The problems of success, eh? Irate neighbours complaining about the vast crowds flocking to Meadow Park, and more to the point, parking their jalopies without due care and attention. The vast crowds that is, not the irate neighbours. Ryhope police turned out in force, both of them, had soothing words with the most annoyed gentleman in question, and then enjoyed the match. It's a tough life in the thin blue line alright. And all this with barely three figures in attendance. Still, at least the big game was on, despite much concern in the previous couple of weeks as the old precipitation looked like it was going to precipitate a heart attack or two, or at least a punch up among the ground staff, which would probably amount to the same thing. Not a pretty sight in parts, the pitch not the ground staff, but overall it seemed to play OK. Quite a lot of cursing and head shaking on Monday morning though. But the game was won! Fifth round, can you credit it? I thought the boys from Sleaford gave our lads quite a shock early on, came at us hard, and it took a while for our passing to swing into action. They were strong and effective and no mistake were the Lincolnshire lads. However we gave ourselves a shake and just about deserved the win, and certainly the winning goal did. A thing of beauty.
In the wider sporting world I see we have a new British tennis star. Or as British as counts nowadays. Miss Konta. Tweet four years old, born in Australia to Hungarian parents, lived there until she was 14 and represented the Aussies until three years ago, when she moved her training base to Spain. Yes, sounds British to me. I know I am always having a go at tennis, what with Cliff, the miserable Scotsman and everything, but they do make themselves easy targets don’t they? But no doubt a lovely lass, and a credit to all her countries. And our rugby boys have a new captain. He’s a New Zealander. And a thug. Which to be fair, isn’t always the same thing. Quite impressively he has managed to be banned from the game for a total of 54 weeks in the last eight years for punching, gouging, biting and abusing referees. And the referees didn’t like it. Though the ref was just the abusing bit. Don’t want to malign the lad. And I speak as a rugby fan. Makes the occasional handbags to which the greatest game is prone all look bit tame, no? Somebody needs to step up to the plate....