Exeter Chiefs
Grazie Italia – Thanks Italy!
Amlin
By LittleMissChief
January 17 2012
LittleMissChief reflects on her Italian trip to see Exeter Chiefs defeat I Cavalieri Prato by 50-10
Grazie Italia – ThanksItaly!
Sitting on the plane on my return flight from Pisa on Sunday, gave me the chance to reflect on what was a brilliant weekend in Italy to support the Chiefs in their latest Amlin Challenge Cup match against Cavalieri Prato. This was to be my first trip to Europe as a member of the infamous “Travelling Tribe”. I along with my son (who at 13 years of age, I understand is the youngest ever tribe member to travel to Europe), arrived in Prato mid-afternoon on Friday having flown from Gatwick to Pisa, then caught the train to Prato.
We checked into the hotel before exploring Prato, a beautiful walled city in the heart of Italy’s Tuscany region. The Prato Supporter’s Club had negotiated special rates on food and drink with a local bar for the visiting fans for the entire weekend, so it was off to this local pub for pizza and a few glasses of wine with other tribe members and also members of the Prato Supporters Club and a fun evening was had by all.
On match day, the Prato Supporters Club had made arrangements for everyone to have lunch at the pub before the match so we turned up at 12pm to sit down and eat our 3 course lunch. But, bless the Italians, they weren’t in any hurry to serve us, and by 13.30 many still had not even had their 2nd course. With kick off only an hour away and the stadium being a 10 minute walk away, we were beginning to get concerned as we didn’t want to be late. Some never got their final course and had to return after the match for their 3rd course.
So we arrive at the football stadium in Prato where the match was to be played, and I was shocked as to how primitive it was. The score board reminded me of a community cricket club score card, and the treatment bed in the medical room was held together with what looked like parcel tape. The setting, however, was lovely and overlooked the Dolomites. It was sunny and about 15 degrees.
The players came out for the start of the match and were greeted by the tomahawk chop, which continued to be sung throughout the match by the 100 or so visiting fans. The match was great and I was really pleased to be there to see the Chiefs secure a bonus point win. However it was not so good seeing Josh & Jack getting injured. Here's to a speedy recovery!
One of the highlights for me was the time that the players spent with the supporters after the match and again later in the bar, where they joined us for drinks. My son was totally made up when firstly, Patrick Phibbs came over after the match and had a chat with him and a photo taken, and then later in the evening in the bar when Steeno chatted to him for over 20 minutes and again had his photo taken. This was to later appear on Steeno’s twitter page. So I would personally like to thank Steeno and Pat for making Matt’s weekend special.
Anyway, enough of the sentiments! The outcome of this match sets up a cracking finale against Perpignan at Sandy Park this weekend in a match nicknamed “Le Crunch”, where the winner will progress to the quarter finals. I can’t wait to plan my next European away trip with the travelling tribe, which will hopefully be semi-finals (as the quarter finals will be at home!).
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17/01/2012 19:29
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Quote:ChaderExe
I like the flags in the picture - where did you get them from?
The flags were freebeez from the Quins match on new years eve at Sandy Park! They did look gr8 didn't they!
