THE Murphy's Misfits rugby team has played its first friendly of the season, and has two exciting matches coming up.

The match on October 21 was against Locomotive RC, and ended in a loss for the Misfits.

According to the Misfits web site, "the newly reinforced team of Locomotive, who recently got the five top players of NSA RC showed a bit more experience, skills, and consistent rugby".

It was the first game with the Misfits for Georgi Djerekarov and Stefan Antonov, two very young players, both getting on during the second half and making great impressions.

Said Misfits captain Svetlozar Vassilev, "I can't say that we played well but it was but our first 15s game for the season. We obviously need some more practice at this stage. Thanks to Locomotive, who gave us a good game".

Misfits prop Murray Te Huki said it was a tough match.

"No doubt Locomotive are a strong team. The second half was a much better effort than the first - a lot more commitment and heart. But we did get to play a game of rugby."

Te Huki, who is also secretary of the Murphy's Misfits, told The Sofia Echo that there were two games coming up.

On November 6, the Misfits play the Krusevacs rugby team from Serbia, who are bringing a men's team and an under-17 team. The Misfits played against Krusevacs in an away match last year.

In late November or early December, the Istanbul Ottomans will be coming to Sofia for a match against the Murphy's Misfits. Like the Misfits, the Ottomans are a mixture of expatriates and local players. This match, too, is a return bout after the Misfits travelled to Istanbul last year.

On December 4, the Murphy's Misfits hold their AGM and end-of-year prize giving and dinner.

Members of the club meet every Saturday from 1pm to 3pm to play touch rugby at the National Sports Academy.

JJ Murphy's, the pub in Karnigradska Street, is the "club house" and Branko, the owner of JJ Murphy's, is the team's major sponsor.

Te Huki said that the team was in the process of donating money to two charities, the Mental Youth Health Organisation, and to a Roma school. The money was raised in a one-day touch rugby tournament in May. The money will be used for sports equipment for the Roma school.

"We plan to visit the school as a club to teach them rugby and touch rugby," Te Huki said.

The money that will go to Mental Youth Health will help pay for counselling services for two to three youths.

Te Huki said that the Murphy's Misfits now has former players spread around the world. "I just received an e-mail from an ex-player in Wales - he has the jersey of a Welsh International player, signed, and he would like to send it to Sofia to display in Murphy's."

Te Huki said that the team was always looking for players and supporters. He pointed out that women had taken part in the touch rugby games.

For more information, visit the Murphy's Misfits web site at www.murphysmisfits.org.



l In other sports news, President Georgi Purvanov has signed into law the controversial law against sports hooliganism, the Public Order At Sports Events Act.

The law provides for a range of harsh penalties for misbehaviour, including a 500 leva fine for using foul language. Purvanov assented to the act notwithstanding his reported misgivings, shared by many, about the practicality of enforcing this aspect of the law.



l Earlier, on October 24, Purvanov was among those who turned out to honour Yordan Lechkov, the football great who is now mayor of Sliven.

Lechkov's appearance at a charity football match drew a reported 20 000 spectators. Apart from a formal honour bestowed on him by Purvanov, Lechkov was also praised by Interior Ministry chief secretary, and keen amateur footballer, Boiko Borissov.