Play again tomorrow

Life’s full of those little moments where you think you’ve got it sussed and then something comes along and makes you think again.

I hadn’t watched a game of tackle bull-rush for a while – and watching one this week was full-on! I admit I had to grimace and look away on more than one occasion and whince and mumble “ aaargh! Oooo! Mmmm!” under my breath.

Our kids are tough little things. It’s blowing a cold southerly and yet they are out on the sideline in shorts and bare-feet ready for their turn to take on the tacklers and race to the other side. If they’re not fast or tricky enough they’ll be stopped and thrown roughly to the ground, with several bodies on top.

I watch as their eyes shimmer with terror and they start on a sprint faster than they knew was possible. Yep. There were tears, a few punches were thrown, calls of ‘unfair’ and bruised bodies dragged themselves from the field. Much as I struggled to watch those determined young ones throw themselves to the lions, they will no doubt line up to play again tomorrow.

Odette