By Little Stinger
April 29 2003

I thought I had driven down the M4 in a Renault, but this day it must have had Dr Who time travel capabilities - when we reached our destination we found a traditional ground nestled among the hills, one main stand, a shed down the other side and a proper score board together with friendly natives. Myself, Mrs S and the two Tiny Stingers reached Caerphilly around 1 p.m., and headed for the nearest hostelry for some lunch and also to escape the heavy showers. Needless to say Wasps playing capabilities in the wet, or lack of them, were raised by the two tiny afficianados of the game.

A trip round the castle was planned afterwards, unfortunately we couldn’t find the dungeons to lose the Tinies, so they had to continue their journey with us up the valley towards Ponty.

By this time the clouds were dispersing and a fine Spring late afternoon set the tone for the evening ahead.

The car park opposite the ground was found without any difficulty, with Mrs S pointing out that the car park was to be shut at 7 p.m. (according to the signage). However as there were several Waspie cars parked already surely they couldn't lock us all in?

Any way we wander across the road, show the man stood in the middle of the entrance the match tickets and get confronted by a TV lady and cameraman requesting the Tinies to wave their flags. Sam gets stage fright and departs the scene, but Henry does us proud. Ambling through the few supporters who had arrived early we entered the club bar for a well deserved pint and gin and tonic (and lemonades for the boys). Bar prices very good value!!

May I say that I was, after reading the board after the AP game, a little apprehensive of the welcome we were going to get. However all the Ponty fans we met made us feel very welcome. Thank you.

Pins were purchased for the Tinies in the club shop, and a programme bought in the room next door after Mrs S had looked all round the ground to find a programme seller.

We take our seats and are requested by the cameraman to wave the flags once more - this time both Tinies join in the fun.

The DWs turned up just before kick off after being delayed by traffic. The sheep and other fluffy items were promptly displayed to all and sundry - and no I did not explain to the Tinies as to why grown men do these things despite several requests!!

Mrs S was sat next to an elderly Pontypridd committee member - after the initial introductions he kindly pointed out that Tom Jones' house (whose voice was being boomed out over the sound system) was "Just over there" and "Your in the Valley’s now - sing woman!". He then went on to talk about - how good Josh is, how the Ponty fans were mucked around by a hotel chain in Wycombe despite having reservations, how Craig Dowd injured five of their players at AP, what a nice ground AP is etc - all before kick off!

Regarding that scoreboard: the conversation went something like this….

Looking at the scoreboard…

Tiny Stinger:"Dad, what does the 'G' stand for?"

Dad:"The G stand for goals"

Tiny Stinger:"What does the T stand for?"

Dad:"The T stands for tries, but if you score a try and a conversion the score goes under G not T. If you score a penalty or drop goal that also goes under G. Understand?"

Probably not, but they could understand the numbers in the end column.

Match reports appear else where, needless to say this was a full bloodied affair with every sort of legal and illegal tactic being employed to ensure the House of Pain lived up to its reputation.

In Bordeaux it was Oogie who provided the piece of magic to raise the Wasps (and Drunken Wasps) morale after we conceded early points (did Sorries provide them with a match video of the recent game at Watford? The chip over the top tactics were identical for Ponty's first, excellent, try).

This time it was a combination of the forwards, whose line out, catch and drive, brought the first try for Worzle, and the Alex / Josh kick and chase for the second try who provided the necessary pick me up. Also that well known winger Shawsie was having a rest at the end of an extended Wasps three quarter line when he received the ball to score the third try. Three tries in a little over 12 minutes, the tie was all but settled, however there was another hour of rugby to go.

A Criag Dowd sin binning gave the home team enough momentum to run in a second try before half-time, but that was their lot. The Wasps defence was awesome in the second half, as per Stade Francais.

Sadly I had to leave the official DW celebration this time, my duties lay elsewhere. I hear that the singing on the bus back to Bath (the official DW residence for the weekend) was very loud and that fifteen, excluding sheep, were counted on the back seat of the bus!!

Carefully wrapping up the Tinies in their travel rugs I climbed back into the Tardis, sorry Renault, and made my way back to the M4 and home by midnight.

Wasps remain undefeated in this competition despite facing up to some very tough teams and matches: Parma to Bordeaux; Paris to Ponty all teams beaten home and away by the black and gold, so who are we playing in the final?

All those months ago who would have thought that the Wasps and Bath fans who were sharing a beer and watching each others matches in Parma were destined to reach the final at the MadStad.

Can I have another B please Bob?

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Little Stinger
Your International Correspondant