On Sunday afternoon, I attended a rugby league match between Redfern and Moore Park at the Coogee Oval. I thought what a great place to play rugby; it's right on the beach! Clouds were looming overhead and rain eventually poured down on us at the start of the second half. Luckily, I had a seat under the pavilion. At the beginning of the match, the players held a moment of silence for someone who had passed away. Similar to American culture, Australian sporting events serve as a place to come together to honor or remember people. The game kicked off right after that. Moore Park dominated the first half and kept the play on their opponent's side for a majority of the time. At half time, the Moore Park players left the field with their heads held high, while the Redfern team looked disappointed and discouraged. The second half followed the same tune ending up in a victory for Moore Park. I enjoyed watching this match because we were so close to the action. I was mesmerized by the size of some of the players and their abilities to flat-out knock someone on the ground just by running into them. I was also impressed by the sportsmanship displayed by the players, especially after a try was made. I learned more about rugby league during the match from a friend, who plays for the Usyd’s women’s rugby team. I was shocked to learn that women's rugby league has the exact same rules! Now my next goal is to see a women’s rugby league match.
