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But these defeats can bring with them green shoots of hope. It always hurts to lose, of course, but in these games that were always going to be ‘a bridge too far’, encouraging elements like some running rugby that results in tries or some promising defensive sets, can lead to a brighter view of things. Flashes of individual or collective brilliance can feel like small victories in themselves. Play honestly, keep the scoreboard respectable and the beers in the club afterwards don’t taste nearly as bitter and then it’s a case of dusting yourself down and going again the following weekend.
Then there are the defeats that really, really cut deep. Despite the fact that amateur rugby is such an open game, it’s surprising how many results come down to a single kick of the ball - a missed or scored place kick or drop goal often proving to be all the difference between agony and ecstasy. Many would argue that being on the receiving end of a drubbing is a lesser evil than an agonising one point loss. The memories of one point defeats are the ones that stay with players over time. They’re there, in the recesses of the mind and will come out now and again, out of nowhere on some idle Sunday or during a mundane Wednesday lunchtime to torment us. I’ve been on the right side of such results too, and the ecstasy of those victories is heady and joyous but still, they provide cold comfort for the losses experienced. The nature of these losses throw sombre shadows over your rugby memories and are enough to bring grown men to their knees.
It’s surprising“how many results come down to a single kick of the ball - a missed or scored place kick or drop goal often proving to be all the difference between agony and ecstasy.
40 ALL SHAPES & ZEBRAS FROM TREORCHY