Family at war over Horden
FUNNY game is rugby.
Mams and dads will always support their sons.
But at times there can be a conflict of interest.
Take Craig Gilmour, the one-time burly Horden back row forward who has taken his crash, bang, wallop style to Durham City.
The two clubs met last Saturday and while Craig was wearing City's colours his dad was at Hollow Drift cheering for Horden.
Dad, Kevin, had the last laugh, as dads tend to do, because City lost 17-10 to the Durham Northumberland Division One side.
Craig's mam, Debs, incidentally, just to continue the tale of a family divided is in charge of the Horden club shop. No one in the Gilmour household wanted Craig to win on Saturday. Their wish came true.
The Watson family were also separated – Luke who too said good-bye to the Welfare in the summer for Hollow Drift was up against his cousin Colin, back in Horden colours after returning from Rovers.
Divided families are nothing new. In the 70s, the Dale brothers played on opposite sides of the Hartlepool rugby divide - Bill for Rovers and Jeff for West. Later there were the Blacks (Peter for Rovers and Stephen for West) and the Rowland brothers (David for Rovers and Peter for West).
Kelly can remember previewing the historic Rovers v West Pilkington Cup tie back in 1989. Glyn Armstrong had done the unthinkable and exited the Friarage for Brierton Lane – it's a bit like leaving the wife, only to move in with the mother-in-law!
Glyn admitted his father would be there but would not be supporting West!
His dad was Brian Armstrong, the former Hartlepool, Rovers and County player, who sadly passed away four years ago.
So family rugby tiffs are nothing new, though there were no hard feelings in the Gilmour or Watson homes.
Just as an added twist of fate, Craig and his fiance held their engagement party on Friday night ... in Horden rugby club.
All the lads turned up to celebrate but it was a different bash they enjoyed the following day at Hollow Drift.
When a fight started between the sides, who were two of the first Durham players to get what is colloquialy known as a 'bat'?
You got it. As indeed did Craig and Luke.
Now, Kelly's Eye will not condone violence but this writer had to laugh when speaking to a Horden insider.
"Our lads are still mates with them, but you don't expect them to get away with leaving Horden do you?" said our club source.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 12 February 2012
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