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| Our third trip to South Africa can be considered the most successful, most definitely on the pitch, for we recorded our first competitive win! As we had come to expect both the hospitality and weather were fantastic. That elusive win turned out to be something very much like waiting for a bus; you wait a long time for one and then four come along at once! In fact we finished the tournament in 5th place out of the ten teams, easily surpassing 2001 and 2002 where we finished eighth and last respectively. |
| We arrived at Johannesburg International Airport early on Monday 14 April only to find that we had narrowly missed our connecting flight to Durban. However we were able to catch the next available service which meant only about an hours wait. Arriving in KwaZulu-Natal at around midday we picked up our 2 minibuses and set off in search of our accommodation; Road Lodge Durban. Easier said than done when armed with only a rudimentary map and a one way system! Thankfully Nick lambs now legendary navigation skills came into play and after a few false turns and using McDonalds as a landmark we reached our destination. That evening we ate at the Roma Revolving Restaurant getting excellent panoramic views of Durban from its 32nd floor vantage point! Then it was back to Joe Kool's, a bar right on the beach front at North Beach, which we had found earlier in the day. Promoted as the 'worlds worst restaurant' - we weren't there for the food - we had our first introduction to the alcho-pop 'Brutal Fruits' and Garnett Jones paid the price for being perhaps the 'worlds worst pool player'! |
| On Tuesday a number of the tour party enjoyed a round of golf at the prestigious Durban Country Club course. It must be said that usually one doesn't encounter vervet monkeys on your average golf course in the UK! That same evening we played the University of Natal Durban in a friendly at the KwaZulu-Natal Hockey Academy Queensmead. Winning 4-0 it was the first time, and perhaps last, that Norwich Union HC sees its name up in lights on an electronic scoreboard. Back at the UND clubhouse 'Stick Stop' the beer flowed and the sing along was ably conducted by NU's Australian duo of Josh Mylne and Brett Ledger. Famished we were advised that it was tradition that every self-respecting UND player rounds a night off with the obligatory 'chip 'n' cheese'...we concluded these must be an acquired taste! |
| Wednesday was spent at the North Beach soaking up the sun, swimming and playing football, rugby and cricket. Thankfully no sharks were seen our side of the shark nets! Something of a discovery was made at Joe Kool's; beer towers. We are sure they would prove very popular in our club house at Pinebanks! Dinner was at the Casino complex from where we hit the Monkey Bar. Here like typical English tourists we watched the Premiership match of Manchester vs Arsenal while working our way through their cocktail list! We then headed for the 80's nightclub which is located next to the Absa Stadium, home of the Natal Sharks RFU team. |
| We flew back to Johannesburg at midday on Thursday and were pleased to find that the Road Lodge here was situated adjacent the tournament venue, the Randburg Sports Complex. Finding the facilities not too shoddy we practised for around an hour finding that unlike home and indeed Durban, we were now playing not only in intense heat but at 6000 feet above sea level! Recovery after exertion would prove problematic for all but the fittest in our group. For everyone apart from Tristan Baynes and Bruce McQuade the bench would be a welcome sight! Did we prepare on the night before the tournament with a healthy athletes meal? Of course not, it was down to the Meat Company for fabulous steak, steak and more steak all washed down by various shots poured by two very attractive female staff. |
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Our first of four pool matches was against Northerns U21 at 1720 on Friday. We lost this 3-1 with our consolation goal being scored by guest tour member from Belper HC, Luke Wardell. Late in the game we suffered our only tour casualty when Jones' hamstring went, or so we were to believe. He proved no other use for the rest of the tournament, however it must be said he did a fine job as water boy! Friday night there was a braai organised by the hosts at the pitch side club house. The South Africans were introduced to 'wibbly wobbly' by our Essex goalie James Wright. Picture the scene - 2 drunken teams with beer cavorting late at night on the national pitch - something I don't think you would find at Milton Keynes! On Saturday we had three fixtures, first of which was shockingly scheduled for 0800. This was against Natal University who we had played in a friendly only days before. They had brought a very much weakened team and we made the most of this by recording our first ever South African tournament win with a victory 8-0. Scorers were Lee Wadhams, Andrew Cross, Josh Mylne, Brett Ledger, Gareth Green, Hayden Townsend, Luke Wardell and our goal keeper James Wright from a penalty stroke! We then played Technikon Witwatersrand B, the hosts second string at 1320, beating them 6-1 with the goals coming from Trevor Norman (2), Green (2), Mylne and Ledger. Our last game of a long day was at 1840 and exhausted, we lost in a lack lustre match to Witsies U21 4-0. This didn't stop certain members of the team partying until 0530 the next morning with our penultimate match due to start at 0920! Our first game of two on Sunday was a pool cross over match to determine the playoff games and was against CBC Old Boys. Starting with the 'muppet XI' because of dirty stop outs, the hard work was done in the first half when after wearing the opposition down the stars were able to take to the field and we ran out 3-0 winners. Scorers were Green and an over exuberant Mylne (2). Nick Lamb should hold his head in shame for getting the first and only card, a green, however he did win me the sweepstake in doing so! Our final game to determine 5th & 6th place was against Witwatersrand University which we won 4-1 despite falling behind to an early second half goal due to James 'flying mattress' Wright. Tristan Baynes found his scoring knack a little late with a hatrick with Norman registering the other goal. During the course of the tournament the free treatment offered by the ten resident physios from Technikon Witwatersrand Chiropractic Association was much appreciated. |
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On the Monday morning we drove to Sun City and the Cabanas Hotel where we would be staying for the night. The rest of the day was spent at the Valley of the Waves with its 2 metre waves, artificial beach and various water slides such as the Scorpion, Mamba and the near vertical Temple of Courage.Near the main entrance is the Kwena Gardens Crocodile Sanctuary, which is home to some of the largest Nile crocodiles in captivity and over 700 in total. We hit the Entertainment Centre in the evening having a crack at the casino and finally realising our level, settled with bingo! On Tuesday time was spent between Waterworld, an artificial lake offering a full range of water sports, and our hotels swimming pool complete with pool bar! The Pilanesberg Game Reserve , home of the Big Five, is adjacent Sun City and our accommodation at the Kwa Maritane Lodge took very little time to find. We went on a late afternoon game drive which started at 1600 and ended at after 2000. A few insomniacs also undertook the early morning drive at 0600 the next day. With our tour drawing to a close we drove back to Johannesburg to buy the requisite presents before flying back to London Heathrow late on the Wednesday evening. Now back the planning will soon start for the 2004 tour as I hear the event is being held in Port Elizabeth! Finally don't forget to 'party like its your birthday'! |
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