Ferris and D'Arcy stand up for the Ulster Fan! Picture from rugbypicture.co.uk
Have to hold my hands up here and admit that I got a little bit tiddly before, during and after the game on Saturday so any sort of analysis on who on the pitch done what, how often and how well would be a little vague to say the least, with the second half especially going past in a bit of an alcohol sodden blur!
So no cutting insights this week but rather a bit of an appreciation for what was one of the best performances of the crowd for quite some time, a performance which in my reckoning made the difference between winning and losing. Not underestimating the huge effort of the players on the pitch, but it must have been great comfort to them, and a great inspiration, to hear the crowd cheer them on in attack and defence.
Standing on the Prom things can get pretty vocal in even the most depressing of matches but one of the greatest sights in Ravers is when the old prawn sandwich brigade in the Old Stand actually get off their butts when the are singing Stand Up , an action which seems to increase the volume five fold and fair gets the wee hairs on the back of the neck tingling – great stuff and something I wish they’d do more often!
We must have some of the most boring and least inventive chants of any side – well maybe apart from the Ospreys – but on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon there can be few songs that fit the bill better than the tuneless Ulster, Ulster dirge interspersed with the up beat disco tempo of Stand up. The dirge for the backs to the wall stuff and the upbeat for celebrating getting out of another tight corner or an attacking play.
Fair play to the small, but vocal, travelling Biarritz supporters who did their best to make themselves heard throughout but once old Ravers got rocking they didin’t stand a chance.
It’s amazing the difference a year makes for, after yesterdays win and Munster and Castres both losing this weekend, Ulster are now guaranteed progressing in either the Amlin or the Heineken whether we win next week or not. I’m in two minds regarding the result I want next week, well three minds actually. A bonus point and topping the group sees a distinct possibility of a home quarter final where I’d fancy our chances against anyone but a win and finishing second sees an away QF with Northampton, Toulouse or even Leinster being likely opponents! A surprise defeat or even a draw sees us go into the Amlin for an away QF’s against possibly Stade Francais, Harlequins or La Rochelle.
Still don’t know what my preference would be but reckon we should just go for the five points and hope Bath find a bit of form!
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9 Responses to “View from the Prom: Stand Up for the Ulster Fan!”
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Yip, hands up for the crowd. It looked like amazing atmosphere.
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As you said Ed – its a long time since the wee hairs on the back of the neck tingling … but on Sat evening mine were standing proud… as proud as each of the players were to win a hard dour battle and credit goes to both sets of players for putting on a game that was by no means a classic .. but kept everone of the massive crowd on their toes until the final whistle. It was good to hear Ravers rocking once again throughout the match in attack and defence, and even though Tyrone Howe correctly said on his commentry on the game ” its not a very sophisticated song” Stand up for the Ulstermen got us going again and again and again. After the game I watched big Johann turn and look at the old stand and the prawn sarnie brigade myself included, singing our hearts out and the look on his face will stay with me for a long long time the only thing I can think of to relate it to was the debut of another 2nd row a Mr. J Harrison …. when the ran on for the first time at Ravers he glared at the prom as he took his place on the pitch. I think that Johann got a real taste of what the Ulstermen can do when the get behind their team and give them the support like we done on Sat afternoon.
I can say I was proud to be there to soak in both the rain and the tremendous atmosphere we created.
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Absolutely fantastic, Ravenhill was rocking! I admit the same old chants have the potential to lose their impact, but the sheer volume coming from all sections of the ground was deafening. As the Ulster team is progressing on the field maybe the supporters should as well, the creative souls amongst us could come up with some more rousing tunes, possibly learning from our footballing counterparts and taking some hints from the ‘Green and White Army’…maybe Admin could create a new thread for suggestions…
My parting thought is that its just a shame that we don’t experience that intense atmosphere as often as we should, I admit European games at Ravers will always have that special edge, but theres no reason why it shouldn’t be a full house for every game, and we can strengthen Ravenhill’s reputation as a true fortress.
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A_FAN I’m with you more tunes required, Cardiff blues even have a song book, pity they don’t use it but that might have something to do with the stadium which has no atmosphere.
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DEAR ED
WHAT A PREFORMANCE I DIDNT THINK U COULD DRINK SO MUCH RED WINE !
U WERE A YOUNG GIGGLEY BOY FROM LARNE, WHAT A PREFORMANCE !!
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I see UR are rewarding the 16th man with a chance to watch next Saturday’s match on the big screen in the members bar. Well if you are a season ticket holder that is!! Nice one UR.
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DAVY – I was deffo due a Big Day Out!
PARKY – Yes I see and charging a £10 for the privilege. Free entry would have been a nice way of making up for the lack of Ravens matches!
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Yip, also note that clearing the snow off the pitch wasn’t exclusive to ST holders and the URSC because about 20 would have turned up. Ha ha!
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