End of the game

Went down to Thanet today to watch a referee and a match. Atrocious conditions. Torrential rail on the way down there and for the first part of the match. Thankfully stopped and cleared a little for the rest of the match, but the ground was a quagmire, with swampy patches and water splashes as the players rucked, mauled and wallowed their way around the pitch.

However they may treat each other on the pitch the end of game ritual is alway very important. Shake of hands, close tunnel, good spirit. For all its ferocity, aggressive contact and skullduggery it's left on the pitch at the end of the game.

The team coming through the tunnel had just lost - so were dejected but they played well given that they were always under the cosh. Had a good conversation with the referee afterwards too.