Page 68 - Demo

66THIS SPORTING LIFEAt Least they Taught Us Manners %u2013 some of us may even have learned themIt was Saturday 11th November 1967 and we were approaching the end of a tense rugby match against Sandhurst. It had been a close fought game and, with only a few minutes left to play, we were leading by the slenderest of margins. In one last, desperate attempt to snatch victory, our opponents mounted a forward drive which became a ruck just short of our line. In the ensuing melee a very muddy Bob Hooper appeared at the back of the pile of bodies, ball in hand. He quickly slipped it to Clive Chandler, our scrum half, who passed back to me to kick for touch. The forwards trudged to the ensuing lineout. Ron Elder, our captain, clapped Bob on the back and exclaimed, %u201cWell played, Bob!%u201d He then whispered something in his ear.Sometime later we were celebrating our victory in the time-honoured fashion when I remembered the incident and asked Bob what Ron had whispered in his ear. Bob grinned and said, %u201cHe was just pointing out that when you rip the ball from an opponent it isn%u2019t necessary to say %u201cExcuse me!%u201d%u201d Ian Cowie