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AB Tour Diary; Catch up Days 15-16 November 2014
Our Williment Sports Travel Supporters tour group lined up in front of the imposing figure of King Robert the Bruce at Stirling Castle.
16 November 2014
Saturday 15 November 2014
New Zealand v Scotland at Murrayfield. Match day for the All Blacks. And for us following them in the tour groups.
Actually considering all things; the day went very efficiently for us all. Our two parties travelled from the Apex International Hotel to the famous Murrayfield Ground by coach and found our way to our seats; West Stand Upper Gate 24. As easy as pie.
The mood of the crowd of 66,000 was excellent, as it always is in my experience in Scotland. And the game, while tough and a bit of a disappointment to our people, was at least win for the All Blacks. So we trudged back to our coach in lively humour. It had been a good day. Any day when the All Blacks win is good - but this time the 24-16 margin was too close for many - and there was much discussion about play and players - deep into the night in the warm pubs of the Grassmarket. (See my match comments elsewhere on this site)
Sunday November 16 2014
Surprisingly, there were no visible hangovers in our tour group today. Today was to be a day of coach touring so I guess no one wanted to overdo the post-match activities too much. Or was it respect for the fact that our first stop was to be at a Scotch whiskey distillery!
Which meant we were a cheerful bunch as we headed out. The first stop was at Glengoyne distillery where at about 10.45am (!!) a complimentary glass of the 'good stuff' was offered around. All 36 in our group took gentle sips as we enjoyed a tour of how a tradition Scotch distillery works. Another 'wee dram' was offered to us as we approached the gift shop - which I am sure helped souvenir sales no end.
Next up we motored to the lakeside of Loch Lomond where we cruised for an hour. To be sure It was a lovely experience but I must admit here to changing my position from the upper deck where it was so cold and dreich (Scottish for 'bleak') it had become impossible to enjoy. (I noted, as I scurried below, that the hardy Scots also on board did not move an inch. No doubt such a lowering in the temperatures did not affect them one bit.)
Our last stop in our bus travel day was across the countryside to Stirling where a grand castle overlooks the city and from its upper decks you can see way across to the famous William Wallace monument.
The whole day was a great relaxant after the rigours of Heathrow on Friday and the strains of watching Scotland nearly beat the All Blacks at Murrayfield in the past two days.
In fact it is more touring and sightseeing for us in the days ahead as we begin a slow drop down to Cardiff to see New Zealand try to finish its rugby year in style against waiting - and perhaps desperate for a win - Wales!
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Every day there is Rugby History 31 October 1978
Click to show Monstered by Munster and that was no Limerick!
Graham Mourie's touring team was beaten 12-0 by Munster in Limerick; the first win by any Irish team over the All Blacks. And poems, songs, books, films and reunions followed over the years.
A-Z of Rugby
Click to show ABERAVON RFC
One of the more prominent Welsh clubs, Aberavon was founded in 1876 and is centred at Port Talbot, near Swansea. After a particularly bright period of play in the 1920s, the Aberavon team became known as the ‘Wizards’. The name stuck and today a wizard is incorporated in the club’s monogram.
With the tough industrial and employment conditions associated with the coalfields and steelworks of south Wales in recent years, so has Aberavon undergone tough times. These days the club is semi-professional and has had only modest success. In 2001 it did win the National Division One club league for the third time.
The club had four famous three-quarters in the 1920s – John Ring, Alun Edwards, Syd Williams and Arthur Bassett – but all later switched to rugby league. The club’s 1984 top try-scorer, Kevin James, also left the district to play league. In 1985 he played for Hull in rugby league’s top match of the year, the Challenge Cup final.
Aberavon’s leading cap-winner for Wales is Allan Martin, who played 34 internationals for his country between 1973 and 1981. The big lock also toured with the British Isles to New Zealand (1977) and to South Africa (1980).
Other prominent Wizards from over the years include John Bevan (Welsh international 1975, British Isles tour to New Zealand 1977 and Welsh national team coach 1982–86); Ned Jenkins (21 internationals for Wales 1927–32); Tony O’Connor (five internationals for Wales 1960–62, British Isles tour to South Africa 1962); and Clive Williams (Welsh international prop 1977–83 who later played for Swansea and toured New Zealand with the British Isles 1977 and South Africa 1980). Billy James (1983-87) is the only club player to have captained the Welsh national XV.
One family which had a close association with Aberavon is the family of Richard Burton. The famous actor used to recall that his father always used to say,‘when I die, do not bury me on a Saturday. If you do you will miss watching The Wizards play.”
The Aberavon team plays in red and black hooped jerseys,
10 Questions to well known sporting people
Today's KQ Rugby Quiz
Who was the first All Black captain to be red or yellow carded in a test match?
What do you think?
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28 December 2014 (11 years ago)
Stewy
What a great trip and for me Stirling Castle the top castle with so much history-cheers Malcolm Bruce Stewart from the town of the oldest rugby club in NZ Nelson. Great photo to treasure.