It was one of those days!
1300 departure from the Keg the calling notice said, all players and supporters dutifully waited, but no bus! The mobiles buzzed and close to 1330 we set off. The barrier at Akrotiri was firmly down on our arrival and so it stayed for a further 20 minutes! Nearly one hour late the lads got changed.
Barely had the Tigers started stretching than the whistle went for the Captains to meet and play commence. The Flamingos fresh from their tour of South Africa and the Tigers not so fresh straight from the bus!! With 15 minutes gone and the score 12-0 to the Flamingos, despite the glorious sunshine it now really did feel like one of those days!!
The Flamingos had scored two tries and converted one. The Tigers had just finished their warm up!! They now started to tackle and defend with passion and the sides evened out. Still the Tigers attack lacked the finishing touches but was good enough to pressurise the Flamingos into mistakes and after Tony Thoma had kicked two penalties the game was wide open at half time with the score at 12-6.
The Tigers had started the day with only 15 players in attendance, fortunately Mike Thoma was on hand in the crowd to come on to cover for injury at half-time. The re-shuffle of players upset the rhythm a little and before the Tigers were settled the Flamingos were in for another converted try,19-6 at half time.
Almost straight from the kick off a Tigers attack brought the Flamingos a scrum. Some excellent scrummaging saw the Tigers take the ball against the head. With quick ball Dimitri Maratheftis chipped cleverly ahead and raced on to gather his own kick and score under the posts, 19-13.
The lads were really fired up but this seemed to be the motivator needed to inspire what this writer considers to be the best period of commitment and passion the Tigers have shown on a rugby pitch. The Tigers tackling was ferocious and soon the rewards came as a good ball was won and George Agathocleous ran in two tries in quick succession, both conversion attempts hitting the upright, 19-23. The gap narrowed to one point when the Flamingos slotted a penalty, 22-23.
Both sides now gave it there all and with their full complement of subs on the bench the Flamingos took full advantage and after considerable pressure scored in the corner, 27-23. Not one Tigers head went down, but rather there now seemed be a new spring in the tired legs and back on the attack they came and as a team sent George over for his third try, the conversion was good, 27-30. Injury now struck as Harry was taken off to hospital and the Tigers were left with 14 men for the final 15 minutes. Still the heads stayed up and the commitment and passion kept the tired bodies flying like missiles at the attacking Flamingos until the final whistle.
Dinu Floridan was awarded the Man of the Match. His effort and commitment epitomised that of all the Tigers…...well not such a bad day after all!!