What a great weekend. Friday night I was out for a meal and a few drinks for my friends birthday. The meal was at a Mexican restaurant, and we all ate so much that the rest of the night we all just wanted to take a nap. After a few drinks we had to call it a night because we were all so lethargic.
Saturday was a day of sports that had the potential to be one of the greatest sporting days of the year, or a shit day that everyone would want to forget.
Scotland -vs- England
The oldest international rugby union match in the world. A game Scotland had won twice since 1990. This time it was being played in Edinburgh at Murrayfield and the city was buzzing with anticipation.
Earlier in the day the Scottish cup quarter final matches were being played. Hearts managed a win against Partick, and Hibs destroyed Falkirk to take us one step closer to an all Edinburgh final, if they can avoid each other in the Semi-final draw tonight. So with those expected results out of the way it was time for the rugby.
What a game. There wasn’t a great deal of flair, and there were no tries, but the defensive effort by Scotland was simple stunning. The number of tackles they made was nothing short of heroic. Wave after wave of English attacks were efficiently snuffed out again and again. When one man wasn’t enough to stop the behemoths the English have somehow bred, a second man in blue would appear instantly to lend support.
Both sides ended the half level, with the commentators saying at half time that after such a grueling effort from the Scots they would have to tire in the second half and England would inevitably begin to break them down. I must admit I thought the same. No-one can do so much defensive energy sapping work and last the full game. Everyone expected England to wear them down and with 10 minutes left begin to pick them apart.
We were all so wrong.
Not only did Scotland keep up the unbelievable defensive effort, completing 94% of their tackles. They managed to add pressure to England. At one point being mere inches from scoring a try. In the end it came down to some fantastic kicking from Chris Paterson for Scotland to win the 12rd Calcutta Cup 18-12.
After the match we did what any good Scots would do. We celebrated. The headache I had all day yesterday was testiment to the fact that I partied hard until 4.30 in the morning before finally going home. Edinburgh was overflowing with people in Kilts, people wearing Scotland strips and dejected English fans who took the good natured taunts the way they were intended. When we beat them once every eight years they can afford to let us gloat, they know the next time we play it’s probably going to be a different story. So we have to enjoy these things when they happen.
I’m still in a shock that we won. It’s great to see everyone in Edinburgh wearing the stupid grin and the look of disbelief on their face. It’s even better to know that they see the same thing when they look at me.
Match reports:
The Scotsman
BBC