Cocky caper

Stop Press! Here is the first picture of the McNeilly Park Boules Club members in their fetching uniforms to be posted online.

Pictured (L-R) are: Tintin, Pierre, Benoir and Robespierre. Sadly absent are Andre, Samuel and Nateau.

What started off as an idle spot of recreation on a quiet Sunday afternoon a little over a month ago has spread and blossomed into an integral part of the social calendar of South Marrickville. Competition within the club is taken quite seriously, although strict adherence to the rules of petanque or boule lyonnaise is not as important.

All activities are accompanied by much mirth and oh-so-chic 'French' carry-on. Our emblem is the Gallic rooster - or le coq sportif, le cochonnet (piglet) - or the jack - is referred to as le petit jacque, and all victories must be celebrated by a rather cocky dance - complete with flapping wings - around said cochonnet.

The club's most exciting adventure occurred just over a week ago. It was the team's first outing in the brilliant blue strip on home turf at McNeilly Park, and all the circumstances seemed auspicious. But lurking above the field of play was a sinister old crow and when le petit jacque was leisurely lobbed to begin the third round, the ravenous raven swooped down and took off with the defenceless piglet.

Pierre boldly gave pursuit but the crow, which unlike us chooks did not have its wings clipped, took refuge in a nearby gum tree where it was clearly seen swallowing the jack - much to the amazement of all three of the intrigued onlookers! From that day forward our motto has been: Stone the crows.

This minor setback though was easily overcome. A replacement cochonnet has been found and the game goes on. Our sights are now set on bigger and better challenges, such as finding another social Boules club to compete against and appearing on Tim Bailey's weather report. There's even talk of McNeilly Park Boules Club: The Movie.

But for now, we're just taking it one lazy Sunday afternoon at a time. Vive le MPBC!