It’s baffling, to myself at least, that in a time where people strive for evermore distinctive ways to outwardly express themselves, the hairs on their very heads are often overlooked. That purchasing an item of clothing, something temperamental that is on one minute and off the next, takes precedence over something malleable that everyone is born with. Mother Nature gives us a free, constant palette to work with, and yet “styles” such as the ponytail, the emo fringe or (God forbid) the Hackney facelift are predominantly all we ever see on anyone, anywhere.
This criticism comes, of course, from someone who is somewhat biased towards playing around with their hair. Since hitting the teens and developing the consequent idea of a “self-image” attached to them, I’ve had every colour imaginable, tried out various (often tragic) stylings and forever had fun experimenting with my own follicles. Yet, judging by the looks from bystanders I usually receive, apparently this is somewhat weird.
Why is that? Why has the idea of a distinct look evolved in such a way that it’s the clothes we wear that are of ultimate importance? In an obvious paradox, unless we were to manufacture the clothes ourselves, expressing individuality through what we wear doesn’t wholly work. Sure, the way we arrange what we’ve got on and how we accessorise injects some personal character, but it’s still expression through the constraints of an industry hell-bent on convincing us it knows how we should be presenting ourselves better than we do.
Case in point: Daphne Guinness is considered “iconic” for donning a pair of Alexander McQueen’s infamous “heel-less” high heels; Lady Gaga is considered “original” for sporting a dress made from Kermit the Frog dolls (despite Kermit being an idea of Jim Henson’s); girls in Newcastle are considered “cool” and “sexy” for all wearing what is essentially a glorified pair of bra and knickers on a night out etc. etc.
So-called “originality” in the world of clothing is usually borrowed and/or shared; “character” ceases being just that, and becomes merely something we buy in to. Yet, with hair that is almost never the case. While someone could argue that dyeing your hair to have another colour follows the same principle as covering yourself in another designer’s clothes, there’s still a difference: that hair is yours. Like a snowflake, no two strands are the same, and each and every one of us has our own, unique biological make-up from which it grows.
This may sound preachy, but it’s meant to. You can express away with all sorts of clothes, but at the end of the day they’re all coming off; that’s an identity you choose to inhabit when it suits you. Hair, on the other hand, is with you 24/7; you can’t “change out of it” at the drop of a hat, and thus it’s a much more honest, lasting means of self-expression attached to it. So why shy away from it, people?
Get ahold of a brush, a hairdryer, some straighteners. Get acquainted with the terms “back-combing”, “curling”, “crimping” and the like. Ladies: spend less time faffing around with whatever shade of tan-gerine you’re slathering on yourself, or whether you should be in flats or high heels. Gentlemen: spend less time spraying Lynx all over your Calvin Klein boxers, or worrying which one of your seven supposedly-different-yet-seemingly-identical shirts to wear out. Start experimenting with your hair, because the face is normally the first thing we all see when we look at each other; don’t you want to frame yours well?
(I realise this article is entirely inapplicable to those of you that are bald, so in order to make it relevant, I give you a chat-up line: “It’s not a bald spot; it’s a solar panel for a sex machine”. Oh, and you could always buy a wig.)
The products that you wouldn’t dream of buying before you came to university have somehow become essentials in your weekly shop. Despite the bland, unappealing packaging – which is probably psychological to entice you into buying the more expensive version – students hunt out Sainsbury’s Basics versions of their favourite food and temporarily disregard the blow to their pride. I’ve always been intrigued by Sainsbury’s Basics products, and since coming to Manchester I made it my mission to get acquainted with the products that have the somewhat cheesy one line descriptions. So here is my compiled list of what I consider to be the Basics products that you can easily substitute into your weekly shop, and those that shouldn’t be touched with a barge pole.
When times are hard, you can count on:
Basics Biscuits
With a cup of tea, as a substitute for lunch or because you simply can’t watch a film without eating something, Basics biscuits are great. If you can notice a difference it’s marginal as these are everything you expect a decent biscuit to be: crunchy and full of sugar. From digestives to bourbons and custard creams to Jaffa cakes, the only problem is that a packet doesn’t last too long. Not because Sainsbury’s have sneakily reduced the quantity; simply that they’re so moreish.
Basics Pizza
I consider myself to be an amateur pizza connoisseur as Italian food is my runaway favourite cuisine. Whilst I’m not saying that Sainsbury’s Basics Pizza is on a par with the likes of Croma and Strada, I will admit that trying it was a pleasant surprise in the face of my initial skepticism. Whether it’s fresh or frozen, Basics pizza frequently ends up in my shopping basket and is ideal for when I can’t be bothered to cook properly.
Basics Fruit and Vegetables
On the whole, I’ve been very impressed by Basics fruit and vegetables. Whilst you do need to carefully choose your bag of apples or carrots to avoid damaged ones, I would heartily recommend switching to Basics especially because fruit and vegetables are not normally the cheapest items on the shelves. Also, if you’re cooking vegetables as part of a stew or casserole, Basics are no different to Sainsbury’s own brand in my opinion.
Basics Squash and Fruit Juice
Squash is one of my favourite drinks and I love all the varieties of Basics squash, particularly now they sell the double strength versions. There’s no obvious difference and it’s great for mixing and making water taste that little bit fruitier. Basics Fruit juice is also good; whilst it’s nothing on the likes of Tropicana and Copella, it’s most definitely drinkable and only a fraction of the price.
Stay clear of:
Basics Cheese
One of the mantras that I live my life by is that cheese improves every savoury meal. Whether it’s baked potato, pasta, Mexican food, beans on toast – the list is endless. However, I’ve always found the blocks of Basics cheese to be on the rubbery side. Although cheese is sadly an expensive commodity, I would strongly recommend choosing an alternative brand even if it does cost slightly more.
