It's hard to properly explain to an outsider quite how deep is the enmity that Gloucester Rugby supporters feel for Bath Rugby. Imagine Man U and Liverpool, Pompey and Saints, or Celtic and Rangers, but without the need for segregation, alcohol bans or mindless violence and you get pretty close. At its heart it's a class thing: Glaws supporters see Bath as fitting a stereotype of Barbour jackets, green wellies, and Waitrose, whereas they are working class and proud of it. They're wrong on every level, of course, but when did reason and fact play its part in tribalism? Ironically, Bath supporters save their true loathing for Bristol rather than Gloucester, but that's no matter.
Last night Gloucester travelled to the cess pool that is the Recreation Ground - how can such a beautiful city have such dreadful facilities for spectators - and they comprehensively spanked Bath's backside. Glaws were better in every way and it resulted in a night that will live long in Gloucester memories. Suffice to say that alcohol was consumed in some quantity in my house, and the world seems an altogether better place this morning - I swear that I was still smiling when I awoke from my slumbers!
We couldn't have had a better stepping stone to the coming weeks of European Cup rugby and it might just be what kick-starts Gloucester's season.
I don't 'get' rugby. I seems to me there's too many rules and the ref is blowing up all the time. We are going to try and start up staff-student 5-a-side football in the gym soon.
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