So prior to this weekend, IBM were third from bottom which meant not having to play any playoff games at the end of the season (to determine promotion/relegation for next year).
The team below us were Akita, and the team below them were Secom. We'd beaten Secom a few weeks ago, but now it was time for us to play Akita.
Much like other leagues around the world, scoring 4 tries gives you an extra point in the league table, as does coming within 7 points of the opposition if you happen to lose.
As such, the table was interesting. Akita were 1 point behind us despite losing all their games. We had 5 points, they had 4, Secom had 0. The next match is the last of the season; Akita are playing Secom next week which is one they are likely to win handily.
Basically, the only way to ensure we did not have to play in the relegation match at the end of the year, was to beat Akita, score 4 tries and ensure we won by 8 or more points.
Just a heads up, I didn't get any attacking opportunities as my mission was basically one of defence. The worlds only defensive winger. They had a Samoan or Tongan international 13 whom I was tasked to stop, so I just followed him around the field from set piece to set piece.
The referee was also not a fan of me. I was not a fan of him. It was a mutual mistrust.
I missed one tackle all game, and it ended up with them scoring a try after a couple of phases from the attack they set up. In total, it's a game I'd rather forget from a personal perspective.
So, we scored first. They scored. We scored. They scored. It ended up with them a few points ahead with about twenty minutes to go. Our scrum-half scored to put us ahead (our kicker nailed all his kicks) so after his double (he scored earlier too) we needed another try in the last ten minutes without letting them score in order to fulfill all the requirements. They had a scrum around the halfway, they passed it out into the backs where they promptly knocked on, literally handing the ball over to our winger. He raced away to score the final try we needed under the posts.
The referee blew his whistle, everyone was happy. Except the referee had blown the whistle because, and I quote, 'there was no advantage to be played from the knock-on.'
This gem, coupled with an earlier penalty for me being off-side (despite the call coming directly from the referee and not a touch judge) and for me high tackling someone (I was chasing the guy from behind, unless I grabbed his head and or neck, it's physically impossible for me to have tackled him high. For the record, I grabbed his arms.) made me think there might be something slightly dodgy going on. I forgot to mention earlier that this was an away game. Very, very away. We'd flown up the night before and stayed overnight. (Free food, yay!) I can only assume the referee was a local.
To be fair, he apologised after the game.
Anyway, with about two minutes left our full-back evaded a tackle and danced over the line to score.
We were 6 points ahead at that point, so our kicker needed to get the extras for us to be clear this year. It wasn't an easy kick, but he managed it.
So that's that. There were a few tears, much stress was relieved (last year they had to play in the relegation game, which they won so managed to stay in the league, but it's not an ideal position to be in.)
The upshot is that we are playing Yakult in a couple of weeks, for the chance to end mid-table. A great result for IBM if it's possible.
I just need to play better and cut my hair or something.
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