Sunday 26 April - Rugby Tournament Hinckley
Up really early this AM as we're off to Hinkley Rugby Club for the end of season festival.
We have to be there for 9AM so we need to leave no later than 8:20. Everything went OK and off we went. I asked Deb if she wanted me to use my Nokia N95 to get a route but she said that it wasn't necessary because she'd written down clear and concise directions. 08:45 lost, got a location fix and input Hinckley RFC as our destination; 10 minutes later and we're there (I'm getting a feeling of de ju vu here - I seem to remember we got lost going to Rugby Rugby Club using similarly clear and concise directions).
I'm somewhat ashamed to say that we avoided paying the £2 per adult entry charge when we followed some people through a break in the hedgerow which provided a short cut to the ground; honest Guv we didn't know! We trudged along, with muggings carrying the heavy cool box, with all the food in, until we spotted a lad in a Vipers shirt and a Dad we recognised. I don’t know the gentleman’s name as we met for the first time last Wednesday and neglected to exchange cards. I’ll have to remember to ask him next time we meet. He initially thought we were going to be playing in the area around the main field until he realise his program map showed two fields and we were scheduled to play on the old abandoned ones. They were easily recognisable; they were the rugby pitches with football goal post and nets at either end of the pitches
So; we trudged some more, muggings still carrying the cooler, until we finally reached rugby Siberia. Viper’s people were all on the far side of the field and when we reached them I realised we would be looking into the Sun for most of the day: I’m apologising here, in advance, for the bad lighting of many of the photos below.
It was rather a nice atmosphere, everyone grouped together chatting to one another and shouting at their kids.
The boy’s first match wasn’t until 11:00 (why did we have to be here for 9:00!!!!!!!!????????????) and this was against Oakham who trounced them 5-0. However, saying that, it should be noted that they scored their first try after the ball had been called offside by the ref who then proceeded to give the score, this can be somewhat disheartening experience. That said and done it must be admitted that some of the Oakham boys were like greased lightening and a couple of these guys were pretty big lads, for their ages; once they were away with the ball there was little chance of stopping them. Anyway, our guys always seem to start off badly, its as if they can’t get their swerve on and into their groove until they’ve had their faces rubbed in the proverbial a few times first.
Next up was a practice friendly with Market Harborough until the next proper game against Syston at 1:00.
Syston won this one too but by Christ were their parent supports an unpleasant shower of Chavs. One would have thought that one was attending a football match to hear this unwashed rabble cheer their numberless progeny along. The air was quite blue with their unnecessary expletives and many of the more refined amongst us were greatly shocked. To summarise, they were indeed a loud mouthed bunch of twats who need, and deserve, a good kicking.
The afternoon wore on; Hannah proceeded to intimidate any older boys she encountered, (especial Joshua, Jacob’s older brother, who was quietly trying to get on with playing one or more of his numerous handheld games – he’s not the sporty sort and prefers not to get involved in these kinds of activities unless they involve killing trolls and other naughty monsters) and insisted on playing with all and sundry in the woods behind the grounds – so much for being laid low with a broken thumb.
The next match was a play off against Syston B’s and ended in a draw.
It was decided by the referee that the teams would have to play each other again and this would be their last match of the day. The winners would win the vase (?).
Before this, I took Han to the loos again and we had a wander around the main grounds and took some photos. Deb sent a text to say that the last match would take place on pitch C, could we sink any lower, and that everyone was moving there. Han and I hurried back before we found ourselves abandoned and alone.
We Kicked arse, we finally got into our groove and got our swerve on
(I having got a flipping clue what that actually means). Put another way, We Won.
We made our way back to the car and drove home for about 5:00. I went to bed for a couple of hours. Up for 7:00, beans on toast and off to work. Quietish night got this blog (apart from this and the next entry) up to date.
7:30 - Off Home.
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