Go! Rockets Go!

Friday the first of October, I got my camera back. There was much rejoicing! From my part at least. I didn't have to pay a ridiculous amount of Japanese gold to get it repaired, as it was due to the malfunction I explained about in this blog entry and not due to wear. This meant that I "only" needed to pay 30.000 pieces of Japanese gold and not 90.000. Very good.

On top of the joy of having the camera back, it came back just in time for a rugby match that same evening which furthermore added to my joy. One of Annette's friends is seeing a rugby player and thus get free tickets for herself and her friends - including me! So, that evening Annette and I went to the stadium. Caspar had already made plans to go play guitar, so he didn't have time to come see the game, unfortunately.

When we came to the stadium we were supposed to meet up with Annette's friend but she was nowhere to be found. This was a bit disappointing, but we found a couple of seats in the area that her and Annette had been sitting the previous time. She finally showed up about ten minutes into the game. That was after Annette and I had realized that we were sitting among the fans cheering for the opposite team. To make this even worse, we were sitting with green flags (the game we were cheering for is called the NEC Green Rockets) and cheering out loud for our team. When Annette's friend finally showed up, we swiftly changed seats to the area where people were dressed in green colors.

Most of the first half of the game we were shouting something in the lines of "RUN, RUN, RUN!" and "NOOO, NO, NO, NO!" and "GET THAT BALL!". Once in a while the words "that has got to hurt" got into the vocabulary as well. They were not holding back from full speed contact and every now and then players would get airborne from the collisions. 

(One of the milder collisions)

(The aftermath of one of the heavier collisions)

While we were sitting in our area, we could see on the other side of the arena that there was a group with a more organized way of shouting. We decided to move over there for the second half of the game.

(The more organized fans on the other side) 

(This is a view from where we were sitting

the first half of the game)

I understood most of the rules in the game and I learned more and more as I watched. For example, in order to advance up the field towards the opponent's goal line, the team would kick the ball out over the side line further down the field, so that there would be a throw in, giving both teams the chance to get the ball again. The advancement down the field was apparently worth the risk of losing the ball to the other team.

 (A throw in from the side line)

When the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the first half, we made our way down to the field, as Annette's friend had something to give to the player she is seeing. Unfortunately he didn't see us, so we just went to the other side, where all the organized fans were sitting.

(Standing and waiting for the player)

(A more complete view of the stadium)

During the second half of the game, we had some professional shouters to help us shout the right thing in a unified way. The chants were "GO! ROCKETS GO!", "NEC!", and "DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE!". The last one we used a lot, sadly, as the opponents were running our team off the field.

(The professional shouters with the "GO! ROCKETS GO!" sign)

(A fellow photographer)

At the end of the game, the statistics didn't look good. The Green Rockets had only scored on a penalty kick while the opposing team had made a good show of their talents. The benches that had previously been occupied with cheering Rockets fans were getting empty before the game was finished. Not the most cheerful experience I have had at a sport event. Below is a photo of the scoreboard after the last whistle blow.

(3-45 is not a good score in any game if you are the one with 3)

After the game, there was not many happy faces around in the area we sat in. Annette and I took the metro home with the hope that the next game would be better. The next game is tomorrow, so we will find out soon enough. All three of us will be going to a hopefully uplifting experience.

Oh, I almost forgot. There was also a profound lack of cheerleaders present at the game. I am pretty sure that if the Rockets had had some pretty girls cheering for them, their spirit would have had a bit of a boost. I know I would have thought the game to be more interesting if there had been cheerleaders to lift up the mood.

So, that was it for this time. Next thing on the list is about Casuparu at What the Dickens playing with jam (also known as marmalade).

Until then, take care!