“The Gong”

 by Andrew Simpson - www.rugbypassion.com

The “Gong” as we affectionately call Wollongong is the location for the first Waratah game of the 2006 season, a trail match against the CA Brumbies. The “Gong” is about a one hour drive south of Sydney or if you prefer, as I have today, a one hour air-conditioned scenic train trip. The track cuts through the Royal National Park, along the Pacific coast line and down into “Steel City”.

Wollongong is Aboriginal for sounds of the sea and from the grassy Hill of WIN Stadium that’s exactly what you can hear as the waves of the Pacific Ocean crash on the beach just 10 metres away.

Three austere stands with capacity of 20,000 reflect the local industry of steel production. Nearby Port Kembla handles 567 vessel visits each year moving a massive 16 million tonnes of coal, iron ore and steel. There is a sense that Wollongong is proud to be the “Steel City”. This pragmatic and practical approach also applies at Wollongong University which has a reputation for bridging the gap between theory and practice.

During the Rugby World Cup in 2003 Wollongong hosted two pool matches. The match between Tonga and Canada was a torrid affair. The Maple Leafs to man took an awful pacific island pounding, culminating with Captain Charron being stretchered from the ground after receiving an accidental shoulder to the head from Hola.  Canada ran out winners 24 to 7.

The second was a rather forgettable match between the USA and France. The entertainment came from the supporters rather than the rugby. All eyes were trained on an enthusiastic buxom French supporter who on a bitterly cold night wore only a French flag bikini. On the Hill a mad American supporter wore a Jack o Lantern pumpkin to the Halloween match. “Pumpkin Head” entertained the spectators on the Hill by slowly raising the pumpkin high over his head and with encouraging cries from the crowd of “pumpkin…pumpkin…pumpkin” he would eventually place the hollowed pumpkin on his head. The spectators showed their appreciation with huge cheers and applause. Oh, yes the French second string team beat the Eagles by 41 to 14.

In a stroke of marketing madness this January 21^st mid summer afternoon trial match a double header with the Sydney Kings Basketball team playing next door against the Wollongong Hawks. What a great idea watch the rugby then straight to the basketball?? But as the temperature soars to 28 degrees at the 5.00 PM kick off, concerns abound for the player’s welfare. The 5,684 crowd on hand are dressed for the beach covered in sun cream and dressed in shorts, tee shirts and thongs.

CA Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher has selected a young squad with eight players from the Brumbies Academy. Ewen McKenzie has rested his Wallabies from the heat but has loads of Super 14 experience on the paddock. Playing 20 minute quarters it doesn’t take long for the Waratahs to take control through Tim Donnelly’s judicious kicking game. The Eastwood captain finishes the game with a try and three conversions. Neither team take penalty shots due to the trial status of the match. The players forget the heat and the physical contact is scary, we can only imagine these footballers have been itching for the season to start. Peter Owens is carried from the field just before half time and is later cleared of a suspected broken leg.

For the record the Tah’s win comfortably 21 to 5.

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