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Published: July 11th 2013
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Saturday, crunch day! Third test at the ANZ Stadium (Olympic Stadium). After breakfast S&D went to the market and I had a walk in Centennial Park. Lots of activity, picnics, soccer, dog walking, jogging and cycling, very busy. Nice sunny morning again. About 2pm we went down to the bars at Circular Pier and met up with Dave Gribble for a small sherbet. He was staying with friends in Brisbane and had come down for the big game. The whole place was awash with Lions fans wearing every conceivable combination of lions red, white, blue and green. Fantastic sight. We used our match day tickets to ride the Paramatta ferry to the ANZ. Picturesque ride under the SHB and half hour up the river. From the ferry terminal it was a half hour walk to the Olympic Park and our supporters gathering venue, the Allphones Arena, adjacent to the ANZ. Same format as before, beer, food, speakers and Manic Street Preachers.
7pm and in to the stadium. Again we had good seats with great view unlike those in the back row of the top tier on the sides who must have been at least half a mile from the pitch!
Well, what a game, a first minute try, extended lead to 19 - 3, fight back by the Aussies to 19 - 16 and then we blew them away winning 41 - 16. Amazing scenes towards the end when the result was not in doubt, thousands of Aussies streaming out to chorus' of "Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio!" And 30,00 Lions fans waving goodbye. Great celebrations and a 40 minute train ride with a vast wave of red back to the bars in Sydney. Queuing to get in pubs? What's that all about? Fair play the Aussies who were generous in defeat and celebrated (or perhaps consoled) with plenty of falling down water. Back to apartment for more beer and Champers!😊 Awesome occasion, awesome result. Unlike some we didn't have to get up at 4am for the flight back to UK. That must've been evil😞
Sunday and we decided to go back out, hammering our MyTravel tickets. We toured the Police museum, very interesting, locked Sue in the dock of the courtroom! meandered through the Rocks market and rode the ferry to Manley for the last time, strolled the coastal path and ate ice creams in the sun. Rode home to
another glorious sunset. Back in Bondi junction we had our last evening meal, a return to the Chinese restaurant we used before, excellent food and service.
Monday morning 10am and Taxi to the airport. All trip Sue was swooning over every mention of Shane Williams. We'd seen lots of players out and about but no Shane. Then guess who was sat opposite us in the lounge: the man himself, obviously very worse for wear after 24 hours celebrating. Still he was good enough (I don't think he had the strength to run away) to have his photo with Sue. Good man, made the topping to her holiday. Tiring, boring 20 hours flying to Heathrow where we were grateful to be collected by Grizzly Adams. (Thanks Phil) Glad to be home but what an adventure! 2017 to NZ? well we'll think about it another day😊
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