We've only gone and won it!
Lift Off
By Moorsman
March 18 2014
There are some days when all you can do at the end of them is smile .....
LV= Cup Final
Exeter Chiefs 15 Northampton Saints 8
I'm not going to give an account of the match as this has been very well covered by the media. Instead I'll give a few views on the day as I experienced it. I've also kindly been given permission to use several professional photos, these remain the copyright of onEdition but many thanks for their use. You'll see the first with the Story header.
To take a leaf out of ExTeddChief's book I'll start with my journey to the stadium. Set off in brilliant sunshine to walk the mile from my place in Topsham to the ground, Warbonnet in hand. After a couple of hundred yards remembered I'd forgotten my drum so quickly retrace my steps to pick it up. Started again but thought, I can't have both hands full (sometimes need on to wave to friendly motorists who want to get close to me) so donned the Warbonnet. Great advert for where you're off and I was quickly offered a lift to the ground, many thanks kind sir whoever you were. Hmm what did my mother say about getting in cars with strange men? Anyway less time getting to the ground means more beer time. Well it would do if I wasn't meeting up with my daughter friends outside the game where there is no Otter on tap! What made it worse was I felt utterly swamped by the host of friendly Saintly ones who insisted on interfeering with my carefully considered views whilst being interviewed by some chap with a hairy protruberence and his mate with one of those new fangled video cameras. Right where was I, oh yes, finally my daughter and friends arrive to escort me to the Undercroft for a welcome Otter of three.
So, now we need to find our seats in the West stand, not my ususal seat but I was glad to see lots of friendly faces some new to me others I know well. The Tribe start to go to town in pre-match warm up and disaster strikes, I (yes it was self inflicted) knock over the best part of a pint. Now that's not a good omen, nor is the sight of Saints playing in LV colours. Problem quickly sorted though with the dextrous use of a topped up membership card and a foaming pint of amber nectar is on it's way to oblivion.
Now what about the match? Well Chiefs fire out of the blocks and clearly mean business as Chrissy Whitehead gets atouch down in no time. The noise levels go up a few notches and it's smiles all round. Even though there's not a lot of scoring the match has everyone on the edge of they're seats with Saints trying to find a way though. However the Chiefs were attacking everything in bot attack and defence. So it's still all to play for at half-time with Chiefs leading 8 - 3. The second half starts with Chiefs again pushing ghard and they're soon rewarded when Captain Fantastic, Dean Mumm dots down after some great work by forwards and backs. Still no room to breath although Luke Arscott came close to hammering things home following a typically decisive run only to be denied by a last ditch tackle. Saints aren't top of the Prem for nothing and they keep the pressure on scoring a try with 10 minutes to go. But that was as close as they came and Chiefs finished the match very much as they'd played throughout, on the front foot. The final whistle is blown and Sandy Park goes crazy with hugs and smiles all round. A feeling reminiscent of our Chmpionship winning evening in Bristol. It still feels unreal that Exeter Chiefs have won the Anglo=Welsh cup. Amazing!
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That deathless prose "We've only gone and won it" still makes me smile.
I love that picture taken from a low angle of podium. One of Pinnacles photos?
A great day that I definetly wont be forgetting for a long time.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:03:19:14:40:12 by Tom A Hawk.
