 | | Tokyo Group Shot |
There is no feeling quite like it. You sit there and wait. You look at your watch counting the minutes. Only to realize that by the time you actually get around to moving and doing something you have already sweat out half your fluids. You are too busy licking your wounds and enjoying the sights and sounds that Tokyo has to offer. I didn’t mind having sweaty balls all weekend nor did I mind taking a jaunt out to good old Roppongi in the heart of Tokyo over the weekend either but where in the hell was all the meat? The truth of the matter was, I didn’t want it to end…but alas we are back in the Land of the Morning calm still wet, still hot and in usual Seoul Survivor style…”Maybe Next Weekend” it won’t be hot and wet.
The 2011 Oakwood cup tour started off with an excellent start. Seoul Survivors from across the Local area gathered in Tokyo, Japan over the weekend to defend the team’s honor and to show our opponents across the pond a thing or two about the rugby boys from Korea. What a motley crew they were. First there was a ginger haired lad who often spoke with a Welsh accent.. A Frenchman that guided us into the outskirts of the Roppongi district not more than 45 minutes after arrival. A gimpy fellow thrice screwed over and who could not forget our brothers who always draw a jeer and clap as they race down the field…the Fiji mob. And let us not forget the Team Captain and his lass. It wasn’t long after that we were walking in circles in downtown Tokyo that our tour guide JB managed to get his vision back to normal and spotted the infamous “red” building that was to be our rallying point that night. It also didn’t help that we arrived late at night and on a weekend which made it all that more fun of an adventure.
Turn the clock forward another 25 minutes, and finally we make it to the infamous red building only to be met by Aaron, our gracious host for the evening. At first the meeting was very calm and relaxed but it wasn’t long after that everyone warmed up and the night’s festivities began. The booze was flowing the beer was being drank and yet no sign of the team captain. Did he forget his flight again? Probably. By the time our fearless leader arrived on the scene, several of the boys and girls had gone and left to their billets and the remaining crowd stayed on to partake of the night’s enjoyment. At this point it wasn’t really sure if Tokyo Gaijin hashed a plan to get the Seoul Survivors team wrecked the night before to give them an advantage or if it was a hard week for everyone on tour and we all just needed to unwind. One by one each of the players and team drifted off to bed.
 | | Tokyo Haka |
The weather was hot and humid. There was a slight breeze coming in from the east and a pitch full of natural grass ready and waiting for the 2nd Annual Oakwood Cup match. It was truly an amazing sight for everyone in attendance (we played on a grass pitch here…once upon a time). Unfortunately for me, I was off to the train station to collect another lad who never made it to the match (a hefty fine will ensue for his treachery). During the first half of the match 20 minutes in, Seoul Survivor “Mexican Ginger boy” made a solid break along the sideline to run 30 meters inside the opposition half and scored the team’s first try of the match and put the motley hanbok team up on the board (7-0). After a successful conversion kick, the team’s spirits were raised and ready for the kick off once more. A successful penalty kick made by Phili O’Brien put the Seoul Survivors up to (10-7).
 | | Kick Off |
Simon Walsh, Tour Team Captain displayed incredible form making several amazing tackles throughout the match leaving several Tokyo Gaijin members still laying on the sidelines until the better part of the second half (just keep eating what you’ve been eating Simon). From the Fijian front mob, Joshua Wainigolo and Manassa Tuilau were providing a steady and tenacious offense that weakened the opposition’s line and allowed for another try in the 53rd minute by the “Mexican Ginger boy” with another solid break from our own 50 meter line (17-7). The Seoul Survivor team gave as good as it received for the duration with Simon Walsh making a few more key tackles. The Front row dominated both ends of the pitch and never allowed a single try on either end. The Tokyo Gaijin scored on two previous attempts and narrowed the point gap by a mere few points with a penalty kick (17-15).
 | | Line Out |
At the start of the second half Seoul Survivors maintained possession of the ball for nearly 27 minutes and held the Tokyo Gaijin club at bay. It was not until the 75th minute of the match that yet again “Mexican Ginger boy” scored his first “hat-trick” of the day for the Seoul Survivors putting the team up (24-22) after another successful conversion kick by Phili O’Brien. Team Seoul Survivors fought hard near the end of the match but were scored on by the Tokyo Gaijin to end the match with a last second Try putting the score at (24-29). It was an overall excellent effort by the Seoul Survivors team at the TGRFC home turf.
 | | Hiro Kick |
The post match activities were not without note. As the team made their way to a restaurant that may have served as a Yakuza hang out, the boys enjoyed endless Asahi and Kirin beer with some of Japan’s finest cuisine and a great group of fellows this side of the Pecos. Joshua Wainigolo was named “Man of the Match” for his efforts to keep plugging away at the opposition’s forwards which allowed the Seoul Survivors to clinch the team’s 24 points. The beer and food were wonderful, but in life….all good things must end and we made our deliberate but sluggish way out to have a stab at the Japan v. Samoa match up later that evening.
 | | International |
The crowd was larger, more alive where we were sitting and yes…they even had a Canterbury store that we didn’t have a chance at checking out! The beer was flowing once again and as it is our job to do so, provided positive encouragement to the professional rugby players on the pitch for nearly 80 minutes with the other 10 devoted to taking a look at Japan’s most precious resource...its women!
Not long after the match, and yet another pass by of the Canterbury store we did not get to walk in to again, everyone enjoyed a short cab ride into Roppongi to visit the world famous Hob Goblin Pub. It did not take long to realize that we weren’t being held up by the bar…it was the ongoing REDS v BLUES match that our gracious host Aaron would not allow anyone to see until the game’s finality and of course…TIVO so the patrons can be reminded once again that the REDS did win again.
The evening at Hob Goblin Pub, continued with the flow of alcohol in all varieties and cheering and jeering at the match on the television. The Fijian mob was getting restless and decided to call it a night early after an afternoon of heavy drinking and a second day of little sleep. It wasn’t too long after that the crowd starting thinning out to allow the team to catch their respective trains back to their billets leaving behind only the more dedicated behind.
On Sunday, some of the less exhausted members of the club joined the Gaijin to play some successful tens. The long day ended for the Survivors when they were required to get back to the airport. Hopefully, the Gaijin will be able to provide more thorough match report for Sunday.
As always, thank you to the tour organizers. Also, thanks to the Survivors supporters who came with the team. Thank you, of course, to the Gaijin who opened up the doors to us, and for providing us with a great tour. Hope we can return the favor next year. |
