By Menace
November 3 2004

The place was swarming with Wasps and the Red White and Green Tigers shirts stood out a mile and inevitably became the butt of many a comment generally along the lines of “what are you doing here?” Naturally we blamed the budget airlines. A Wasps team missing several well known names took to the field and soon showed that they meant business, though it must be said that Tigers had ‘softened-up’ the opposition the previous weekend! Within five minutes a high tackle lead to a penalty near to the halfway line that was duly converted. 3-0 to Calvisano. I was sure we had already played 80 minutes but the ref insisted on playing for another 75.

The rest of the first half did become somewhat one-sided and tries inevitably came from the Wasps backs. They were too fast, too strong and too clever for their Calvisano counterparts; they fed Calvisano so many dummies that Tommee Tippee would have been green with envy. OK one of the tries was an interception and another was from a forward pass, but a bonus point was already in the bank at half time. A cricket score beckoned and the Calvisano supporters found it increasingly difficult to make their “Cal-vis-an-o” chant with much conviction.

The half time talks must have been as interesting as ours in the packed stand. The Italian couple next to us were supporting Wasps…..they were supporters from another local club and quite frankly wanted to see Wasps win. In the changing rooms it is difficult to understand what went on and having seen most of the action at the end where I was sitting I was regretting not having brought some binoculars with me for the second half. How wrong was I to be.

From the start of the second half the Calvisano game plan appeared to have changed. No longer was the ball being sent straight out to the backs it was now being recycled and used around the fringes of the rucks, mauls and scrums. Precious metres were gained and suddenly the 20 point half time gap was being reduced.

There was a definite feeling that the Calvisano pack were getting the upper hand and attempts to correct this resulted in, among others, Greening being replaced by Leota, despite having had his ear sewn back on only a few days ago. His first few actions were not those of a player on top of his game, the first line out going straight to the hands of Calvisano.

Wasps held their nerve and managed to salvage something from the second half by scoring one try. A couple of breaks by Calvisano were pulled back for knock-ons when the players had a clear run at the line. Had either been successful the final result could have been different.The effort from Calvisano in the end was not rewarded by a bonus point which on their second half showing they deserved. Overall the better team won and fully justified their 5 points although talking to some of the supporters after the game they had doubts about two of their tries, they considered them to have come from forward passes…..if only……

The game was over, we joined many Wasp supporters in a glass of ale in the knowledge that Tigers were still to kick off and therefore still 0-0, then the score started to trickle through “17-3” was a chorus loud enough to have been heard at Welford Road and accompanied by the anticipated comments.

For those planning the trip in January a few words of advice, the stand doesn’t hold too many people and it became overcrowded, every step had people sitting on it so get seated early. There were many Wasps supporters and I suspect that there will be even more Tigers fans out there in January. More seriously the beer ran out in one bar so be warned….. and take note the ladies get in at a reduced ticket cost, saved us 10 Euros, enough for a drink.

A final closing note; the Wasps fans, and players, who spoke to us after the game, were great. Loads of friendly banter and a general acceptance that we had to support the opposition; after all, our stripey Tigers shirts match the Italian flag!!

Menace (with some assistance from Menace’s Missus)