The competition is taken far more seriously by Queenslanders. Last year, while we were touring the continent, Kevin tried to purchase tickets in Brisbane a mere week prior to the event. The ticket agent actually laughed out loud. Not wanting to suffer such humiliation a second year, Kevin bought four tickets to the game shortly after they went on sale. We rounded up a couple of Aussie rugby fans to accompany us to the match and to serve as guides, commentators, and designated drivers. Many thanks to my colleague Annie and her hubby Scotty for their enthusiastic patience with our many questions.
Following a prerequisite stop at a pub for grub and grog, we hopped a train to Telstra Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. Tickets to all major events almost always include privileges on public transport, yet another example of Australian progressivism. Since there is NO parking at the stadium itself, tailgating is out of the question. However, there was a considerable party on the promenade with food stalls, live bands (cuz dead bands are painfully dull), and booze stands sponsored by Toohey’s, Fourex, and Bundaberg Rum (the consumption of which produces a uniquely foul odor that oozes from every orifice and gland – it is one of my favorites). Needless to say, the crowd was spirited.
After a full circumnavigation of the modern 100,000+ seat arena, we located our entry gate, our seats, and scouted the nearest beer stand and bathroom. We arrived just in time for the Australian National Anthem, which is NOT Waltzing Matilda, but DOES sound suspiciously like America the Beautiful. The teams took to the field and the competition was on.
The New South fans began with a few half hearted attempts at a wave around the stadium, which inevitably died out around the corners. Queensland fans answered back with a few well flung fingers at the crowd. The Blues reclaimed to offensive with a rousing chant of “Queensland is a wanker.” The Maroons sulked in their seats. And on the field, things were heating up too.
Queensland scored the first “try” halfway through the first half. Although good at explaining the general flow of the game, Scotty could not give me a satisfactory reason why it is called a “try” when it was quite clearly a “success”. New South Wales answered back with another successful try, and everyone left their seat at half time to get more beer.
Normally, I get quite annoyed when liquor sales are cut off following the half, but I quickly appreciated the wisdom of the practice as the young sports fans completely lost control of their senses. The Cane Toads scored another try, which completely tried the patience of the drunken Cockroach fans. They retaliated by throwing food and bottles at the nearest person wearing maroon, or, when their aim failed them, the nearest person within chucking distance – which on more than one occasion turned out to be us. Kevin took a coke bottle to the head, and I benefited from the subsequent spray. Several fights broke out, and soon the stands were swarming with police and security, firmly, yet politely evicting anyone at whom someone else merely pointed a finger.
Alas, The Blues could not recover from their display of remarkably bad manners and lost the game 10-6. This was the second game in the series, and since Queensland also won the first, the third game is of no real consequence – or as I heard a sports caster say – I just love this – “The series is a dead rubber.”
I’ll have to ask Scotty about that one…
4 comments:
Here's my theory. In a three game series that is tied at one game each, the third game is often called the "rubber match". Here, one team has won the first two games, so there cannot be a "rubber match", and hence the term "dead rubber". The phrase likely has nothing to do with condoms, as you might have thought.
No, sir...I assumed it had something to do with leaky gumboots...
My deleted comment was too full of envy for public consumption. Perhaps we can get tickets to the third game...or at least watch it on TV. I won't understand the rules, but maybe I'll figure out what a dead rubber is.
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