Sunday, February 26, 2006

Duncan Hodge - Scotland's Calcutta Cup hero in 2000 when he scored all of Scotland's points in the last game that Scotland beat England. He is definately one of my favourite Scotland players ever.
Well what can I say? I think I'll start with the simple - Scotland 18-12 England!! I started the day by catching the 12.15 train from Glasgow to Edinburgh Haymarket. My Dad was travelling up from Darlington and hadn't arrived in Edinburgh yet so I waited in Starbucks just by the station and actually he didn't arrive too much later. I had lunch there and then Dad and I just sat in the car for ages listening to the radio. At around 4pm we started to make our way to Murrayfield which is about 20 mins walk from where our car was parked. When we reached the ground Sarah (who was also there) and I were texting and she came from her seat to shout hello from the steps going up the side of the stadium. Then Dad and I made our way to our seats which were excellent and just in front of the BBC Sport box thingy. We got ourselves comfortable then to our dismay a couple came up with identical tickets to ours. So my Dad and the guy went to sort the whole situation. It turns out that it was the computer's fault. We managed to catch the anthems in our original seats then we let the couple who arrived after us (so really it should have been them that moved) stay in the West stand and the great seats while we moved to the North stand. Sarah and co were also in the North stand but were on the other side so not sitting very close. We did wave to each other though. The first half flew by and ended with a scoreline of 3-3. In the second half it was very exciting - England took the lead once but Scotland quickly sorted that out. Certainly England did put a lot of pressure on Scotland but Scotland were the ones who came closest to scoring a try when the ball was put into touch just on the wrong side of the try line. The final ten minutes of so were so stressful and nervewracking for the Scots as England put their all into trying to find some winning points. Thankfully thought they weren't able to and the final whistle meant that Scotland had beaten England for the first time in six years and finally placed the Calcutta Cup in Scottish hands once more.

Jason White, Scotland captain, raises the Calcutta Cup aloft having been presented it by Princess Anne. He made his Scotland debut against England in the win of 2000.

The atmosphere at Murrayfield was electric, it was thoroughly amazing. This was the first proper rugby match that I've ever been to and I loved it. I love how the fans aren't segregated like they are in football. There is no way that that could be the case in football. There was banter and a competetive atmosphere between the fans but it was all so good natured and there was very little bad language. I think it was just great. Football fans could really learn something from rugby fans.

Chris Paterson who scored all but 3 of Scotland's points and only one of two of the current Scotland players to have beaten England before.

Scotland: Southwell; Paterson, Di Rollo, Henderson, Lamont; Parks, Blair; Kerr, Hall, Douglas; MacLeod, Kellock; White (capt), Taylor, Hogg. Replacements: Ford, Smith, Hines, Petrie, Cusiter, Ross, Webster

England: Lewsey; Cueto, Noon, Tindall, Cohen; Hodgson, Ellis; Sheridan, Thompson, White; Borthwick, Grewcock; Worsley, Moody, Corry (capt). Replacements: Chuter, Freshwater, Shaw, Dallaglio, Dawson, Goode, Voyce.

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

Man of the match: Jason White

TIMELINE:

3 – 0: Chris Paterson penalty (1 min)

3 – 3: Charlie Hodgson penalty (7 mins)Yellow card: Danny Grewcock (22 mins)

England sub: Perry Freshwater for Andrew Sheridan (blood) (38mins)

HALF TIME

England sub: Sheridan returns from blood bin

3 – 6: Charlie Hodgson penalty (41mins)

6 – 6: Chris Paterson penalty (42 mins)

9 – 6: Chris Paterson penalty (47 mins)

England sub: Matt Dawson for Harry Ellis (blood) (50 mins)

Scotland sub: Nathan Hines for Scott MacLeod (51 mins)

12 – 6: Dan Parks drop goal (56 mins)

Scotland sub: Ross Ford for Dougie Hall (58 mins)

Scotland sub: Craig Smith for Bruce Douglas (60 mins)

12 – 9: Charlie Hodgson penalty (61 mins)

England sub: Ellis returns from blood bin

Scotland subs: Gordon Ross for Dan Parks and Chris Cusiter for Mike Blair (63 mins)

England sub: Lawrence Dallaglio for Martin Corry (63 mins)

England sub: Simon Shaw for Danny Grewcock (67 mins)

England sub: Perry Freshwater for Andrew Sheridan (72 mins)

England sub: Matt Dawson for Harry Ellis (72 mins)

15 - 12: Charlie Hodgson penalty (74 mins)

18 – 12: Chris Paterson penalty (77 mins)

Scotland sub: Simon Webster for Marcus Di Rollo (78 mins)

FULL TIME: SCOTLAND 18 ENGLAND 12

1 comment:

Beth xxx said...

hehehe you've certainly out a vast amount of effort into that post! more than i ever do on mine!!! talked to sarah yesterday so have had both versions of the shouting/waving/texting excitement! glad you enjoyed the match, sad you didnt come home with your dad :( (i know i know!! its a long way for such a short amount of time!) i really shouldn't be complaining anyway as i saw you like 3 days previously!!!