Force brings Fans To "Da-Feet" !
Trip Start
Sep 04, 2007
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Trip End
Sep 01, 2008
Subiaco, Australia
Sunday, April 13, 2008
This evening, I took Elsie to her first rugby game! The game had our team, Emirates Western Force playing the NSW Waratahs. The teams were evenly matched in the standings and the match was promoted as the winner becoming the best Australian Team in the Super 14 League!
Prior to the game, the Flying Force came flying down on a zip line, using smoke as an illusion, from the light towers of Subiaco Oval which seemed to get all the fans, including Elsie excited!
Upon seeing the players of the NSW Waratahs, one could see their team was much heavier than the Western Force! In fact, the Force's scrum weighed only 875 kg's as opposed to the Waratahs 903 kg's. However, where the Force lacked in strength, they gained in mobility and speed. Although the Force were among the leagues lowest in tackles, they were leaders in possession of the ball! So, wherever the Force had a weakness, they also had a strength!
The game was very physical as the Force and Waratahs showing their own strengths. The tackles and scrums were physical! Although the Waratahs earned an early 3 points from a penalty goal, the Force evened it up with a penalty kick of their own. However, midway through the first half, the Force's co-captain Matt Giteau appeared to be seriously injured while attempting a midfield tackle on a Waratah player! He layed motionless for minutes as the played moved into the Force's end. It was obvious, in rugby, a player lying motionless on the field, doesn't constitute a stopage in play! Wow! This game is tough!
Within minutes after Matt Giteau was removed from the field on a back board and medical cart, the Waratah's scored their first try, taking a 10-3 lead! Perhaps the Force were still feeling the emotional let down of seeing their leader Giteau taken off the field.
Fortunately, the Force benefited from the Waratahs lack of discipline and earned 9 subsequent points from penalty goals to eventually take a 12-10 lead. But, a lucky play from the Waratahs saw them earn another try midway through the second half to take a 17-12 lead! On several occasions throughout the game, the Force found themselves close to the Waratah goal line and scoring a try, only to come out with a penalty goal or losing possession! Then, as the final buzzer sounded and the Force moving the ball closer to the Waratah goal line, the Force found themselves within inches of the goal line! The final scrum would make the difference!
With approximately 25,000 fans on their feet cheering, anticipating a home team try and subsequent victory, the Force attempted a throw to their backfield only to have the ball deflect off a Waratah player and subsequent loss of possession. Game Over! Defeat grasped from the clutches of victory! Disappointment was seen throughout Subiaco Oval! It would appear the Force could've used those few extra pounds in the scrum as the Force just couldn't gain those few extra inches for the final try!
Although the Force lost the game, Elsie was impressed at the players physical strength and speed and the fact they didn't wear padding or equipment, not like the North American football players! In fact, she thought they had "buns of steel, abs of steel and pec's of steel"! Rick, showing his psychology and social work background, thought they "played lousy while acknowledging they were likely nice blokes"!
Better Luck Next Game!
Cheers, Rick & Elsie!
