The Thai Pirate - Thai Blog and Travel Stories

Hard Day at the Office

Chip off the old block.

Rugby game in Pattaya

I got together with the Panthers again for a match vs. the 'Goosers'.

(check the backdrop - you don't get those in Ilford) All I knew was that this team were associated with the British Club, a popular expat organisation based in BKK. When they turned up there was a little confusion, mainly because they were all Thai(!) (I was expecting a bigger expat contingent, like us).

We didn't care, either way we were going to get a game. You can imagine the scenario, a side made up of about twenty 30-40 (50?)-ish expats from all walks of life, vs. a gang of about thirty young Thais, all in their late teens to early 20's, of whom had traveled down from BKK, and who weren't intending to go home without a win.

(one spectator enjoys the game) The Panthers started well; with initiative, experience, and the odd spurt of energy... Alas, these spurts rapidly diminished, and initiative and experience couldn't keep up... after a bit, the 'collective' fuel in the tank was running close to the red; as the Panthers attack wore down, the nippy Goosers gained in confidence and began to 'get their game on'...

Just goes to show, as you get older, you have to 'get them in early' ... the rest of the game was largely a defensive demonstation put on by the Panthers, with the Goosers managing to squeeze through 'a few times,' shall we say.

(a Thai panther heads for the try line) But all in all a great game, the weather wasn't too bad either, kick off at 4.30 in the afternoon is a bloody good idea, and the game was mercifully separated into 4 x 15 minute quarters... The Panthers also put three tries on the board, and had some solid team effort in defence....

Against a much fitter, younger and more drilled side, not a bad effort by any stretch.