Basics Pasta Sauce
Pasta was my staple food in my first year of university, but I have to admit that despite costing 18p Basics Pasta Sauce is really not good. It’s very sweet and artificial so I would suggest spending a bit more on pasta sauces, or better still: make it yourself.
Basics Alcohol
Personally I’m put off by simply the appearance of Basics alcohol, whether it’s lager, cider or vodka. From my experience if you’re wanting anything from a glass of wine with a nice meal to a night out that the Wolfpack would be proud of, upgrade to at least Sainsbury’s own versions so that you don’t have to worry about what you’re pumping through your body.
Basics Toilet Roll
Unless you like the idea of using sandpaper when you go to the bathroom, avoid this.
I remember being told from an early age ‘there’s no such thing as something for nothing’ or ‘life’s not fair’ and the classic ‘it’s a cruel world, son.’ Perhaps this is the reason why I spend my evenings in a dark corner rocking but it also may be the reason why I feel so suspicious of being told pretty incessantly, from several sides, that I live in a ‘something for nothing’ culture.
There have been a few examples recently in the media, such as the trial of Welsh sisters Andrea and Roberta Vaughan-Owen, who attempted to claim over one hundred million pounds in VAT fraud. I’m not sure that this really illustrates that we, as a nation, simply hand out free money. Apparently they were cheating a failing system, but they were caught and are facing prison. To get away with any large-scale fraud of our benefits systems it seems that you would have to be part of some sort of large crime syndicate. Now, I’m not defending the Vaughan-Owens, but anyone who has seen the Godfather films will know that no one works harder than the mafia.
My point is not really about this specific case, but about the context it has been applied to: as yet another example of a benefit culture where it’s easy to get by if you are lazy and morally corrupt. Look at any benefit payment in this country closely; from unemployment, disability benefit or tax credits to elderly buss passes. To characterize these benefits as undeserved or unearned is to hold an insultingly simplistic view of our culture. The picture is very complex and messy, but we are talking about millions of people in vastly differing circumstances who have one thing in common: they certainly do not receive this money for nothing. Benefits should not be held up as a sign of a morally corrupt society, and to do so would undermine the work they do in attempting to make Britain a slightly fairer place to live.
Food and Drink Campus Map Here lays the map of the best and worst of the Food and Drink available in and around the University of Manchester’s campus. The mini reviews were compiled by Isaac Cameron (IC), Lloyd Henning (LH), Jemma Gibson (JG), Roshan Gibson (RG), Lloyd Henning (LH), Catherine May (CM) and James Watts (JW).
Situated less than a minute’s walk from John Ryland’s library, it is surprising that not many students know about Christie’s bistro. Hidden upstairs in the neo-gothic Christies building, the bistro was itself initially built as a library and to this day still manages to exude a distinctly academic vibe. The bindings of large manuscripts and archaic paintings adorn the oak panelled walls, giving it a timeless, cosy, yet regal appearance. What’s really great about the bistro is its versatility; split into two different sections, it offers both a formal dining area and a relaxed lounge area. The formal dining area, I admit, is usually void of students; instead tending to attract an array of suits, wine glasses and expensive salads. The rustic lounge area however, with its coffee tables and leather sofas, is suitable for pretty much any member of the University. The menu still isn’t cheap; most sandwiches average just under £5. However, if you’re looking for somewhere you can just have a snack and a hot drink, there are some alluring deals involving a coffee and a muffin for under £3. The Bistro is open 9-5, Monday to Friday, and its busiest hours are between 12pm and 2.00pm. First thing in the morning and from around three o’clock onwards it tends to be very quiet however, and can offer the perfect space for students who wish to spend some solitary time reading in between lectures.
Couture (# 16) By Jessica Hardiman
I’d recommend the museum cafe, ‘Couture’. Most dishes are under £5 and include tasty sandwiches, a daily soup and daily one-pot dish. There’s also some dishes for under £7 if you’re feeling a bigger lunch, like salads. It does some really delicious breakfasts and brunches that feel just that little bit more upmarket than a greasy spoon (pancakes or smoked salmon and eggs for around £3-£5). A lovely experience – much more exquisite than Biko’s and far more tranquil.
The Deaf Institute (# 39) By Lloyd Henning
Get away from your dirty co-students and head to The Deaf Institute. At night it may be a hot-bed of noise and booze but around noon it’s a great lunch time retreat. There is plenty of space, with tables for groups of all sizes and the decor is a refreshing change from the bland sheen of University Place. There is a special on the menu each day, from which I have experienced all manners of culinary delights. The normal menu also has fantastic burgers and lunchtime platters and the staff are friendly. The price ranges from £4 to £7 depending on how starved you feel, although the specials are always the best value.
