The 08.35 train from Runcorn started the 2011 Rugby League seasons' travelling for this blogger. £23 return booked pre-christmas enabled a budget trip to the capital to see our opening NRC group game against the London Skolars at White Hart Lane Sports Stadium. After a bite to eat at the newly covered Spitalfields Market, a couple of tube rides to Wood Green on the Piccadilly line took us to within a 10 minute walk down to the home of the Skolars. Not likely to challenge the new Olympic Stadium for the games in 2012, the ground of the Skolars certainly made me wish I'd brought a fleece with me! Summer Rugby... LOL! God it was cold and windy. The usual faces had arrived before us and were making good use of the bar under the stand. I think a few stayed in it and watched through the windows rather than face the elements. After a shakey start, where the Skolars led twice, normal service was resumed and the Vikings ran out 62-18 winners. The hosts celebrated in defeat due to the fact all alcohol in the bar had been sold. The 600 plus crowd was also an added bonus for the Londoners. After the game about 20 Viking supporters ventured up to the Lord Nelson Pub on the High Street to watch the 2nd half of the Chelsea, Liverpool 'Torres' grudge match. Unbeknown to us all it could have been Huyton or West Derby when Liverpool scored, the pub erupted..... More Reds than Chelsea fans in a London pub? Something not right me thinks. The 21.21 train got is into Runcorn at 3 minutes to 12, and the jim-jams were on by 12.30. I'd never been before, and will probably not go again, but London Skolars I thank you for your hospitality.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
London Skolars... a trip down White Hart Lane.
The 08.35 train from Runcorn started the 2011 Rugby League seasons' travelling for this blogger. £23 return booked pre-christmas enabled a budget trip to the capital to see our opening NRC group game against the London Skolars at White Hart Lane Sports Stadium. After a bite to eat at the newly covered Spitalfields Market, a couple of tube rides to Wood Green on the Piccadilly line took us to within a 10 minute walk down to the home of the Skolars. Not likely to challenge the new Olympic Stadium for the games in 2012, the ground of the Skolars certainly made me wish I'd brought a fleece with me! Summer Rugby... LOL! God it was cold and windy. The usual faces had arrived before us and were making good use of the bar under the stand. I think a few stayed in it and watched through the windows rather than face the elements. After a shakey start, where the Skolars led twice, normal service was resumed and the Vikings ran out 62-18 winners. The hosts celebrated in defeat due to the fact all alcohol in the bar had been sold. The 600 plus crowd was also an added bonus for the Londoners. After the game about 20 Viking supporters ventured up to the Lord Nelson Pub on the High Street to watch the 2nd half of the Chelsea, Liverpool 'Torres' grudge match. Unbeknown to us all it could have been Huyton or West Derby when Liverpool scored, the pub erupted..... More Reds than Chelsea fans in a London pub? Something not right me thinks. The 21.21 train got is into Runcorn at 3 minutes to 12, and the jim-jams were on by 12.30. I'd never been before, and will probably not go again, but London Skolars I thank you for your hospitality.
Friday, 4 February 2011
Number 9, gone but not forgotten!
Sunday 2nd february marks the start of a new era in sport, in London a certain No.9 will be missing from our line up. Idolised by all our fans, but now gone forever, sporting a blue shirt with a lion on it! And I don't mean Fernando Torres.
Yes, a new era dawns ..................... there will be no Mark Smith in the ranks of the Widnes Vikings when we take on the London Skolars this weekend. Our once Captain Fantastic, always leading from the front, always with body on the line, has now gone to pastures new, albeit not his choice, but that's professional sport, time moves on.
The clubs hierarchy saw fit not to offer 'Smithy' along with Lee Doran, Scott Yates and Jim Gannon new contracts for what will hopefully be our last season in the Championship, as they regenerate the club with a probable assault on Super League 2012.
Though the aging process has probably gone against three of the above players, they were probably our more consistent performers, and most of the fans would have been happy to see them all get at least 12 months stay of execution. But it was not to be.
We can only hope that the new recruits for 2011 will step up to the plate and carry on the good work that Mark, Lee, Scott and Jim have done before them.
Mark Smith stood by Widnes in 2007 when we went into administration, one of the 'Famous 5'. For that I thank you, and wish you well at Swinton Lions this season.
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