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I have often been dubbed "Lucky Bastard" - a term of endearment (usually) that aptly describes an innate ability to muddle through problems and end up with "a result".

The final Lions match, being held at the Millenium Stadium on July 14th was no exception...

Tickets for the match had long sold out by the time I'd arrived in Sydney - 'scalpers' (touts) were the only source at extortionate rates.  And so it was that I met, via SMS a scalper in the Lord Nelson pub in The Rocks area of the harbour two days before the match to acquire a ticket.   A restricted view ticket which set me back A$250 (c£100) but a quarter the price of many being sold this late.

However, I'd made a commitment to Ali, my neighbour from back home who moved to Oz on a four year working visa, that I would try to get her a ticket too.

After meeting in the centre mid afternoon, we headed to the Olympic Stadium by train - following the sea of red Lions shirts and occasional yellow Wallaby shirt.  I'd made up a sign with "two tickets required - GO LIONS" on one side and "one ticket for sale" on the other (ie the 'insurance policy' I'd bought from SMS Dave, the Scalper) .

At the station, we positioned ourselves in the midst of the herd stampeding towards the stadium and held the sign up high.

Within minutes we'd been offered two at A$500 each - not great positions so we declined.

The crowd from the train dwindled a few moments later but, just as I thought we would be waiting for some time to come, a chap approached us and said he had two - "follow me" was his dodgy invite...

We asked what he wanted for them - A$100 each.  "Where are they" I asked, expecting somewhere behind a the lavatories with a pillar in full view. "The members enclosure"... "WE'LL TAKE THEM!".

Now, two other guys had overheard and offered A$600 on the spot which our new host declined - "These two are my guests".  It turned out that our host, Rob, had to fill the seats or loose his debenture and he wanted respectable types!

So we found ourselves walking around (its a huge stadium) and into the VIP area - and up to a breathtaking view of the pitch right on the halfway line above the TV cameras. 

It was an awesome match which ended with the Lions pushing for the line at the final whistle 6 points short to end the test Lions 1 - Wallabies 2.  

One thing which was evident - the bias the event had toward the home team.  Each time they scored we were deluged with gold tickertape and given a blast of "Waltzing Matilda".  The Lions scoring was met with a muted announcement to this effect.  But did this dampen the Lions supporters ardour? Hardly!  This video clip from deep within the Wallabies members stand capturs the rousing chorus of "Lions, Lions, Lions" which could be heard around Sydney for days before and drowned out every cheer the Ozzies mustered!

 (Go on, say it - "Lucky Bastard")

P.S.:

Now I should point out that this was Alisons first match - and that her boyfriend Phillip will probably disown her for being so spawny - Phillip, here's proof Ali was there - Lucky Bitch!

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