1. Biko cafe Price: ££ Quality: * Busyness: ** Not the most exciting place on campus by any means, but if you are desperate for a jacket potato then you won’t be disappointed. LH
2. Union Fountain Cheaper than buying a bottle of volvic, but less glamorous. LH
3. Bin outside Kilburn A great bin to meet nerds by. LH
4. Byte Cafe Price: £ Quality: * Busyness: * If you enjoy the smell of body odour with your coffee then pull up a seat next to one of Computer Scientists that dwell in this cafe. LH
5. Water Fountain next to Byte Cafe Cool. Water. LH
6. University Place Restaurant and Cafe Price: ££ Quality: ** Busyness: ***
7. The Oxford Price: £££ (but lots of special offers) Quality: *** Busyness: * JG
8. Ellen Wilkinson Fountain and Cafe First, or possibly second floor, just next to the staircase. Cafe on the ground floor. Good computer cluster on 3rd floor which is always quiet. IC
10. JRUL cafe Price: ££ Quality: * Busyness: ** The Library, Mecca of learning, haven of information, student’s paradise-unless they’re hungry. Mushroom soup? More like thick vegetable stock, and almost a Pound for a bar of chocolate? The only redeeming features are the friendly staff, proximity to the books and fantastic range of waste and recycling facilities. JG
11. Herbi Vores Vegetarian Cafe Price: ££ Quality: ** Busyness: ** This underground canteen caters for vegetarians and vegans, and anybody else who loves interesting and affordable soups, cakes and sandwiches. Situated literally outside the library, its the perfect place to satisfy your library hunger and boredom, it is also a great alternative to the JRUL cafe food. RG
12. Outside University Place Bins Excellent range of bins/recycling bins JG
13. Umami Price: ££ Quality: ** Busyness: * (quick service though) already tagged, but the £4.95 deal is good. IC
14. KroBar Price: £££ Quality: *** Busyness: * Best for coffee, cake (only £2.95) and revision. JG
15. The Pub Price: £££ Quality: *** Busyness:** JG
16. Cafe Museum Price: *** Quality: *** Busyness *** Tasty breakfast deal with sausage sandwich and a coffee. IC
17. Sand Bar Price: £££ Quality: *** Busyness: * Quick service and really really good food, good for lunch time special occasions and celebrations (eg birthdays, end of exams, Fridays). JG
18. Precinct Centre Spar Price: ££ Quality: * Busyness: ** Very handy for Precinct Library and Crawford Building users JG
19. Samuel Alexander Building Lime Cafe Standard uni cafe. Has outdoor seating which is quite nice in the summer though IC
20. All Saints Park Picnic area Possibly the nicest picnic spot on campus, very leafy and spacious (only suitable for April-September) JG
21. Greggs outside Whitworth Park Price: £ Quality: ** Busyness: *** A modern classic JG
22. McColls outside Whitworth Park Price: £ Quality: ** Busyness: ** They sell Pop Tarts. Need I say more? CM
23. MacDonalds Price: ££ Quality: negligable Busyness: *** Opens at six so ideal for breakfast during late night/early morning library sessions in exam periods JG
25. Subway near the Aquatic centre Price: ££ Quality: * Busyness: * JG
26. Potters Cafe (Simon Building) Price: ££ Quality: ** Busyness: *** Good hot salads. IC
27. Shake That! Price: ££ Quality: ** Busyness: * Not as good as Shakeaway, but easily accessible for a pre-lecture sugar rush. CM
28. Christies Bistro Price: £££ Quality: *** Busyness: *** Bit more pricey than most places, but probably the nicest place to eat on campus. IC
29. Dominoes Pizza near Footage Price: £££ Quality: * Busyness: ** It’s a bit of a hike, but if you’ve still got your vouchers from Freshers then you’ll know that ‘Free Pizza’ week is coming up from Feb 28. CM
30. The caf’ next door to Metro Convenience Price: ££ Quality: ** Busyness ** Doesn’t appear to have a name on the exterior, but has by far the best salad bar in Manchester – not massive, but has gorgeous sweet chili potatoes and other ethnic bits and bobs. Great chilled out vibe too. CM
31. Costa Coffee Price: ££ Quality: ** Busyness: ** Ideal location for breakfast on the way into lectures from Victoria Park/Fallowfield. Pricier than supermarket croissants etc. but the Chocolate Twist cannot be bettered. Wide range of paninis for lunch too. CM
32. Valu Supermarket The name gives it all away really. CM
33. Sainsbury’s Price: ££ Quality: ** Busyness: *** The latest Sainsbury’s to open in Manchester is in a prime location for students on their way to university. You can be sure to get your daily meal deal and delicious bakery treats to help you get through the day. JW
34. Happiness Cafe Price: £ Quality: ** Busyness: *** Find the true meaning of a happy meal here… Great paninis + £2.50 = Happy. RG
35. Fruit and Nut Sandwich Bar Price: £ Quality: ** Busyness: ** Friendly faces and plenty of sandwiches. LH
36. International Cafe Price: ££ Quality: *** Busyness: ** A great place to eat if you like to have your plate piled to the brim. For around £5 you can have yourself a plateful of all sorts of curries and there is always a vegetarian option. My suggestion is to go for both rice and chips, this helps ensure complete immobility after the feast. LH
37. Business School Cafeteria Price: £££ Quality: *** Busyness: ** A lovely place to eat, and has plenty of variety in the menu. However, it does make you feel like a bit of a plebeian as you stare over at the diners of the posh hotel restaurant shares the same space. LH
38. University Place water fountains (in the restaurant) Deserve a special mention-this is possibly the only place cups are supplied. JG
39. The Deaf Institute Price: £££ Quality: *** Busyness: * LH
Greece has been experiencing one rough rollercoaster ride, generating a lot of noise within the euro zone lately with its lingering debt problem spurring greater attention. But what exactly has been going on in the euro zone?
Debt being the obvious problem, Greece has been bailed out twice in the past and investors still fear a third rescue is required. These problems are widely known in Europe now, and if a Greek default is largely anticipated given the size of its economy, it has been considered manageable for the euro zone.
Following the G20 Summit in October, EU leaders announced greater measures to expand the bail-out fund known as the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) in their three point plan, along with other plans to force banks to raise greater capital in the case of any defaults in the future. This should prevent banks from collapsing, providing greater protection.
Furthermore, banks also had to accept a loss of 50 percent of their loans to Greece. This is an extremely painful amount as many of Europe’s banks are big holders of Greek debt. Another way of putting this, is like asking Student Finance to accept that they’ll only be receiving half of their initial loans that they lent all students. As for the other half, well, the students just can’t pay it back. As a result, Student Finance would have little left to fund future university students.
