It all started off with such high expectations: in honour of Welsh Legends, a pre-match drinky at the Owain Glyndwr. Unfortunately the beer was being served by an amateur, and headless Brains was the result.
Not to worry! A text arrived from a colleague of the mister’s (a Tigers fan) announcing that he was at O’Neill’s, so we made our way there. The colleague was nowhere to be found, and the beer (and wine) was equally shit. The main point of interest was that the owner must be a County Antrim man, judging by the exquisite photographs on the walls.
Next on the agenda was to find somewhere to watch the Munster v Racing match. After considerable traipsing, eventually found a pub that was both showing it and had drinkable booze. Hooray!
As you’ll all know, that was quite an exciting match, ending in a draw.
On to Arms Park for the main event!
Arms Park is a civilised ground that serves Courvoisier doubles. Whoever designed the signage must have been overly-appreciative of said cognac, because the signs in no way resembled any of the seating information on our tickets.
With the help of a friendly usher, we eventually found our seats, in the middle of a garish sea of Leicester supporters. A particularly large-lunged one was sitting directly behind me, and was given to shouting YESTIGAHS every time Leicester touched the ball.
Noticing me flinching, he said, “Sorry, I’ll try to warn you before I shout. But I don’t always know when I’m going to do it.”
“Oh. A bit like Tourette’s, then?”
As for the rugby itself:
.
.
.
(Yay, try Cardiff.)
.
.
.
.
Ah shit.
Further Reading
Weekend team selections start here.
ClydeMillarWynant’s views on known knowns and unknown unknowns.
On the telly this week
Friday 29th November
| Munster v Edinburgh | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ulster v Scarlets | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Bath v Saracens | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 30th November
| Wales v Barbarians (women) | 11:45 | S4C |
| Wales v Barbarians (men) | 14:45 | Channel 4 |
| Northampton v Leicester | 15:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Treviso v Cardiff | 15:00 | FreeSports / PS2 |
| Connacht v Southern Kings | 17:15 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Dragons v Zebre | 17:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Glasgow v Leinster | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ospreys v Cheetahs | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 1st December
| Harlequins v Gloucester | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Still a bit undecided on which match to watch tonight. Watching Ulster v Turk B buildup but might flick over.
LikeLike
My mistake Tam, my wife tells me it opened when they were a bit older, in their early teens, 1989- Chez Fred in Westbourne.
As my wife has just said, that’s very new in Bournemouth terms
LikeLike
Hah! Knew it! Iks the (no-so-secret) progger! I trust you’re going to hang the calendar of Mark Wilkinson images that he did for Marillion on your wall?
Of course, I know that you actually only bought the magazine for the No-Man interview. Where they discuss how they merged Donna Summer’s, Pink Floyd’s Shine On Your Crazy Diamond and Sag’s, sorry, John Barry’s film work. An intriguing mix….
LikeLike
Yos, from an Embra perspective tonight can only go sort of okay or very badly wrong, no “mehs”
We’ve picked a side that is better than a lot of Scotland teams from the not too distant past, playing a Munster second team.
LikeLike
Just the four craigs?
LikeLike
I’ll sulk if we lose to Munster c.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ticht, I know it very well. It’s very very good. Go there twice every trip home. My parents have been going there since it opened. In the summer me and the lad had a day out at Alum Chine and then a quick walk up to Westbourne for an early evening supper.
They do unlimited chips in the restaurant, which is a winner. Also they give kids a gift pack. We’ve got about 5 packets of snap. Snap with fish.
They used to have a very extensive “Wall of Fame” selection what with all the celebs that play panto and summer season in Bournemouth. The wall’s a shadow of what it was post-Yewtree.
LikeLiked by 2 people
@ticht
4 points down there would be very handy though.
I’ve gone with Ulster/Scarlets but I’ll dip into the other matches during stoppages.
LikeLike
‘Mon Embra! Good start!
