Day 220 - Early Ripe, Early Rotten

If there has been a better day to play golf this year, I cannot remember it!  The setting for our return match against Malden golf Club was nigh on perfect: warm autumnal sunshine, no wind and a great golf course.  We had delivered a tie in the Away match, with my partner and I failing tow in against their Captain and Prrsident, so we were out to do a bit better this time.

And we did.  Allistair and I dovetailed well and soon established an early lead, helped out in no small way by my pitching in from 96 yards for a birdie on the Stroke Index 1, 5th hole of the Old.  By the time our opponents matched the feat on the 10th, time was running out for them and we ended up closing the game out 4&3.

Many of the other Burhill pairs did the same and this time it was a comprehensive 6-1 victory for the home team.  All the chat afterwards would seem to indicate that it was the speed of our greens that gave them the most difficulties.  A drink in the sun, a fine lunch and it was time to get changed again.

View from our seats

We headed off to Twickenham at about 5 pm and could not believe the absence of traffic. We found our usual parking space and arrived at the ground in plenty of time for the evening fare: England vs Wales in the Group Stage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Expectations were high and there was a great atmosphere, with some of the lodest cheers and singing of the anthems that I have ever heard at HQ.  Wales soon established an early lead, but England haiuled them back in and seemd to have the game under control: they were winning all the scrums, stealing lineout ball and yet they kept on giving penalties away, which allowed Wales to stay in the game.

At the end, a well taken try by Wales and yet another penalty conceded (fussy French referee?) saw the visitors steal the game by 28-25.  A mood of despondency settled on the crowd and the walk back to the car was much more muted and a golfing phrase came to mind: Early Ripe, Early Rotten!