The Greek government is in a sticky situation trying to rake in public spending while increasing taxes to try and pay off debt. The public opposition against austerity measures have been causing greater protests, and political turbulence means European cooperation is difficult to establish. The Greek Prime Minister announced a referendum on the EU’s efforts to bail out its troubled economy earlier last week while the question of whether Greece may be forced to leave the euro zone still persists. He later cancelled this referendum under mounting political pressure.
So what does all this mean for the UK? Well, the UK banks don’t hold a relatively large amount of Greek debt (in comparison to the amount which Germany and France hold) and thus are less exposed. However, Greece’s troubles can still have a knock-on effect on the UK banks, amplifying their exposure to Irish debt, which is larger.
More importantly, the issue of concern now is the fear that such a toxic debt problem will spread across the entire euro zone, creating pressure for the bigger economies. Taking centre-stage now is Italy, with warning bells ringing over its debt problems as well.
A tense atmosphere was palpable at the Armitage gymnasium for the evening clash in the unofficial varsity match between Manchester and Manchester Met. Both teams had everything to play for after indifferent starts to the season have left them fighting it out at the bottom of the BUCS 1A Northern Division. Tom Smith the vice president of the Manchester team sadly had to sit this game out however he encouraged a large crowd to come down and cheer on their sides and made sure the supporters were chanting from the off. The first quarter saw Man Met take an early lead, encouraged on by their extremely vocal coach. Manchester levelled things up not long after though and created an established lead with excellent 3-pointers from Ibrahim and Onifade. Joe Levy Adams began to control the game from the back of the court for the home team and linked up well when in offence. Man Met had chances to level things up but were sloppy in front of the net and missed two free throws in a row. Adam Sims soon made Man Met pay for their mistakes with two fantastic long-range shots in the space of a minute. Man Met were making numerous unforced errors and were thankful when the hooter was sounded for the end of the first quarter, which saw them trailing 17-9. A jubilant party atmosphere was developing as more and more people began to fill the balconies above the gym bringing numerous burgers, songs and fancy dress outfits with them. Man Met were really getting into the spirit of things and clearly wanted a better second quarter, however their fans were were quietened immediately with a stunning 3 pointer from Captain Jamie Hagan. Man Met began to take encouragement from their noisy band of followers however and were soon catching up with a quick succession of 2-point goals, which led to a time out being called by Manchester. Coach Tamas Okros led a lively team talk and his passionate words had immediate effect on his players who quickly passed it up the pitch to set up Beaumont for a delicate 3-pointer way outside the D. Man Met continued to dominate however and with only a minute or so left of the quarter found themselves 30-28 down which led to a crisis timeout being called once again by coach Okros for another lively exchange with his players. This technique once again did the trick as Manchester ended the second quarter with a 32-29 lead. The crowd continued to grow and grow with chants of “D-fence, D-fence” reverberating round the court. Adam Sims (4) scored an excellent 3-pointer for Manchester early on and they began to look comfortable on the court keeping possession well however Man Met battled their way back into the game and the match began to become a lot more physical and aggressive. Man Met utilised their number 5 who was having an excellent game and he sunk several 2-pointers with ease. The travelling supporters were now in full voice and were delighted to see them end the quarter level on 45- 45. An unnatural hush ran through the Manchester supporters, with such a nail biting finish to the game and the players cut a similarly dejected look, with heads lowered and angry words from coach Okros ringing in their ears. However they did not need fear not as Lars Sandved- Smith, Heshan El- Shiny and Joe Levy- Adams stepped up to the plate and put in their best quarters of the season. Lars sunk two excellent 2-pointers earlier on to calm the nerves and both Hisham and Adams stayed cool in front of the basket when taking free-throws. The final whistle saw a fantastic 70-62 win for Manchester, with ecstatic celebrations shown from players who truly deserved their excellent victory. Captain Jamie Hagan was wowed with his team’s performance, “I’m so happy with our all round performance and the lads deserved the victory today, congratulations to them!” So a fantastic 70-62 victory for the Manchester Men 1st team, hopefully they can gain confidence from their brilliant performance and move up the table. Tough games lie ahead as both Sheffield Hallam 1st and Newcastle 1st are in their league but if they put in performances like this one every week then they will be tough to beat. An amazing atmosphere really helped the game and I would recommend anyone who is a sports fan to get down to the next home game as a fantastic level of basketball was played with the men showing brilliant team spirit.
The University of Manchester’s Ultimate Frisbee club, known as Halcyon , has recently continued its dominance of the North by defending two of its regional titles over the space of two weekends. For those unaware, Ultimate Frisbee is a sport in which two teams compete to score points by catching the disc in an endzone, much like American Football. Players are not allowed to run with the disc and if a pass hits the floor, the opposing team gets possession.
The University season begins with a number of warm-up and Beginners tournaments, but Northern University Indoor Regionals in both the open and mixed divisions are the first truly competitive tournaments of the year.
In the Open division (so-called as it is open to both genders), Halcyon travelled to the Wirral to take on their Northern rivals. They started the tournament with convincing victories against both Hull and Lancaster, the two sternest tests of Saturday’s group stage. Winning their group without too much stress, Halcyon were then drawn against a much-improved Sheffield in the semi-final. A tense, closely-fought game ensued and in the end it could only be decided in sudden death. With the pressure on, both sides had opportunities to score the winner, but it was Manchester who had the composure to do so.
Halcyon then faced Leeds in a repeat of the 2010 final. The Manchester team improved considerably upon their semi-final performance, with their offense in particular looking much more effective. After trading a few points, it was Manchester’s defensive pressure that finally made the breakthrough. Halcyon went on to win the game 8-4 and confirm qualification for BUCS Nationals in late November. This was the third consecutive year that Manchester had triumphed in this competition and, having been placed in the top 3 at the last two National tournaments, they will be hoping to keep up the good results this year. BUCS Open Indoor Nationals takes place at the Alan Higgins Centre in Coventry on the weekend of the 26th and 27th November.
