UCC, UCC, UCC!!!

            We won our rugby game! It was an epic ending, actually. But let me start from the beginning…Well, first of all, Rafa and I went into this game thinking we were going to be subs, since that’s what she told us. Thus, I was not overly nervous, knowing that I could not destroy our chances. Plus, since we were playing a team of fully adult women, we weren’t even expected to win, so if we lost it wasn’t the end of the world. Yeah, didn’t happen. As the coach (Theresa) read out the starting 15, she said “Number 4, Raffie” (one of Rafa’s many names). That is so wrong because a) we should NOT be starting, being unfit and having only been to two practices, and b) Rafa is not a lock. She is a prop, which is very VERY different from a lock. I was quite happily a sub until all of the sudden I was in for Rafa at lock, since that is my position. All of the sudden my intense nervousness came back. I blame that, along with my unfitness, for the fact that I really didn’t play that well. I mean, I got a lot better as I got comfortable with rugby again, but I seriously need to start doing fartleks lol. I did get a sub (GASP SHOCK) so I got to watch a little. But game recap: we played 25 min halves since this was a memorial game for a woman who had played on both UCC and Ballincollig. We scored first and converted, then they scored but did not convert, then we scored but did not convert. At half, the score was 12-5 UCC. They scored again and converted about 15 min into the second half, tying it up. I got subbed out with about 5-10 min left, so I got to watch the insanely awesome ending. Well, first of all, there was almost a fight between one of our props (not Rafa, who came in about 10 min into the second half) and her opposing prop because the Ballincollig prop was scrumming very oddly, creeping in closer before we engaged so our prop couldn’t get low and our scrum kept collapsing. Our girl can be kind of ornery and overreacts a bit, but she was justified in being pissed this time. But anyway, fight averted (though she smacked the crap out of her on the engage haha), and we pushed them into their 22. So close! By this point we were in overtime, vying to score first and win the cup. Ballincollig had the ball but as they passed one of our players intercepted it and ran to the try zone right between the posts and touched it down. Thus, we won! It was an upset…even our coach told us that we weren’t expected to win haha. But we diiiiiiiiiiiiiid!! We got a cup (sadly I did not get a good pic of it) and a team pic. I’m really glad I was here for this cause Rafa and I got to play in a pretty meaningful game.

            However, I now feel like I was hit by a semi. Not surprisingly, I have tons of bruises, though I’m also a lot sorer than any other time, though that could also be because this is my first game since November. I do know I need to get fitter, because these were only 25 min halves and I was tired! Also the way that they play is different—tackles are a lot higher usually (though not illegal-high), just at the shoulders in games and such, and when they ruck they don’t step over like we do at Bowdoin, so I found myself alone on the other side of a ruck a couple times. Awkward. Also the backs never go into the rucks, even if they’re there (okay, with a few exceptions, but they’re not supposed to). I get that forwards should be the ones rucking, but if you’re there and are a back, get in the freaking ruck. Ballincollig put like 5 or 6 girls in each ruck, so we rarely won them, which did hurt us since we rarely had possession. I suppose we’ll work on it in practice. Small things, but they did mean the game was different enough that I had trouble sometimes. Also, they call mouthguards "gummies." LOLZ.

            On another note, I did laundry! Finally… Lemme just say, two loads, wash and dry, was 10 euro. Dude, that’s a ripoff!! There’s nowhere cheaper, AND my sink is far too small to wash stuff in. I didn’t have enough room to do my rugby clothing, so I think I’ll just wash it and then hang it out to dry somewhere. Blah. But I did use my Nook a lot…read like 2 books while I was waiting. How wonderful life is :-)

            I have my final class schedule now, shown below

My new Marine Environments class has only met twice so I won’t be far behind at all, plus Rebecca is in it. The worst part about this is my 10am class on Friday. I mean, I will never miss it because it's Irish and I'll fall behind, but it's a pain since Thursday is really the big socializing night. <sigh> Oh well, I can always save money anyway, though actually I'm doing pretty well so far. Food-wise and drink-wise I'm set...the only things I've spent a lot of money on are books and rugby stuff. Also some field trips.

            Excitement: David Tennant and Catherine Tate (Doctor and Donna) are gonna be in “Much Ado About Nothing” this April in London. I neeeeeeeed to go. Like fo realz.

Slán go fóill!