Pirates at Portland

Report from Rob Nicholls (Pirate Bert)
November 2006

As an exile who works in Mansfield, I was more than a little intrigued to learn that the Pirates would be making use of Mansfield Rugby Club's facilities in preparation for the 'Clash with the Titans' last Saturday.

I work at Portland College, a specialist residential college for learners with disabilities and sport forms an important part of the curriculum. For many learners, playing sports is not only enjoyable, but helps them to maintain mobility and insodoing manage health conditions and disabilities. In addition, working towards leadership and coaching qualifications helps develop confidence and interpersonal skills. Portland learners past and present have excelled at paralympic sports such as boccia, a bowls-style game and table cricket. Under the dedicated direction of Dave Winters, our Sports Co-ordinator, the college is developing a range of others, including wheelchair rugby.

Rob Nicholls

Wheelchair rugby was developed in Canada in the late 1970s. It became known as 'Murderball' in the US during the 1980s and as an introduction to its fast-paced, aggressive and full-contact nature, you could do no better than the cult film from 2005 which shares this name.

Being a true hybrid sport, it is played with a volleyball on a hard court with the same dimensions as a basketball court. It's played in manual wheelchairs specially designed for speed and impact. If the props department responsible for the 'Mad Max' films had been let loose on a wheelchair, this is what they would've come up with. Trust me.

Iva Motusaga & Student Aaron Leicester

The teams of four players are required to pass or bounce the ball in order to advance it towards their opponents' goal, which is the centre section at the opposite end of the court, separated by cones. A goal is scored by a player carrying a ball across the goal line and ensuring that two wheels of his or her chair have also crossed.

I thought it would be great for our learners to meet some professional sportsmen and demonstrate their prowess at wheelchair rugby, so I tentatively approached Adrian Edwards after the Nottingham game, with a view to the Pirates dropping by. The idea was met positively and a couple of phone calls later, it was arranged for the Pirates to visit at 2pm on 9th November.

Thursday afternoon arrived and when Mark Hewitt phoned to say they were lost in Mansfield, our man Winters ably directed them in and the Pirates were soon witnessing 'Murderball' in action. I assumed the lads would be content to be spectators, but they didn't need asking twice to get stuck in and an impromptu Portland v Pirates game was on. Once the photographer from the local rag had clambered down from the small table she insisted on to get the shot she needed, we were ready to start.

From the off, no-one was holding back. The Pirates produced some impressive passes and dummies but all credit must go to our Portland learners, who were certainly not daunted by the prospect of being up against professional sportsmen.

Unfortunately, my recollection of most of the game was compromised by my attempts to get a good photographic record of the visit. (My better efforts will follow next week, once permission has been obtained from the Portland learners involved.) Job Done - Pictures here now Anyway, come the final whistle, the visitors just edged it at 8-9. Portland's principal, Colonel Mike Syms, was more than a little disappointed to miss the game. In addition to playing tight head for the army from the late 1960s to early 1980s, Mike is 'Cornish by marriage' and soon to retire to St Ives, where he will serve on the committee of St Ives RFC. (Having spoken to him today, he may well be joining us at Earth Arena tomorrow.) In his absence, Dr Dawn Green, Director of Studies presented Gavin Cattle with a plaque of the Portland logo and Adrian promised to reciprocate with a signed shirt upon his return to Penzance.

Rhodri McAtee - Wizard on wheels

Everyone said their goodbyes and as a parting gesture, Mark Hewitt gave young Portland learner Aaron Leicester his Pirates sweatshirt, so he had an alternative to the Arsenal shirt he'd been sporting during the afternoon!

Thanks once again to the Pirates players and staff for taking time out of your busy schedule ahead of 'the'game tomorrow. You've gained some new fans at Portland and having spoken to Aaron today, I suspect you've succeeded in generating some interest in rugby union, in addition to wheelchair rugby.