In the Mixed division (so-called as teams are required to have a specific mix of male and female players), for the second consecutive weekend, Halcyon travelled to Merseyside to defend their title. After two straight-forward victories, it was the home side, Liverpool, who posed the first real threat of the tournament. They showed dogged determination, but it was Manchester who held strong to win the group and qualify for a semi-final against Lancaster. Halcyon started the semi-final in great form, taking an early lead. Lancaster, however, brought out an effective zonal marking defence and slowly worked their way back to within touching distance. The fight-back was just too late though. As the full time hooter went, it was Manchester who led 7-5 and progressed to the final.
The final was, yet again, a repeat of last year’s tournament. Newcastle were the opponents this time and although they were well drilled their squad was short in number. Manchester took advantage of this fact and proceeded to run them into the ground. Thanks in particular to some great defence from the female half of the squad, Manchester prevailed yet again, with 9-7 the final result. This too was the third consecutive year that Halcyon had won this regional tournament. Last year, however, saw them finish a disappointing 9th place at Nationals. They will certainly be looking to better that result this time around. University Mixed Indoor Nationals takes place at the Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton on the weekend of the 3rd and 4th December.
While the focus moves to National tournaments in Open and Mixed, Manchester will have to wait until the new year to see whether it can complete the treble by also winning the regional tournament in the Women’s division (so-called as it is exclusively for Women!). Regardless of the outcome, winning both Mixed and Open Regionals for three years running is a huge achievement.
As the crowd at the MGM Grand roared in anger and disbelief, American boxing supremo Floyd Mayweather must have been rubbing his hands with glee. A controversial points decision in Las Vegas last Saturday saw Manny Pacquiao retain his WBO Welterweight title at the expense of Jan Manuel Marquez, setting up a potential showdown with Mayweather which is likely to see the two fighters bag an astonishing £ 47 million each, although Mayweather may have to wait until Pacquiao has fought Marquez again after this controversial victory. Pacquiao, known as ‘Pac-man’ due to his all action style is widely regarded as the best pound for pound fighter in the world having been champion across eight different weight divisions. On the basis of his performance however this mantle is now in doubt. The fight was exceptionally close with Compubox statistics showing that the reigning champion landed 176 punches to Marquez’s 138. Many however still felt that Marquez had the edge as was seen by his reaction at the fights end which was one of celebration as Pacquiao slunk back to his corner with his head bowed. It was therefore a surprise when the judge’s scores were divided, with two going to Pacquiao and one for a draw. Marquez, for whom this was a third defeat against Pacquiao was in a state of disbelief claiming “he was robbed”. Numerous boxing experts were certainly bemused by the result. Even Amir Khan, Pacquiao’s friend and sparring partner was in shock, stating “I thought Marquez had won maybe by one or two rounds”. The consternation over the result has led to preliminary talks being held for a fourth bout between the two with even the victor himself seemingly willing to fight the Mexican such was his disappointment at his performance. For the Mayweather team this will be a blow as they felt that their time has finally come to try and stage what could be the most lucrative fight in boxing history. Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum stated the showdown with Mayweather was still on the cards. The potential fight date is set to be sometime next summer. The WBC Welterweight champion certainly seems to think he has the fight coming and has already begun the usual trash talk. His joke in the after math of Pacquiao’s win was that the Filipino was “slowly changing”, a sly reference to his tight victory over Marquez being a product of not having taken performance enhancing drugs. This dig is undoubtedly borne out of the controversial circumstances that saw a breakdown in negotiation between the two fighters representatives two years ago, when disagreements over random blood and urine tests prevented a successful deal being struck. This gritty display against Marquez perhaps illustrates that the wonderful career of ‘Pac-man’ is on the wane, his almost god-like status in his homeland which has seen numerous political and business commitments having affected his performance in the ring. Mayweather will certainly fancy his chances. The fighter, who burst onto the boxing scene by winning a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics employs a similar counter punch style to the one which Marquez thought had secured him victory, however he is a different beast, quite simply bigger stronger and faster than Marquez as he showed in a comprehensive points victory over the Mexican back in 2008. His victory in September over Victor Ortiz was a typically controversial win for the Mayweather. Yet it highlighted the killer instincts that have made him one of the most successful fighters in the last ten years. Pacquiao will certainly need to up his game if he is to match him.
Once touted as one of the finest strikers in world football, Faustino ‘Tino’ Asprilla is sadly more likely to be remembered for his wayward off-field behaviour than his remarkable goal-scoring talent. Known as ‘The Octopus’ (due to his apparently enormous appetite), Asprilla began his career in his native Colombia, where his performances drew the attention of Italian side Parma. After signing in 1992, he enjoyed three-and-a-half memorable years in Italy, helping i Crociati win the European Cup Winners’ Cup for the first time. His goals were enough to attract interest from the likes of Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, but Asprilla instead chose Newcastle United, where he signed for £6.9m in February 1996. Asprilla immediately made an impression on Tyneside, famously arriving at St. James’ Park amid a snowstorm sporting an eccentric fur coat. At the time, Newcastle were 12 points clear of title-holders Manchester United in 2nd, and there was considerable cause for the optimism surrounding the Columbian’s arrival, not least after an impressive debut at Middlesbrough, where his appearance as a second-half substitute inspired his side to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
However, his performances soon declined amid tales of off-field misbehaviour and on-field controversy (included head-butting Keith Curle in one of his early appearances), and Newcastle again squandered a seemingly unassailable advantage to surrender the title to Manchester United. Although cast as a scapegoat for his team’s decline in form, the Geordie faithful remained in awe of the stocky Colombian, whose cult-hero status was further enhanced by a magnificent hat-trick in the 3-2 home defeat of European giants Barcelona, a night which provided a sadly all-too-brief glimpse of his rare talent.
