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August 27, 2006
Perfect
So, how was your weekend? Good? I bet it wasn't THIS good......
Yesterday St Helens beat Huddersfield Giants 42-12 to take the Challenge Cup Trophy for the tenth time in front of a 65,000 strong crowd at Twickenham and I haven't quite got the full voice back yet. I can hardly describe the pride I felt in those 17 guys as we sang and they danced with the trophy in their hands.
But wait... I'm getting ahead of myself......
Daughter Lou and I travelled down to London on Friday with aunties Maureen and Anne and uncles Mike and Richard for a fun-packed weekend of over-indulgence and a game of rugby league thrown in for good measure. Our hotel was packed with rugby fans, mostly Saints, so there was much banter and the odd serious rugby discussion which helped to get us all in the mood. We even had time for a trip to the amazing Kew Gardens just to remind ourselves there were other things going on in the world besides rugby.
On Saturday morning, after a hearty breakfast, we headed into Twickenham to soak up the atmosphere and as much alcohol as we could imbibe. I don't know whether this happens in other sports but I doubt it's quite the same. The challenge cup doesn't just attract fans of the opposing teams, there are delegations from every superleague, national league and even non-league team in the country and they all wear their colours - it's an amazing sight. There were even NRL teams represented and we rubbed shoulders with as many Parramatta Eels and Manley Sea Eagles as we did Huddersfield Giants. By far though, the most predominant colours were the red and white of St Helens (oh plus a handful of St George-Illawara dragons too.)
Easily two thirds of the crowd at Twickers must have been Saints fans. Sadly, the Huddersfield end of the ground was far from full, it's a great shame for a team to reach the biggest final in rugby league but not be fully supported. Still, it didn't all go our way. Saints have had an amazing season, losing only four of our 25 league games, so with Huddersfield most definitely the under-dogs, all the neutrals took their side.
All that support must have helped because the Giants undoubtedly started the game stronger than Saints. I don't know if the pressure was telling or they just needed a warm up but Huddersfield took the lead after 6 minutes and I have to confess, I was worried. For the first half of the first half the Giants had the majority of possession but on 21 minutes captain, Paul Sculthorpe dabbed a perfect grubber into the waiting hands of Willie Talau and the Saints were finally on the scoreboard.
Four minutes from half time, three time Lance Todd trophy winner, Sean Long took Saints into the lead and Jamie Lyon completed his second conversion to take the half time score to 12-6. After the break Saints dominated with Lyon, Fa'asavalu and Cayless all crossing the line.
Despite having to play with the most unusual strapping I've ever seen after twice being blood-binned, John Wilkin scored a brace, demonstrating the toughness and dedication of these guys, something you would never see in football. Huddersfield managed to pull off another try courtesy of Kiwi scrum half, Robbie Paul, but they never looked likely once St Helens got into their stride and Jamie Lyon's seventh goal from seven attempts confirmed the victory and the cup was ours.
Once the cup had been presented and the obligatory press photos had been taken, the team headed straight for us. While we cheered and applauded them, they cheered and applauded us, their loyal fans. They all acknowledge the great support they get and how inspiring it is for them and they show their appreciation for the fans at every match but never more so than at this one. Maurie Fa'asavalu giving a "we're not worthy" salute to the crowd was a special sight to see. Players and fans danced, sang and cheered - it was amazing.
Back on the streets of Twickenham, the mood was buoyant but the crowd behaved immaculately and the pubs and bars overflowed with fans of all colours well into the night. Back at the hotel, the celebrations continued and the night was rounded off perfectly with a re-run of the game on the big screen and several pints of lager.
This morning we set off (another hearty breakfast having been enjoyed) and headed straight to Knowsley Road to greet the team - and the cup - as they arrived home, in glorious sunshine, to a full house and further adulation. A lap of honour was followed by interviews with every member of the squad and, of course, our amazing coach, Daniel Anderson. Then, 60 hours after it all started, we headed home, still on a high but knowing it isn't over yet.... we still have a grand final to get to.
My mum video'd the match for me, so now I'm off to watch the whole thing one more time. A perfect end to a perfect weekend.
Posted by lilliebet at 08:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 23, 2006
The Final Countdown
The clock is ticking..... 2 days, 20 hours, 47 minutes and 37 seconds; 36 seconds; 35 seconds.....
