This Sunday (June 28) at the ACG, one such extraordinary clash will take place as rugby champions, the Phuket Vagabonds face a Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) World XI in a fast and furious 20-over cricket match. And once the cricket concludes and nourishments have been taken, the players will return to the arena for a rugby showdown!
Let’s briefly take a look at the two sports now in the spotlight for this challenge. Cricket is a devilishly complicated sport, with odd rules and even odder sounding field positions (e.g., silly mid-on, leg-slip, gully). It is also, however, a game of cunning, skill and concentration, with no small measure of power thrown in. Rugby’s demands are certainly more physically, but equitable in terms of skill, strategy and complexity, not to mention a similar fondness for unusual positional names (e.g., fly-half, hooker, prop).
So, you are faced with a dilemma. Can the more imposing rugby players upset the form books by beating the cricketers at their own game, then claim ultimate victory with a win on the rugby pitch? Or is it possible that the cricketers could manage the unthinkable and sink the recently crowned 10s champions in rugby after success on the crease?
There is a third possibility; a safer bet, one could say, with both teams securing victory at their respective sporting codes – PCG win the cricket, Vagabonds win the rugby, but no outright winner.
Doffing caps in gratitude to the wives, girlfriends and friends of the players for allowing them time to play, socialise and suffer injuries, organisers have agreed to a deciding fixture featuring the women of Phuket’s cricket and rugby families.
In a climactic conclusion to the days sporting feast, the wives and girlfriends of players from both codes will engage in a rugby match to possibly determine the day’s outright victors.
Regardless of winning, Sunday at the ACG will offer visitors an opportunity to enjoy the scenic facility with a variety of international and Thai cuisine on offer in the sheltered clubhouse. Opportunities to become involved with both sports and the Asia Center Foundation will also be widely available.
Take this opportunity to witness and experience a unique Phuket sporting event with friends and family.
THE TEAMS
PCG: Andrew McMillan (Capt), Imtiaz Mushtaq, Paddy Morton, Dave Thomas, Divaan Mydeen, Waseem Baht, Pir Sami, Alex Runhaar, Paul Watkins Baker, Manish Sadarangani, Stuart Reading, Stuart Hamilton.
VAGABONDS: Darryn Mathee, Eric Jacobs, Rucus Malan, Grant Olsen, Justin Swart, Stephan Garcia, Brett Pentland Smith, William Gramond, Adam Victor, Dan Ashburn, Michael Whippy, Daniel Cairncross.
For more information on how you can support this event, please contact Roelien Muller roemuthai@gmail.com or Dave Thomasdavethomas01@hotmail.com