After leaving Newcastle, he returned for a brief spell at Parma before fading into obscurity, reappearing in 2004 as the subject of an audacious (but failed) bid from Darlington. In 2009, Asprilla received a house arrest for apparent ‘misuse of weapons’ after firing a machine gun at a security base near his home. More recently, he was spotted in the Newcastle end at last season’s Tyne-Wear derby, surely affirming his status as fan’s favourite on Tyneside.
Newcastle United have announced they are to rename their stadium in a bid to generate more revenue for the club. St James’ Park, the home of the Magpies since 1892, will now be known as the Sports Direct Arena – after owner Mike Ashley’s company. The club have insisted that this is a temporary move, in an effort to showcase the Newcastle United brand to further sponsors who will potentially be granted full naming rights. The much maligned Northern Rock have declared that their current sponsorship deal with the north-east club has been terminated early, paving the way for a new company to invest.
This controversial decision is likely to divide fans, who will no doubt be torn between perceived damage to the longstanding tradition of their spiritual home and the financial benefits that can be gained from such a deal. The news provides yet more controversy surrounding owner Mike Ashley, who is far from unanimously popular amongst the Toon. The millionaire has previously generated animosity amongst the Geordie faithful by instilling the so-called ‘Cockney Mafia’, alienating club legend Kevin Keegan and sacking Chris Hughton, not to mention making several very public attempts to sell the outfit.
There are those who have been quick to lambast this latest move, such as ex-chairman Freddy Shepherd who claims that potential suitors will be put off by the fierce pride of the United supporters. ‘Fans in Newcastle, like myself, will always call it St James’ Park anyway,’ Shepherd asserted, ‘so anyone claiming the rights, it’s not going to do them much good.’ Shepherd, at least, is adamant that this move will anger fans and fail to attract the desired sponsorship.
The club however, were quick to respond. Managing director Derek Llambias resolutely said that such a sponsorship deal is vital for the Magpies to continue to compete at the highest level. With seven wins from their first eleven outings this season, Newcastle are sitting pretty at third in the Premier League. Llambias has insisted that ‘to compete we need to go further, we’ve had a fantastic start [but] we need to give ourselves as much of a chance as possible.’ With the club claiming that £8-£10 million can be made from the deal, fans will perhaps treat the idea with more optimism, with particular reference to the transfer market, having seen the likes of Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton leaving the club recently in a bid for financial stability.
This choice is becoming an increasingly common one within football, with Newcastle now the seventh team in the Premier League with a sponsored stadium – alongside Arsenal, Bolton, Manchester City, Swansea, Stoke and Wigan. Oil-rich Chelsea also recently announced plans to follow a similar model next season. Premier League followers can count themselves lucky, as fans of the NFL are subjected to sponsor-induced stadium names such as the ‘Heinz Field’ and the ‘Qualcomm Stadium’. In the modern game, perhaps it is inevitable that in order to compete every financial avenue will be explored. After all, the stadium was previously named ‘SportsDirect.com@StJamesPark’ but this was universally ignored by the footballing world in recognition of the supposed passion the ground generates and the history it holds for English football. As Shepherd claims, Newcastle United’s stadium, the heartbeat of the city, will always be St. James’ Park.
Nagisa Oshima:Inthe Realm of the Senses, Empire of Passion, and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence
A cautionary note: if you’re thinking about watching these films, bear with me until the end. Nagisa Oshima is a diverse and strange director, and tends to be very extreme. Having watched these in chronological order, after In the Realm of the Senses Set in beautiful 1930s Tokyo, vibrant with Japanese tradition, the atmosphere dies once the hour of unsimulated sex begins. Imagine how uncomfortable a cinema audience would become (and we can only imagine – it’s been barred from movie theatres for 40 years)! It’s a less depressing, romantic equivalent to Requiem for a Dream – fornication replaces heroin as indulgence takes hold of a husband and his maid cum mistress with deadly consequences. Men: do not watch the final scenes, you’ll be traumatised for life. After watching this, the only thing impelling me to see the others was a looming deadline, but it was well worth it. Empire of Passion begins in similar taste; I won’t dwell on the ‘art or porn?’ aspect, but the necessity of sex in the opening scenes is dubious. Again, tradition plays a key role in the environment, but this time as a plot aspect too. Surprise, surprise – an affair goes awry. This time it’s the wife, and the husband gets murdered, publicly ‘having started work in Tokyo’. The villagers gossip, the police get involved – but something more supernatural is afoot. Transitioning steadily from romance to horror, those who’ve seen The Ring will see clear similarities. Leaving the best for last, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence is far more cross-cultural in comparison to the former flicks. David Bowie plays an adequate Mjr. Jack Celliers, a natural-born leader with a troubled past, alongside Col. Lawrence as POWs in Japan. The plot is overused, the acting meagre, but the sheer strength of the atmosphere overpowers any naysaying. It deals effectively with the effect of war on humanity, attempts to bridge cultural gaps and provides a thought-provoking commentary on the position of Japanese and British identity – you spend too long thinking to criticise its weaker areas. Combined with an incredible score by Ryuichi Sakamoto, come prepared with tissues – it’s a tearjerker. All in all it’s fairly justified to say that Oshima is a strange director. Whether you think he’s strange in a good way is another question entirely.
Everyone has their favourite characters in film and it occurred to me the other week that mine all seem to share the name Bruce. Plus, they are all from great films, so share in my love of Bruce and give these 5 films a watch. I promise you will be converted. And might have to find a friend called Bruce.
1) Bruce Willis
Okay, so technically he is John McClane, amongst other guises, but Willis will always be my number one Bruce. Who else can fight European masterminds/nut-jobs wearing only his vest in the middle of winter? And always with a headache, no matter what film he’s in? Yippee-ky-yay.