Hell, you know what I mean!
The countdown has begun to the Powergen Rugby League Challenge Cup Final between St Helens and Huddersfield Giants. As Wembley is STILL not built, this year's final is being played on the hallowe'ed turf of Twickenham. (At least, if you're a fan of "piley on" I guess it's hallowe'ed turf.)
On Friday, six of us will be off, off, off in a motor car, down the M something or other (I don't even know which way South is to be quite honest.... except that it's "down".) We're staying at a Travel Inn at Heathrow so not much sleep to be had I'm thinking. Still, who cares, it's the final and I'm so excited I'm likely to hyperventilate before the day's out.
Yesterday, three of us went up to St Helens on the train to buy deccies for the car from the Saints Club Shop and earlier, Lou and I went and had our nails painted in Saints' colours (white with a red "V") so there will be no more washing up done in this house before Friday!!
Right now the final is all I can think about. I'm like a kid at Christmas and I really do think I'm going to burst if Friday doesn't hurry up and get here soon.
Just make sure you're watching on Saturday.... oh and keep your fingers crossed for us.
C'mon you Saints!
Posted by lilliebet at 06:13 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 18, 2006
A Place of Learning
Yesterday my daughter got notification that she's gained a place in sixth form at her school. This means she'll be able to study for her AS and A levels, which will gain her a place at university in a couple of years.
Today my son had an interview with Southport College and gained a place on an Engineering course.
It's going to be tough, financially, but I'm so proud and pleased for them both, for all of us.
I have my fingers crossed.
Posted by lilliebet at 10:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 11, 2006
Cheap as Chips
It's not the grey hair and wrinkles that make us feel old. No, it's our kids and their unerring ability to remind us of our mortality with a mere sentence.
Little angels!
A few years ago I was dragging my youngest up to the shops.
"What are we going to Woollies for?" she asks, all innocence
"I want to buy a record" I reply
"What's a record?"
And there you have it. Not only are there no records any more but they're so obsolete as to be unheard of by anyone under the age of 25.
Even so, it took until today for me to give in completely to the lure of things digital and buy an MP3 player (yes, I know, I'm sooooo last week.) It really is cool though and I don't just mean the amazing technology that allows me to save several hundred songs on something the size and shape of a tampon; nor their almost indestructability but it's the price that does it for me.
The first single I ever bought (yes, vinyl) cost 45p - that's decimal by the way, I'm not THAT old - which would be a little less than the cost of three bags of chips. There was a potato famine in Ireland in about 1977 which caused the cost of chips to literally double overnight which is why the price of chips, of all things, sticks out in my mind and I tend to measure everything by them even today.
So by the time CD singles hit the shops, we were looking at around £2.95 per, which, by then, was maybe slightly more than three bags worth. OK, a slight increase but things are keeping steady at around three portions per song......
Gnarls Barkley's Crazy broke all records recently by becoming the first to hit the top of the charts through downloads alone - it reached number 1 before it was even released on CD. So, assuming one downloads legally (as I do because I get £5 worth of free downloads every month from my mobile phone network), it now costs just 99p per song, less than the cost of ONE measly bag of jockey's whips. Cutting out all the physical aspects of producing a "record" has smashed the price to about a third of what it was five years ago, great news for us consumers eh? Now that's what I call music!
Posted by lilliebet at 09:16 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
August 01, 2006
No other place
There are people who want to take our men away....
Yes, yes, "they" may be cultured art lovers but I don't care. These are our guys. We've grown used to them. They belong here.
Personally, I love having them around. It's amazing how profound their thinking is; how influential their answers can be when you ask them.... well, whatever it is you ask them.
Since they've been there. Since the first time I saw them staring patiently out to sea, to another place, I've found them comforting. Somehow, they are sentinels, guardians, they look out for us and they answer us when we have questions.
New York doesn't need them. New York is too manic, too crazy. New York could never achieve the level of peace and tranquility that can be reached here, at sundown; when the light is just right and there is no-one else around; when the naked beach guys are at their most receptive; New York is just too crazy.
I don't care about art. I don't see them as art. They just are..... and they listen... and I don't want them to go.
They belong here.
Posted by lilliebet at 08:47 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack