Choketastic

It is amazing how a sporting event can affect your mood so greatly.

Darlington lost today. 5-2. We did win last week against Burton Albion but apparently two wins in a row would just be too much. But wouldn't you know, I've actually become accustomed to losing. It really doesn't phase me any more. 5-2? Well, at least we only lost by 3 goals. It could've been worse. Much worse probably. I've seen us play.

Ok, that was slightly unfair. We don't tend to play too badly and usually we just cannot catch a break. The ball does everything but go across the line and into the net. I doubt that that was how it was today. I don't know, it was played in Chesterfield. I didn't go to Chesterfield. I suppose I could have gone. I'm pretty glad I didn't go having seen the result. Hindsight is a brilliant thing.

It wasn't totally a bad day.

In fact, it was a pretty stinking amazing day. Like I said, where Darlo is concerned defeat no longer phases me.

There was another sporting event occuring today but it wasn't a football match (well, you know, apart from all the football matches!). I'm talking rugby here, baby. Scotland played Australia (which I can never spell correctly btw). You should know this: Australia are very good at rugby. Scotland are not. Maybe I should say not so good. They're ok, nothing amazing.

Do you get the picture? Australia were meant to beat Scotland but nobody told the Scotland players that! They defended like crazy. Scotland hardly had any of the ball but the Australians just couldn't break them down. They came close, ok, very close - there were two visits to the fourth official for video confirmation of Australian tries.... or non tries as it turned out, and they even touched down but from a forward throw which is not allowed. They also missed a penalty, a drop goal and most importantly a conversion. I'll come back to that!

Scotland took their limited chances and scored two penalties and a drop goal. I was literally on the edge of my seat for the last 10 minutes of the game. It was so tense. Especially the last two minutes - Australia were hugging that try line for what seemed like forever. They did score a try in overtime. I hate overtime. That left the score at 9-8 to Scotland and Australia still had their conversion to get some points from.

I think everyone thought that it was over. Scotland had put up a good fight but Australia got the win in the dying seconds.

I was standing in the middle of the room, repeatedly chanting, 'Miss it, miss it, miss it, miss it.'

Well, you'll never believe it, folks. He did miss it. HE MISSED IT! That was the last kick of the game and it was Australia's chance to WIN. HE MISSED IT! He completely choked. As one of my school friends has written he was 'choketastic'!!

I let out the biggest scream that I possibly could and ran upstairs to where my Dad was also watching the match. Yes, we were watching it in different rooms but he was switching channels and I was watching Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer on my laptop at the same time as watching the game.

Anyway, we must have been loud because Hattie even came to see what the commotion was all about. Hattie is all but deaf, by the way. She probably thought that we were crazy.

I felt quite giddy after that result. It was so unexpected and it looked like it just wasn't going to be right at the very end.

Seriously, it does amaze me how much effect sport can have you your mood. I feel pretty good tonight!