Memories of Arklow’s adventure in Poland

AFTER having taken a trip to the centre of the earth (ok, 300m down a coal mine shaft, but it felt more), which tested some of the team’s claustrophobia, followed by a trip to Auschwitz, which was sobering and perpectivizing (it’s a new word, look it up), the Arklow Amazons then had to pull themselves together to take on Diablice Ruda lska (Ruda lska Devils).

Oh, yes, did I mention that our hosts took the team out for lunch before the game, which virtually put everyone in a food coma.

Nonetheless, The Amazons arrived at the Burloch Arena all weather pitch with mixed feelings of historical excitement, anticipation and a bit of trepidation.

The team were venturing into the unknown, taking on a team they knew nothing about, but also knowing they were ambassadors for their club and community back in Ireland.

This was part of the Polska Eire Festival Ruda lska after all. The Amazons play in Leinster league Division 3 and most of the time know what they will be coming up against throughout their domestic season, but traveling to Poland meant going into the game “blind”. All we could do was “focus on our own game” - as they say in the classics.

What we did know about the opposition was that Ruda lska are a 7s team and drew players from neighbouring teams to make up a fifteens team to take on the Amazons. We also found out later that their season goes from August to October, break until March and then go through until June. So while the Amazons had completed their season 4 weeks prior to the tour, the locals were in the middle of their season.

This was also the first time Ruda l ska would be playing a fifteens game. That combined with them playing against a touring team from Ireland was creating quite a buzz with the local supporters.

Soon enough the amazons were in their gear and going through their warm-up routine followed by photo opportunities with the opposition, management and various people who had made the event possible.

This was followed by a walk out onto the pitch each player holding the hand of a “mascot”, a first for many involved.

After the formalities it was into the match with a bang.

Ruda lska proved to be a formidable opposition. Their 7s background meant they were fit and dynamic around the park. Their 7s handling skills were to fore with a lot of continuity.

Arklow’s set pieces were functioning well, but we suffered a couple of injuries, which did not help our cause.

The Arklow scrum and lineout has always been one of our strong points. We had been soaring in the lineouts (we even snuck in a quick throw-in) and the scrums were a great contest to watch. That all before the injuries took their toll.

In the loose the Amazon ladies were being true to their name. Fighting tirelessly for every inch of the park. Determined runs with ball in hand and physical in the tackle on defense.

However, as the game wore on the facts that Arklow had not had a competitive game in four weeks and the home team’s 7s fitness levels and three times a week judo training started to show.

While the Amazons did cross the line a coupe of times the ref was unsighted and didn’t award the tries. In the end the hosts ran out comfortable victors.

Every member of the Arklow team has to be commended for the amount of effort they put in. It was not an easy game, but no-one gave up and everyone dug deep right to the very end.

There were a lot of sore bodies heading out that night to a dinner and drinks with the opposition, hosted at the local “Irish Pub”. As always in our game of rugby, what happened on the field was put in the past, rounds were bought and stories shared between the Irish and Polish players learning a bit more about the game in the other’s country.

A big thanks must go to the host club for their very generous hospitality throughout the weekend, Pat Kennedy (Cathaoirleach of Arklow Municipal District) and his wife Helena for their support at the match.