LikeLike
Ulster v Turks is pointlessly one sided. 19-0 after less than 20 minutes.
LikeLike
3-3 at the Rec.
LikeLiked by 1 person
6-3 Bath
LikeLike
0-10 Embra!
LikeLike
The fuckin Prem Sports commentary mays as just well have uilleann pipes music playing full time
LikeLike
3-10 now.
LikeLike
Arrgh. Protect the baw
LikeLike
Love Mitrea not reffing the gate. That’s why I pay for Premier Sports.
LikeLike
Shit. Two people (other than the attacker) killed.
LikeLike
Christ, and a fake tweet claiming to be from Corbyn, showing sympathy for the killer, not the victims. Bow can they not track that arsehole down and chuck him in prison for a couple of decades. It’s sick, inflammatory and deliberately seeking to create conflict.
LikeLiked by 3 people
“Love Mitrea not reffing the gate. That’s why I pay for Premier Sports.”
Pile of bodies, several minutes of tmo searching through it all in ultra slow motion – no scent of a grounding but “on field decision is a try”
I’m going to give up on “professional” rugby, really, I don’t get angry over dance gigs or people playing violin.
LikeLike
Bath most of the pressure, Saracens 16-9 up heading into break.
LikeLike
There’s a gate?
LikeLike
Deebee, we’ve seen how much people want to believe that crap
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been trying to watch the debate and the match at the same time.
Tory absolutely hopeless; Turks much better – and they’re scoreless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vote Turks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Adam Price from Plaid wasn’t bad. Dunno if he’s a Turk supporter or not.
LikeLike
He’s from Carmarthen but ended up being a big noise in Cardiff. Very much an old-fashioned rugby story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Duncan Taylor injured.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christ, Taylor off injured again. Looked like his shoulder this time – the guy just has no luck with injuries.
LikeLike
Bath back to 7 down. 19-12 .
LikeLike
Gilroy yellow-carded for a high tackle. Scarlets still fail to score through an unforced knock-on.
LikeLike
Chimpie – not anymore!!!!!!
LikeLike
Scarlets score a try in the corner, but miss the conversion.
LikeLike
Embra win!!!! That’ll teach Superbru to question my choice!
LikeLike
And Ulster respond in kind.
LikeLike
Sulk is cancelled
LikeLike
Just
LikeLike
Re seaside towns Swanage, Rye and Whitstable are very good. If you like art museums and wanky shops then Margate is your best bet nowadays. See also Dartmouth. What it lacks in a beach it makes up for in crabbing.
Also, St Mawes is great with the kids. Potentially pricey but also not if you look around… Any town in the south of Cornwall will do actually.
LikeLike
And that’s the match: 29-5.
LikeLike
I’ve had no alez. Just for the record.
Night off.
LikeLike
Don’t worry, Craigs will have enough for you as well.
LikeLike
I’m sure he has
LikeLike
Like I say, I’m watching violin from now on, Nicola Benedetti doesn’t get injured or get a three weeks ban for head butting folk
LikeLike
CMW,
“Beavers set to return to Norfolk”
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/ken-hill-beaver-release-scheme-1-6385824
LikeLike
They’ve just had a bit on a giant illuminated marmot on HIGNFY.
LikeLike
Ticht – tonight’s Country Music is about the Thaum-Pleasing Hank Williams.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Woa, woa and thrice woa, BB. I was sharing, not advocating, although you are right that the No-Man piece caught my eye.
I also learnt that Porcupine Tree / Steve Wilson have re-released an album called ‘In Absentia’ with a lifetime’s worth of listening, viewing, reading and photos. How do you proggers find the time?
LikeLike
“Beavers set to return to Norfolk”
They don’t need them as they’ve got coypu.
LikeLike
*throws chimpie a can*
LikeLike
“There is something I can’t help noticing with these sorts of articles”
Well ‘Crap Towns’ was funny for a bit, but even that quickly became grating and everthing similar since is generally worse.
LikeLike