The shuttle arrived precisely at 3:10 to take me to the airport (3:10 to Baltimore...hmm...) on Friday.  I had dinner with an old friend who had recently moved to JAX with her husband.  We finalized our plans for game day, and she dropped me at my hotel.

Saturday was chilly and damp--weather that must have made the Rhinos feel right at home.  Jocelyn and I arrived later then planned and had to walk from one of the further lots.  I could hear Russell's voice--I'd know it anywhere--over the loudspeaker as we hurried up the sidewalk.  We got inside just as the opening ceremony finished and found seats (we'd decided to go for the general seating, for logistical reasons I won't get into).  Russell came over to the fence and signed autographs for the folks gathered there.  I was a little too slow on my feet, and he was already heading across the field by the time I reached the spot. 

We were asked to observe a moment of silence for Heath Ledger (such a loss!), which was then followed by the National Anthems of the three countries, followed by introductions.  The Rhinos appeared quite comfortable, in spite of the cold and wet, and milled about the field in a rather leisurely fashion.  Not so the Rabbitohs!  Poor men must have been freezing!  They ran about and practiced tackling, pushing and catching.

Finally the game began.  The first half it was all Rhinos.  As you heard, they scored 26 points in the first half.  But the Rabbitohs came roaring back in the second half, completely shutting down the Rhinos' offense, and breaking through their defensive line to score again and again.  (Jocelyn had decided to seek out the restroom, and as luck would have it, Souths scored for the first time about 30 seconds after she went inside.  When she came back I teased that she should have gone after the first quarter!)  An excellent comeback from the bunnies.  Neither of us had seen rugby before, but we had a great time.  Russell was right when he said they kept the game moving.  If it were not for the breaks between quarters, we would not have had time to catch our breath.  I was a little mystified at the end when all the players started pulling off their jerseys--but what the heck, right?  That got all us ladies warmed up!

As Darrin mentioned, Maverick's was loud and crowded.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to stay to the end and meet the team and Russell.  Jocelyn's husband called in a panic--computer dead, presentation due Monday lost, need to get to Best Buy NOW!--and we had the car.  Oh well, perhaps there will be another opportunity.  And we still had a great time.

Amey