ‘O Taste and Sea’ – better name, worse food.

Also, the roadworks on the Westlink weren’t quite finished…

But enough about when it was, here’s a few more iconic places of general interest for RPs around Belfast:

Firstly and most importantly, we have Winsor itself

Botanic RPC – now a club of course, though I think they were splitters, so what can you expect!

Then back to UVG for a look at 101

Though Rosemary wasn’t outside it this time!

Glasgow and Edinburgh are also done, stops just close to Airdrie though!

*No, not the long anticipated post by Jonny involving old Synod photos and Microsoft Paint. However he did inform me that Wally was hidden in one of the 25 UK cities. Jonny also tried to point out that if Google keep this up, it’ll make the Pilgrimage pointless, but he’s clearly just jealous…

Update:I suppose I should note for posterity that the goals came from Steve (volley at back post from a corner), Skills (squeezed in at far post after McKelvey broke through but had his shot saved) and LoopingheaderfromagreatSkillsrunandcrosswell.

So Naomi nicely sent me photos so spose I better use them! In short, my esteemed but alphabetically challenged housemate and myself will be hoping that there are more matches organised so that this surprise first legitimate Renwick defeat of the season won’t be the last outing of our Renwick careers.

Paul to Steelo

Renwick, 3-1 up at a stage in the first half, wonder where it all went wrong

RENWICK: McCollum; Morrison (c), McCollum, Smith, Hanna (Steele ht); ‘Paul’, McCollum, McKelvey, Blackwell (Dunwoody 50); McCavery, Buchanan

Final League Table

Foyle and Londonderry College won hockey’s Senior Schools’ Cup final on Tuesday afternoon with a 1-0 victory over Ballymena Academy. Ballymena disappointed their sizeable RP support (although in terms of overall support Foyle won easily with 597 pupils travelling in 10 buses) by failing to have a shot on target, and their goalkeeper was, as they call it, player of the match, such was Foyle’s domination. The goal came in the 18th minute from the only one of those penalty corner things of the game, from Foyle captain Megan Frazer. And, seeing SWS hasn’t had a non-footballing sporting adventure for a while, here are some photos:

Young McCluggage

Pitch invasion at the final whistle

And one from the Londonderry Sentinel

Videos:

Final whistle

The craic was 90 throughout. Songs also included SWSASFY, the Grant McCann song and ‘we’re gonna win the cup’.

In other Londonderry news, a smiling Andy Mo appeared in Thursday’s News Letter after getting his Duke of Ed the day before.

Prince Philip meets Andy Mo

Normal service was restored at the Ozone this afternoon as Renwick recorded a 4-2 win over Derryvolgie, who would normally be described as ‘bitter rivals’ but after last week today’s match seemed perfectly calm and civilised. Renwick supremo Phil Dunwoody was suprisingly absent due to having some compulsory class, so Gavin started on the right wing with Steelo on the left. Pete made his first appearance in a Renwick shirt for a long time, partnering Andy McKelvey in central midfield. Sean was all set to referee but then a real one turned up so both teams decided to employ him, which also made for a much less heated match. Just before kick-off we realised that Andy Morrison was actually the only Renwick resident present, so he took the captain’s armband (though not literally, as Phil had it stashed away somewhere with the no. 7 shirt!).

Renwick started brightly and Steelo had the first real chance of the match, benefiting from a defensive misjudgment and poking the ball over the keeper but over the bar. However Renwick took the lead with still only a few minutes played as a ball was played through to Skills in the box and despite the close attentions of a defender managed to hit it first time into the corner of the net. A few minutes later things got even better as Ben swung in a corner from the right which Pete met at the far post, ending up in the net himself, to make it 2-0. Renwick kept their attacking up for a while after this, but Derryvolgie started to come into the game more and more and Jonny was made to work hard in the Renwick goal, coming off his line well on a number of occasions and making a few good blocks. Just when it was looking like Renwick would be able to keep them out till half time however, Derryvolgie pulled one back, after Jonny had made a great save but they managed to head in the resulting corner.

In the second half, Renwick, now with Sean on in an unfamiliar left wing role, continued to come under pressure, and Derryvolgie got their equaliser about ten minutes into the half as their Edgar Davids impersonator hit a half-volley from just outside the penalty area which gave Jonny no chance. Renwick continued to test the Derryvolgie keeper after this, but our opponents were still on top when we were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. Skills stepped up and, as expected, expertly dispatched it, curling in a great shot for his second goal of the game. Mark could have sealed it soon after, but headed over from just under the crossbar. Renwick continued to threaten from corners, with Dave Smith having two good headed efforts saved, but the second one was bundled in by Sean on the rebound to secure the points for Renwick.

So all in all a great response to last week which secures second place in the Belfast Super League for Renwick with one game to go. A great achievement. Rumours that AJ will only organise a cup if we all go to Banner NI have yet to be verified…

RENWICK: Jonny; Andy Mo (c), Dave Smith, Steve, Ben; Gav, Pete, McKelvo (r: Steelo), Steelo (Sean ht); Mark, Skills

Photos from the one and only Bob Parkes

Wellblack

Not a sight you want to see if you’re on the opposition team!