On the rugby.
Look out on the fb for the big lurgan game v Sweden !!
Storm Burt blew the weekends rugby into touch, with waterlogged pitches playing havoc with the local fixtures.
A hundred years ago when I played, I don’t ever remember a fixture being cancelled due to a storm. If the pitch was flooded, the referee would make a decision based on whether or not the front row might drown should the scrum collapse… Often he left it and both packs would come together with a gentleman’s agreement, should a scrum be awarded in the puddle, the ref would move it to safe ground… Job done…. Game on.
I remember another game in Newry when both teams arrived early to help chase the sheep off the field (Portadown lads always struck fear into sheep!) But when the ref arrived, he (wisely) pointed out that the ground was totally frozen & ‘wouldn’t take a stud’. Ref & both teams retired to the bar & the game was awarded a draw.
God forbid a game was called off and you would go home early to a list of household chores & messages that needed completed!
Today is a very different world and whereas most fixtures were affected by the weather, one did still take place.
Portadown 1XV travelled to Dromore for the Junior Cup Quarter Final. By halftime it was the home side who led 12-7. Dromore turned up the heat in the second half to win the game 47-21 and earn their place in the semifinal.
Thankfully nobody drowned.
Editor manus has a lot more to follow next week on the visiting Swedish tour involving lurgan and portadown.
