Old Tired & Completely Rucked By Martin Dale

Of course, I used to be big league me. Right up there with the bigwigs I was. Every game I'd be out there, working my socks off for the club. I'd be at the bottom of every ruck, in the thick of every maul, I'd cover more of the pitch than anyone else on the team. Pretty good really, now that I come to think about it, but I was always so pumped up, raring to go. So eager to have a good game. You'd never find me lacking. The team couldn't go anywhere where I wasn't involved in the action. Even if I wasn't in the midst of it you could guarantee that I'd be close by, watching, waiting for my chance. Waiting for when I was needed.

You'd never find me lacking. The team couldn't go anywhere where I wasn't involved in the action. Even if I wasn't in the midst of it you could guarantee that I'd be close by, watching, waiting for my chance. Waiting for when I was needed.

I suppose my performance must have dropped. I was a mainstay one minute, a replacement the next. Forced to watch the best part of the game from the sidelines. Humiliating! That's what it was. They say that in sport you get used to the setbacks, learn to take them in your stride. I didn't.

It still smarts now. Next thing I know, I'm no longer in the 1st XV at all. Demoted! I'm an "A" sider. Soon after that I'm with the B's and before I know it I'm doing little more than showing up for training.

Age. That's what I put it don't to. You can only take so many knocks and still bounce back. I was at the top of my game for how long? Maybe a year! Another 4 on the way down at the most. What have I got to show for it now? Memories. But what memories! I don't do much at all now. The coach, he took pity on me. He took me home for his son to practice with. I don't suppose it's all bad, even a beaten up old ball can still get a few minutes of action.

Copyright ©2004  Martin Dale

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