I’m not really a sports fan but it’s rare I’ll turn down a new experience, well one that doesn’t involve heights anyway!
When we heard Scotland were playing Italy in the Rugby League World Cup we were keen to attend, especially as it was taking place less than an hour away.
With Tom’s parents in tow we headed out West to Derwent Park. I didn’t know the rules, how the scores worked or what to expect from the fans. All I knew was that the men are big, often get cauliflower ear and broken noses (occasionally backs), the little fast guy is called the hooker and the players have far more respect for the referee than they do in football. However it was easier to figure out what was going on than I had thought, especially with a handy try card that explained how everything worked and what the refs hand gestures were signalling! Oh and a couple of men who seemed to know the game!
The Tartan Army were on hand to sing (shout) our national anthem and encourage (shout at) the Scotland team. Wearing kilts and some rather fetching wigs they made me smile with their broad accents that reminded me of home. The game itself was tense with Scotland taking the lead early on and then Italy coming up to equalise after Scotland missed a conversion.
It just so happened that in the same week the football match Tom had been anticipating for months was also taking place. Being from Wolverhampton Tom had been waiting for the visit of the Wolverhampton Wanderers so after a rescheduled game we found ourselves at Brunton Park on a chilly Tuesday night.
Now football I’m pretty good with. I understand the rules and contradictory to popular male belief I know exactly what the offside rule is so when Tom suggested we go I pulled on an extra pair of leggings, added three more jumpers and booked a taxi.
Amazingly Carlisle United looked like the stronger team for most of the match and landed themselves a 2-2 draw which they should be chuffed to bits with!