After leaving Ayr the tourists headed to the east coast and the brooding Scottish capital, Edinburgh. We checked into the YHA and took a stroll towards Princess St. James White showed a more flamboyant side when he paid a visit to one of the more theatrical districts of Edinburgh on the way. Izaac Johnson had a heart felt reunion with Wayne after he was abducted from the YHA toilet. In the evening the boys went underground in the old town on a guided tour of Edinburgh vault; an area that had been lost for hundreds of years and rediscovered in the 1980s. The guide was able to tell us about various gruesome executions, punishments and the devastating effects of the plague. This proved inspirational for the coaching staff that later convened the first sitting of the Kangaroo Court. Misdemeanours such as lack of punctuality, slow wittedness and the inability to keep possession of gear were dealt with swiftly by the Honourable Judge Golder. As a result, the folk outside Edinburgh Castle and along the Royal Mile were entertained by the Australian Rugby Boys’ Choir and the All Saints break dancing posse led by a more than capable Kane Fitzgerald and an enthusiastic Jack Boenke.

After the castle tour we headed to North Berwick Rugby Club and had a decent two hour training session to work on our scrum and backline cohesion in particular. Mr Golder and Mr Nolan showed they have lost none of their skills in a devastating five minute rugby rampage and are now just starting to walk without noticeable limps. The boys were picked up by their billet families and spent their first night in the beautiful North Berwick.

The next day we headed back to Edinburgh for shopping and sightseeing. Later that day we prepared for the second tour game against North Berwick. Brett and Sharon Boenke were a welcome addition to Jim, our bus driver on the sidelines as members of the All Saints supporters’ group. The locals proved a very physical and abrasive opponent; just the challenge our boys required. After twenty minutes scores were level at seven apiece but as our injury toll grew and the North Berwick boys ground on, they were able to open up a significant lead. To our credit, the boys maintained intensity in defence and the physical contest right until the final whistle. Many boys finished the game playing in unfamiliar positions but showed Australian ticker and never gave up. Jake Power and Jack Boenke were our try scorers and Luke Alker slotted two conversions. The final score was 32-14 to North Berwick.

Many thanks go to the North Berwick coach, Dougy Walsh, club stalwart Ken McCauley and the billet families for their warm hospitality. We really appreciate the way they have embraced comparative strangers from across the world. We have much to learn from the club culture and tradition demonstrated in Scotland.

Mr Bales’s absurd diatribes about English sporting prowess and the temperate English climate are increasing and signal our proximity to the English border. The boys are sore and weary and Izaac has his passport ready for the border crossing as we head for England and the sacred ground of Lindisfarne and Durham later today. Thanks for following the blog and please keep posting your comments. Thanks Neil McCallum; we have booked Jazz in for some counselling when we return to All Saints!