Challenge Cup Final
Nothing to do with wine, this post. Just thought I’d record the fact that I won two tickets in a raffle at Co-op Bank (one of our customers) for two tickets to the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final. The first at Wembley for several years.
Turns out the prize was kindly donated by one of my former employers, Tieto Enator, so thanks to them!
Unlike football fans, rugby league spectators are trusted to behave. St Helens fans were almost outnumbered by, not mindless thugs, but genuine fans from other teams. I laughed at the many Wigan fans wearing onions and berets, Catalans Dragons fans for just one afternoon of their lives. But despite mixing with “the enemy” allowed to drink beer on the terraces in a civil and friendly atmosphere.
I decided to take my mate, Jeff, who actually knows all the rules. Jeff and I used to play American Football together in our 20’s but I moved to Yorkshire and quit the game in 1988.  Rugby League in some ways is a cross between Rugby Union and American Football but with less padding. One sport we both share these days is drinking.
The seats were great, just behind a cameraman so the view was better than a day at the beach.
Catalans put up a good fight for the first half but St Helens ran out all too easy winners in the end. I was hoping for an upset (indeed had placed money on such an event) but in the end, Agincourt was replayed, albeit with marginally less blood. 30 points to 8 was the scale of a victory which left the French looking to the skies with wonder. At least they had an impressive view on a very pleasant day.
