To mix things up a bit, homebrewing and THEN rugby!

Yesterday was 5 days since I bottled my beer. It is recommended you let the beer sit at least 7 days before drinking, although the longer it sits, the more smooth the flavor becomes, the bubbles become finer, and carbonation becomes greater. Two weeks is good, two months is about when it's "done". Nonetheless, I have no patience to look at beer and not drink it, so I threw a bottle into the fridge yesterday.

IT TASTES LIKE BEER!

IT TASTES LIKE GOOD BEER!

Success! I smiled the whole time while I drank it. It's this gorgeous brownish red color and it has a really full taste with a little fruity flavor at the end. It was a little flat from not sitting long enough, but definitely drinkable, I was able to put a good head on it, therefore, it's carbonated enough! I would buy this beer! Unfortunately I am unable to distribute samples via internet, so a picture will have to do. A picture I will take later.

I just started my second batch of beer. Went with a lighter lager instead of an ale this time. Also used Cooper's "Brew Enhancer 1", which instead of straight dextrose is a blend of dextrose and maltodextrin, which does not ferment out completely and is supposed to improve the beer. We shall see.

I played in my second ever Rugby game today. We played at Waratah. I pass the field every day on my way to Uni, so the trip there was decisively less hilarious than last time. Rugby jerseys are passed out before every game, and the position you are playing that day determines the number you wear. 1-15 are starters at the 15 different positions, 16-25 are substitutes. Today I wore #6 and started at flanker.

The field was in awful shape! The whole ground was very soggy and there was an area near the opponents try line where there was about two inches of standing water on the field. I was sliding around a bit because the rugby boots I purchased have short, molded blades intended for dry ground, as opposed to longer spikes. I slipped and fell forwards while in a scrum a few times, as there was really no traction to be found.

I made a few tackles and carried the ball a few times, I didn't screw up or do anything spectacular, but I felt I played pretty well. One nearly highlight came when we were driving at about the opponent's 5 meter line. I picked the ball up off a tackle, picked the smallest person opposite me and charged at him. I caught him in the ribs with my knee and two other people jumped on, and I managed to carry the whole mess into the try. However, skinny dude managed to hang onto the ball whilst I carried him and I was unable to make a clear motion of touching the ball to the ground before the tackle was completed. The try didn't count, scrum again from the 5. This was right in the middle of "Lake Waratah", 2 inches of cold standing water. Re-scrum, ball came loose and I ended up diving facefirst onto it and getting a very cold shower. Later, I was called offside on a line out because I was outside the 15 meter mark...a mark that was completely underwater.

You are only allowed to hit people with the ball. When you are tackled, you must release the ball. The person that tackled you cannot pick the ball up until they are on their feet as well. When someone on your team gets tackled, other forwards in the area "clear out" which basically means diving over the fallen player and absolutely smacking whoever is standing there so that someone behind you can pick up the ball uncontested. The largest guy on their team was standing over one of our fallen players, reaching for the ball. I ran at him and hit him pretty good and knocked him backwards, out of the play. I didn't think I was going to move him, he was twice my size! Of course, after this, he tossed me aside like a rag doll.

I came out at the end of the first half. I was starting to get very dehydrated. I was also covered in mud from head to toe. Score at the half was 10-7, us. We had scored two tries and missed both conversions (our kicking game is poor, this comes into play later), and they had scored a try and conversion.

The game continued and we were not playing very well. Many of our players were overtired, some of our forwards were really just getting the ball and falling forward. They scored a try and missed the conversion. 12-10, them, time winding down. We put together a long drive and drew a penalty. This ordinarily is a free kick, but we were close enough to attempt a penalty kick, a "field goal" if you will. Remember what I said about our poor kicking? Everyone was nervous, and not really expecting much, but the ball sailed through the uprights and we took the lead, 13-12, where it stayed until after the game.

I have cleat marks on my back! There was mud positively caked onto my legs, arms, hair, ears..etc. My socks and undies are a wonderful shade of brown. I've never enjoyed a shower more in my life, either.

"'beam?" I asked after the first half. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Depends on what it is, I suppose", he said after a second.

"Well, at the risk of sounding like a tourist, my parents are really disappointed they can't see me play. My dad was at nearly every single one of my football games from early on and they'd love it if you could take a picture of me wearing the shortest shorts anyone in America has ever seen."

"Haha, no worries mate." I find my camera. "Don't smile, look tough, it's for your mum!"