Sid Knee
started to hot up about Wed when the brother Prides started padding into town,
in various degrees of apprehension but still in good spirits and full of the
same.
Our Pride’s
fun began with Baldy and Rosie Lion jetting in from the Gold Coast where our
team had been prepping for the last big push.
Team
selection was the discussion point of all fans, especially on BOD – how dare
Gatland drop the God Bod out of the team, and not even a throne for him on the
bench – but we all kind of knew that ol Brian wouldn’t really be too fussed –
he was happy being a part of things and that is the measure of the man.
Friday was
dress up day and of to the ARU lunch in the Westin with Baldy Lion. He’d
brought nae dress gear, so two Manly Daily rolled up in a pair of my size 12s
and he was off like the lean mean fun machine he is avec kilt and a smile.
First boys we bumped into were Sandy and Norrie whom we met up with in SA 4
years ago – Glasgow Polis guys with a mad sense of loving all rugby experiences
anywhere on the Globe – brilliant to catch up and if you have time read their
blog – it is hilarious.
At the
lunch, Pulver the ARU chief was bigging up everything Wobbily, but Sur Graham
Henry and Gav Hastings certainly made it known that the tradition and ethos of
the Lions was something very dear to the heart and a must to nurture and
maintain – and a big big hear hear to that!
So that was
the culture, then we had a trip to the Marble bar and on down to the Sid Knee
RFC which was a sea of red and nonstop songs – whit a night, and even some of
the apprehension started to drain away.
Sat morning
broke, weather wunnerful and down to Wharf bar to chew the fat with the other
brothers. Our bowling chums joined us and then over on ferry then train to an
Oirish bar near Hyde Park for pre game sustenance prior to train ride out to
game. The Orish contingent were still no happy about BOD and if you weren’t
Welsh there was also a reservation about the 10 Welsh – but we had wot we had
and at least big Ritchie was bound to get on for a run.
A sea of
83000 fans, met us when we got out the train and we found a quiet spot to sing
some more!
We were in
seats 15 from the front behind the Wobbilyies end and there was a fair number
of us, but the Wobbilies with their “they’re only wearing yellow cos its free”
brigade were there in force, but nae very noisycompared to our Prides!!
Kick off
and 7 up!!, couldnae believe it. But sitting there it didn’t give a sense that
we were dominant in that first half. The pack went exceptionally well with that
Corbisero palying oot his skin with Hibbert. Old George Smith was knocked cold
and should really have been allowed to come back on – good Manly loon thon.
And when
young O’Connor squared the try count, my inflatable settee started to give me
much needed comfort.
Half time
and a re-group; can we do it – will the Wobbilyies claw it back as they did in
Melbourne??? It was enough for John to start growing hair again!
So bang –
off we went on and into that never to be forgotten roller coaster of a second
half.
Everything
seemed to click – the forward dominance set up the midfield backs running and
Cow- eating Roberts pulled the defenders in to open these much needed gaps and
– what about 50cents eh! Not only can he kick goals from onywhere, but he can
play a bit. We hammered them into the ground!
Cheerio to
the devastated free gold and greens around us at about 10mins to go – poor
fowk, we were making a hell of a racket – so don’t really blame them. The night
was ours!!!
 |
| The Lions revelling in the sweet taste of victory |
What a
fantastic win. The whole team came over at the end of the game to our end – I
looked up and the whole end was a sea of bouncing red, singing, singing and
singing. What an absolutely brilliant moment. Big Ritchie jumping up and doon
wi his mates and they were just so appreciative of us. That was a very very
special moment.
So we have
the Tom Richards trophy, that great man who played for both sides and fell in
the great war.
A fitting
end to a fabulous 6 weeks of liver destroying mayhem.
Now I need
to get a job in New Zealand in about 4 years time.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
