The photograph above shows the moment that, to quote one of the old ladies in Miller and Armstrong's Cafe, "it all kicked off." The match was between Bournemouth Oakmeadians and Oldfield Old Boys in the Southern Division of the Southern Counties league - and I have no idea where that is in the bigger scheme of things.
Oakmeadians, the home team, were walking away with the match, and this was only the first half, and things were getting niggly in and around the scrum. This altercation which involved all the forwards at some point or another resulted in a red card for one of the home players (the team in blue). Anyway as I was taking half a dozen shots a voice called out to me "Hey, wanna take a picture?" I put my camera down and looked to see where the voice was coming from, it was about ten feet away from me, I looked up to see two smiling faces and the question was repeated. "Yes," I replied and here it is:
The player on the right was the one asking the question, he is Maiki 'Bunny' Burenivalu, a Fijian winger, who is regarded as good enough to play in the Premiership but due to commitments with the Army has decided to pursue a rugby career further down the ladder. The player on the left is Malakai Magnus another fleet footed Fijian.
The thing that was really cool for me is that the fighting is still going on whilst they offered to pose for me, in the background you can see two of the opposition players watching the ongoing melee. I know the coach probably wouldn't have been too keen on them posing for the camera but at the time he was more concerned with trying to keep all of his forward line on the field.
One thing that amused me looking at the top photograph is the spectator on the left applauding the punch-up. I suppose this does prove that rugby fans have more decorum that footie fans, given that a Hampshire League football match had to be abandoned earlier this season when the fighting on the pitch spilled over into the crowd and caused the match to be abandoned. That would have been bad enough, except the match was the Under-11's!
5 comments:
Your new popst reminded me that I hadn't commented on this one but I had planned to, perhaps laughing at the other post made me forget.
I know Oakmedians, when I was chairman of the mini & Junior section and coached one of the sides.
We went to Oakmedians and must say had a fantastic time and two great games...they were unbeaten ...and we beeat them...their coach was so stunned at how ell they played we had another game (they won) each game being very close...wonderful time had by all etc...soon after I left the club and the family home so don't know if it was kept on the fixture list.
How about that for coincidence! They've got a really impressive Easter weekend of events, the Combined Forces are coming down, some England Internationals and I think the England Women's Team. I'm supposed to be going away for Easter but if I don't I think I'll pop down.
Sorry I think I may have caused some misunderstanding...I didn't mean I was chairman and coach OF Oakmedians...I was at another club from Somerset although the way i reread my post it could be misunderstood.
The year I coached fom age 8 through to 14 (which inclded my eldest son) happened to have some stars...literally. One of the girls is now an England player.
Jesus H Christ...my posts are a frigging typo fest at the moment!
No I wasn't confused, your third paragraph explained all.
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