Final Play

There is 1 minute left on the clock but yet it feels like an eternity. It's nil to nil as we run it up the field crashing into the opposition. We go left. We go right. Trying to find a crack in their rock-hard defence.

The buzzer goes for full time and the pressure kicks in. Any mistake means it's all over, all for nothing, all the blood, sweat and tears down the drain.

The forwards keep running it up in short pods trying to give the backs some space or the smallest gap. Anything to make us crash over the try line one last time. Then we give it to the backs and as they spread it wide the first five gets into the dropkick position.

We get to half way. Then the ten metre line. Then the twenty two. Finally we're on the five metre line and as the halfback passes it to the first five, I hope and pray that he makes it over the posts.

I see him turn and as he strikes the ball into the air; it almost seems like it's in slow motion as I watch the ball spin through the air going around and around. Then it's over.

We've done it. We maul onto him in a tsunami of bloody, bruised and bashed arms and legs. Finally, it's over. All over.