2) Bruce Wayne
I’m talking Christian Bale Bruce Wayne here, apologies to the Batman fanatics out there, but he is my personal favourite. He has the sickest car, damn good manners for someone who battles evil at night, and Michael Caine as his butler. If that doesn’t sound heavenly to you, maybe you need to see a doctor.
3) Bruce Bogtrotter
If you don’t remember this kid, dust off your VHS player and watch Matilda. He’s the fat kid with the chocolate cake. Remember him now? He deserves to be on this list for his pure determination about eating that cake – “You can do it Bruce!” The name Bruce was obviously ingrained into my psyche at an early age.
4) Bruce Almighty
He’s got the power. And he got it from Morgan Freeman. He got it from Morgan Freeman as God. Need I say more?
5) Bruce Banner
So, he hasn’t got the best control over his anger. Or the best wardrobe. Or the best skin colour, though I guess it worked for Kermit. Okay, he doesn’t have much going for him, but as far as Bruce’s go he should be here. He could probably give Wayne a run for his money.
In a vain attempt to continue our series of ‘every film in a day’, my flatmate and I decided to watch every Star Wars film in, indeed, a day. That’s two trilogies, totalling about 12 ½ hours. 12 ½ hours of having baaad feelings about things, but thankfully, only two hours of Jar Jar Binks. We were going to have to start early. I remarked that we probably couldn’t do it, that our chances were 4,756 to one, but Mickey was having none of it: ‘Never tell me the odds’ he said.
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Blurry-eyed but excited, my flatmate and I bounded down the stairs like Wicket W. Warrick at Ewok Pride. 9 am. Rice Krispies. The universally panned Episode I is whapped on. On comes the Trade Federation aliens and their stupid mock-Japanese voices, but we, at this point fresh as a space-daisy, were perfectly fine to put up with any clods of steaming bantha fodder this film can throw at us. Pod races, Darth Maul, Captain Panaka, constant, dizzying political discussion surrounding trade – this film has it all. In all fairness though, I have a soft spot for this movie. It’s a lot of fun. Jar Jar should have been frozen in carbonite and thrown down a garbage shoot far, far away though.
Force Factor: 3/5
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Fired up by a combination of universal ‘good guy’ victory in the first one (bar Qui Gon, God rest his midichlorians) and a sense of worried urgency, we put on the second movie straight after the first at 11.02. Widely considered the lamest of the Star Wars flicks, Hayden makes his debut as moody douche Anakin Skywalker and hacks up a few sand people. Apart from that it turns out that far from being a malfunctioning little twerp, R2-D2 can in fact fly; cynical marketing ploy Jango Fett plays on fans’ love of a cult character, and Yoda loses all credibility by hopping about like Zebedee. This isn’t the film you’re looking for.
Force Factor: 2/5
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
We were starting to feel the burn by now and decided to have a 20 minute break. Mickey went at something approaching light speed to the shops to get Doritos dippers and dips, and ran home like a Jawa being chased by an angry Wookie. We quickly punched the power on number 3. This is pretty good actually – it’s a CGI fest of the best kind, and that lightsaber fight at the end really is impressive. Turns out that sinister, creepy, suspiciously pale and Dracula-esque old chancellor is actually evil (who’da thunk it?), and spends the entirety of the film cackling about ‘absolute power’. It was about quarter to four before Vader screamed ‘NOOOOOOO’ and it wrapped up.
Force Factor: 3.5/5
Episode IV: A New Hope
Half way through now. Luckily, the better half was to come. Ate three crunchies for morale boosting purposes, then dossed around until five and suddenly panicked that we wouldn’t be able to finish. On goes A New Hope, and Luke and the gang visit one wretched hive of scum and villainy after another. Luke joins the rebels after he finds the charred remains of his aunt and uncle and with a hop and a skip he destroys the Empire’s main space station. ‘ARRRRgh!’. What’s that, Chewie? This film’s incredible? Sure is!
Force Factor: 4.5/5
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
What an incredible film you’ve discovered! As one of the all time great sequels, this introduces strong new characters including Lando the scoundrel, Yoda the puppet and Boba the mute. We couldn’t fully appreciate its true majesty because our eyes were starting to bleed by this point, but safe to say it was still mildly entertaining to watch Luke’s reaction to Darth’s daddy claim. As the credits rolled at 9.30 we were feeling about as good as Jabba’s personal toilet assistant. Mickey claimed that he might have to lie down, but that was met with hard rebuke from all sides. Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think he underestimated our chances.
Force Factor: 5/5
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
We’re all clear, now let’s watch this film and go home. It’s 10pm. Our eyes sting and our arses ache. This has been an absolutely unbearable experience, but we must soldier on. In case you don’t remember, it’s no moon, it’s another space station. Stop making that mistake. Only this time, they designed it with an even bigger weak spot! So big in fact, that even forest teddies can play quite a big part in taking it down. Luke saves papa Darth and Lando holds up the Death Star’s reputation for being obliterated with minimal effort. Things were bad, but now they’re good. FOREVER!
Force Factor: 4/5
Once the Ewoks had had their tree party we went to bed for a night of throwing up and crying so fast I think we could’ve made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. Thoroughly updated on the inner workings of the force, there was little more this experience could teach us apart from that we never wanted to do it again, ever.
Britain’s football family could offer a rare example of Prime Minister David Cameron’s Big Society idea in action. That was the consensus at a Conservative Party conference fringe meeting – “Football and the Big Society” – held at Manchester Grammar School last week.
Over 50 people attended the forum, including Jesse Norman – author of ‘The Big Society’- alongside numerous representatives of the FA and fans groups to discuss the much maligned concept of ‘The Big Society’, and how football offers a key example of how it can work.
Remarkably, with the London Olympics just 10 months away, the forum was the only event to cover sport throughout the three week party conference season – which in itself is a sad indictment of current political priorities.
