Week 8 of State League was a sizzling night with some sizzling performances. The Managers had little to sweat about other than the heat as we continued on our path to the finals.

While waiting for the officials at the 400m to ponder the mystery that is electricity, a plan was hatched to pit the Team Managers against each other in a Match Report "rhyme off". Matt Hanrahan then proceeded to spend the whole of his friday doing something called "w_o_r_k" intermingled with knocking back a trip to San Francisco! So a sidekick has been dragged in at the last minute to fill his shoes.

With no further ado, here's Mens Manager Jussie's ditty:

A still and balmy February eve
Saw fit athletes abound
In Richmond Town, at Olympic Park
For another State League round

The sun was hot and the walkers knew
That 5k was not nice
So the officials took the plunge and said
"Folks, 3k will suffice!"

Simon walked his usual walk
With the acolytes he anoints
His protégés led home the race
But Simon brought home the points

The hundred saw the usual cast
All come home in the first three
But Aiden shone amongst his peers
With a brilliant new PB

The throws, the throws they're money for jam
With all the implements
Zany Dave, Matt, Aaron and Cam
Win all the big men events

With San Francisco on his mind
Matt was the only jumper about
But one seventy five is a very big ask
One miss. Two misses. Three misses. "You're out!"

Lucas ran a bold, bold race
Coming into form t'would seem
While Clint, a budding champion
Should be in the bloody team

The hurdles got us more points again
Nfa's fourteen thirty nine
While I'm pretty I certain it was Aaron who ran
And not Brendan who crossed the line

A young guy from East Melbourne way
Was jumping for the team
Against the men, he hops and steps
And jumps over fourteen

The fours were fast on beautiful night
Where two invites made it five
And even the manager thought he could
Make it round the track alive

Eight in one race meant someone would
Draw the outside of the track
And finally, behind Brendan and Stu
Fifty seconds did Brenno crack

The team lies undefeated
And on the ladder, we are clear
But a final seven and eventual four is
Between us and a championship year

And in response, Bayside's webdude André has composed this eyesore:

Matt's been busy thinking hard
so I in charge of rhymin'
Please excuse my poor metre
and lack of that thing called timing

Week 8 was a toughie
Against Box Hill, the leaders
They had to pull out all stops
To finally defeat us

Starting with the walking stuff
they chose 3000 metres
And making her season debut
was a 2nd placed Megan Peters

A hundred without our Jamaican star
now that really threw us
But coming home like a steam train
was Ms. Tamsyn Lewis

Making you state league debut
It's bound to give you the shivers
Unless you budding junior sprinter
12.84 for Katie Chivers

Michelle and another Katie lined up
In a sweaty metric mile
They hung on to a hot early pace
And strode home with strength and style

Emily soared with ease
But cursed the use of countbacks
While Sarah justified
Her poles upon the roofracks

Jeanette won the triple
despite her sore achilles
and Tara endured a long wait
doing long warm-up drill(ies)

Throwing is our forte
Javelin - second to De Neise
Shot and disc they're for Bec
Gab wins again with ease

It got dark, we went home
Happy with our placing
Looking to the finals
And the pennant we'll be chasing

Results are here.

Read last Round's report