sidelined

Is Leichhardt oval not one of the best league venues in the land? The crowd is vocal and close to the action, the food and drink vendors operate out of the traditional vendor caravans. You get you beer in a can and kids can get an ice cream. Best of all is doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Bismarck O’Measles, Pixie O’Measles, the Father-In-Law and I enjoyed a glorious Sunday afternoon watching the Tigers go down valiantly against the Warriors.

The atmosphere was great. When the Warriors scored a try off a blatant forward pass, the gents below us gave it the touchies saying “Sir, Sir! I believe one of the Warriors chaps received a ball in offside position. I question you parentage and the acuteness of you vision!” Well not exactly those words but close enough.

And there was the high drama of Hodgo’s sideline conversion to draw the match on full time. Bismarck O’Measles could not sit down. The lady next to me had her head in her hands. She could not watch. Hodgo launched the kick it went wide. Maybe taken off course by the weight of the Tigers’ fans expectations.

A highlight of the day was Bismarck having to don the mighty blue and gold as the result of losing a bet. He tried to cover it up with a Tigers jacket but it didn’t work. He was spotted when buying an ice cream for Pixie and not long after buying a beer. I, of course, wore the colours with pride. Got into some good natured banter especially when the scores from the Parra/Storm game came in. Just good fun and smiles all round.

I could do this every weekend.

Quote of the day was from Pixie O’Measles 4 minutes into the game looking forward to an ice-cream: “Is it half time yet?”

And doesn’t Bismarck (on the left of the picture) look cute in the blue and gold. You humble correspondent models the predominantly gold strip.