On
the road with the Press Gang - A personal journey through the season
By
Dick Straughan Each rugby season holds different reminiscences
for each individual supporter. Here, journalist, Press Gang member and Cornish
Pirates fan Dick Straughan looks back at a season spent travelling on the supporters
coach. Regardless of your preferred method of travel to away games
there is no doubting that a day on the Press Gang bus is a rugby experience worthy
of merit. Until this season I must confess to rarely using anything other
than my own car for away trips having consigned memories of travel by coach to
the compartment in my brain marked "Student life". But back in late
August I decided to break with convention and spend the season on the road with
the Press Gang. I am glad I did.
 | | Dick
Straughan consults with Zelah |
As the National
Division One season commenced in early September 2007 the Press Gang themselves
were sailing into uncharted waters as they began their first full season back
on the road following their rebirth earlier that year. With a new Committee
at the helm and the welcome short haul up the A30 to Polson Bridge for the season
curtain raiser against the Cornish All Blacks, excitement and expectations were
high. Two coaches were chartered on a day when one ended up unexpectedly
sightseeing along the north coast, whilst the other came perilously close to giving
the team bus a Volvo-sized enema as they neared the ground together.
 | | The
two coaches pick up at the Mennaye Penzance |
The
choreography was however perfect, with the team and the supporters arriving in
perfect synchronised harmony. The Pirates won and everyone returned back west
afterwards happy and fulfilled, if not a tad concerned by a lacklustre team performance.
Marshy and Curnow were mentioned in dispatches for their services to the British
cider industry. The day spent trekking east to Monks Lane, Newbury will
be remembered for events at the back of the bus. (Got your attention now, haven`t
I?!) With the toilet suddenly blocked, fresh water supplies exhausted and an unwanted
amphibious visitor refusing to go away drastic action was called for. Dotcom
sacrificed a quantity of beer to evict the miscreant and after the drivers bravely
rectified the blockage in a lonely lay-by just off the M4 there would have been
barely a blocked sinus within a three mile radius. If you ever watched
the Dambusters movie just visualise the special effects at the end as the Mohne
Dam explodes and you will get the picture. Marshy promptly woke up and sang a
rendition of "Wee Willy`s lost his Marly" in celebration of the event
(the fixing of the loo, not the Dambusters raid) before shutting his eyes and
returning to blissful unconsciousness.
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>>> (C)Dick Straughan 2008
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