Bath were playing away against Newport at Rodney Parade on a wet miserable Wednesday night.
It was going to be a typical physical encounter where both packs slog it out for the victory.
But unknown to us, Newport had found a young full back / fly half by the name of Stuart Barnes.
His low centre of gravity and silky skills were beginning to swing the pendulum in the Welshman’s favour, it was really pissing me off.
I had tried to get hold of Barnsey for most of the first half to introduce myself, but to no avail, but about 10 minutes into the second half, the ball bounced innocently into touch in front of the main stand, he picked the ball up just off the playing surface, now I had started my run up about 20 yards before, and unlike three-quarters I cannot just stop suddenly ,especially when there is a unexpected juicy little titbit in my eye-line.
The collision sent him crashing into the hoardings.
Stuart has become one of my closest and trusted friends, surprisingly that, because he is an Oxford graduate, reads poetry and very intelligent and then there’s me!!!.  
But I must admit whenever we are out or around his house having dinner, and he’s using words that I don’t understand, I sometimes think back to the first time we met, it always brings a smile to my face.
Happy Days.
Memory added on April 19, 2021
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