Worcester Rugby Jolly

Today i went with R, J and H to see Worcester play Exeter in the Aviva Premiership (Rugby Union), J works for Aviva so the tickets were comp (tidy) and we met up at The Swan in Whittington beforehand, which was really first class (two thumbs up to the bangers and mash. Morrisons, you can now step down). 

Rugby, i only have a passing acquaintance with. I'll happily watch internationals on the telly, but i don't know enough of the rules to be able to really voice much opinion 'from the stands'. During the first half, when a try had not been awarded, i ventured the opinion that it might have been because the player had been 'held up', but i didn't really know and i felt a bit like a football girlfriend who is only going along to be polite and who doesn't know what offside is.

Second half though, it all kicked off. Two Exeter players sin binned, Worcester came from behind to be in the lead as the time ran out. All they had to do was run the ball out of play and they'd win. [The referee can't end the game while it's still in play]. But Exeter got the ball back before Worcester could manage this, and scored a last minute try. Exciting.

Impression of Worcester rugby ground? Lots of cash been chucked that way for sure. But it has the air of a 'pop up shop'. A lot of the stands are temporary, or at least seem temporary. And it seems like it's suddenly appeared on the edge of an industrial estate. Kind of like they're hedging their bets and if the team start losing they could whip some of the stands away. And the fans were all mad crazy for the merch. And i don't think there was a square inch of the ground or shirts that didn't have a sponsor's message. It made me realise how much history there is in the old football grounds i've been to. It's something you can't buy or make a franchise out of.

Good game, though.

On Tuesday its time for a three hour voyage to the mystical east (midlands). And the possibility of three essential points for Saints at the home of Peterborough. 

Here's some photos, hot off the Nokia, from earlier today..