Heartstring ticker-tape parade

My seventh-placed Knights weren't expected to defeat the No. 2 Bulldogs in this Saturday gone's qualifying final - and they didn't. But I made the trek to ANZ Stadium to lend my support and I don't regret it. Because I'd purchased one of the earlybird tickets reserved for our members, I had a prime seat right on the halfway line, in the midst of the Novocastrian diehards. The Homebush air was less frigid than usual, so my fur-lined coat sat in my lap. The Knights cap and scarf stayed on, though. I lobbed too late for the Arrive Alive Cup game, but caught most of the Toyota Cup encounter between the Sea Eagles and Raiders. In the dying minutes, the lead kept switching, with the crowd rallying behind the fellas from the capital - or, depending on your perspective, ganging up on the "Silvertails". It went to golden point and the eighth-placed light greens scored a try to well and truly upset the minor premiers. I inhaled a couple of large hotdogs, suffered terrible indigestion, painfully forced down an OJ, then felt OK again. Prior to the main attraction, they held a series of not unexciting relay races (with a football replacing the baton) involving juniors from each of the NRL clubs. They then wheeled out those flame-thrower thingies, which can now spout patterns as well as vertical jets. When the time came, I plugged in my Sports Ears so as to follow the referee calls and...as you know, we were beaten. But 26-12 is hardly a shameful margin. Especially when we lost a crucial player almost immediately (admittedly, it was a risk to field him injured), managed converted tries in both halves and defended gutsily to the end. They were simply the superior squad on the night. Typically, there were some ratbags in the stands... Like the over-opinionated kid behind me who'd clearly never heard of laryngitis or swear jars. The staggering-drunk woman who was shocked at being ejected by police after 20-odd glasses of wine (she actually fell on me while negotiating the stairs). The obnoxious Knights fan who attempted to blame the loss on the rest of us not cheering as loudly or often as him (you're a disgrace to the jersey, sir!). The dude in the Eels shirt who seemed to be there only to stir the pot, hassling whichever side suited him at that moment. And not forgetting the minority of Bulldogs supporters who...let's just say they appeared more interested in the schadenfreude to be had than the rugby league on display. Ah, don't pay too much attention to all that - I'm a fuddy-duddy who even frowns on clapping an opposition error that benefits his own team. And it wasn't a great deal to tolerate for the opportunity of applauding the Knights in person at the conclusion of another hard-fought campaign.


D: Coopers 62 Pilsener, Coopers Mild Ale.

L: "Ashes To Ashes OST" (2008).

R: "Bleach #28"; "Spud - The Madness Continues..." (2007) by John Van De Ruit; "No Law In The Land" (2009), a "knights templar mystery" by Michael Jecks.

W: "In The Name Of The King - A Dungeon Siege Tale" (2007) wot I got from PG, promo DVD of "Maiko Haaaan!!!" (2007), "Erasure At The BBC" (overview of their two decades on "Top Of The Pops") on ABC2, "Top Gear" celebrity laps and La Roux clips/interviews on YouLittleBeautTube, "Duffy Live At LSO St Luke's" (2009) on Music Max. Rolled a "1" on my saving throw versus slinky Welsh chanteuses. Also, the David Suchet episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (on SBS1) was perhaps the most incredible yet.