This apparent lack of political attention and support for sport – particularly at grassroots level – was a key issue for a number of panellists. Jim White – Daily Telegraph columnist and author of the highly regarded ‘You’ll Win Nothing with Kids’ – was particularly vehement in his criticism of the facilities available for young footballers nationwide. Tracy Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford and an FA qualified coach also lamented the state of the infrastructure available in amateur football.
An overriding theme throughout the forum was the idea that the ‘Big Society’ is an intrinsic part of football’s make up, whatever the level. The ‘Big Society’ is the concept of the social contract between society and the state, and the institutions – sporting or otherwise – which link the two.
Tom Hall, head of policy and development at Supporters Direct, a group campaigning for ‘…the wider recognition of the social, cultural and economic value of sports clubs’, argued that whilst football at the top level may reflect a lot of society’s ills, it also presents a pertinent example of the ‘Big Society’ in action – especially the huge volunteer and community involvement in amateur football.
Whilst the panel gave a lot of credence to community-level football, there was also keen debate on the state of domestic top-flight football – particularly the growing disenchantment of football fans as they become increasingly alienated by commercialised clubs. Sandip Jobanputra, a member of the Manchester United Supporters Trust – M.U.S.T – talked of a desire for fans to become en-franchised in their football clubs, believing the energy and passion they would put into running their club would far surpass that of plutocrat owners.
Whilst this is clear, especially in the case of Manchester United and their crippling Glazer ownership, Norman – MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire – argued that much sort after government intervention to regulate the ownership of football clubs would be politically unrealistic given the expenditure owners often make to procure their assets.
Whilst Robert Sullivan, the Football Association’s head of Social Affairs, championed the numerous schemes the FA have deployed to stimulate grassroots football, the overriding feeling from the panel and audience was that football needs to embrace the concept of the ‘Big Society’ before the game is lost to its audience forever.
A gulf between critical acclaim and commercial success is hardly anything new – it’s something that dates back to the very origins of rock music – but it’s certainly neatly underlined tonight at Sound Control. The Antlers, who have this year received an incredibly positive response to their fourth record Burst Apart, have nevertheless failed to sell out a 500-capacity venue; all the more fortunate, then, are those who have turned up to witness an intimate performance from the Brooklyn band. They open with the new record’s curveball, ‘Parentheses’, all shimmering drums and abstract vocals, lulling the less-acquainted into a false sense of security; the rest of the set is an emotional maelstrom designed to snare even the most cynical of hearts.
The Antlers’ last LP, 2009’s Hospice, is a concept album based around the idea of terminal illness as a metaphor for a faltering relationship; evidently, this is not a group averse to tugging heavily on the heartstrings, and tonight’s Burst Apart-heavy setlist confirms it; the brutally-honest ‘French Exit’ – ‘every time we speak /you are spitting in my mouth’, and desolate ‘Hounds’ serving as prime examples. Special mention should go to the utterly gorgeous ‘Corsicana’ – all haunting guitars and yearning vocals, it’s as beautiful a song as I’ve heard all year, and the crowd stays commendably, perhaps obligatorily, silent throughout.
Wonderfully wistful set closer ‘Putting the Dog to Sleep’ spearheads the charge for an encore, and it’s provided obligatorily with Burst Apart standout ‘I Don’t Want Love’, and rounded off perfectly by Hospice’s ‘Epilogue’, a slow, searing reflection on ‘getting over’ a relationship. The thoroughly-deserved record sales and sold-out shows are yet to come; for now, The Antlers will have to make do with spending their evenings playing to utterly devoted crowds, however modest they might be.
There’s an old, corny idea that ‘music brings the people together’. Tonight’s performance from Dum Dum Girls lends it a little credence. After all, what else would bring four ladies from all corners of the United States – New York, Texas and California included – to Manchester on a damp November evening?
As foreign as the band’s background might be, sonically they’re rooted pretty deeply in the sort of sound that, in the eighties and nineties, made Manchester the centre of the music universe. Opener ‘He Gets Me High’ is dominated by the same kind of wailing guitar that underscored The Verve’s A Storm in Heaven, and the slew of tracks that follow from last year’s debut LP I Will Be, all full of scuzzy guitars and lo-fi vocals, achieve the rare feat of recalling Joy Division in a manner that isn’t jarringly obvious. Tonight’s real highlight, however, is a first UK airing of material from September’s Only in Dreams, the first full record recorded by the band (previous efforts were all the doing of frontwoman Dee Dee Penny). It’s possibly 2011’s most perfect pop record; the gorgeous harmonies of ‘Bedroom Eyes’ and bouncy melodies of ‘Heartbeat’ strike an ideal balance between Britpop guitar work and 60s girl-group vocals. Mid-set, Dee Dee professes that “Manchester’s our favourite place to play in the UK”; there’s certainly a north-western influence, when you consider the recurring blend of simple guitar parts that come out of the speakers sounding huge – a la Stone Roses – and the Beatles-esque lyrical simplicity on tracks like ‘Hold Your Hand’. Fittingly, the main set closes with a stirring cover of ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’, before the yearning ‘Coming Down’ comprises the encore; tonight, the ‘Factory’ finally shows a bit of respect for its heritage.
Habeas Corpus opened promisingly, Ciaran Bagnall’s stage immediately transported the audience to 1970’s Brighton through the row of colourful beach huts that lined it, giving a nostalgic sense of beach-time holidays of days gone by that would certainly have appealed to what was a slightly elder audience. These beach huts would frequently open to reveal the comic onstage organist, played by Howard Crossley, whose jovial, sing-a-long opening prepared the audience for Bennett’s light hearted farce, while practically, the huts allowed for the characters to quickly appear and disappear, giving the piece the pace that was needed for a play so focused on constant misunderstandings and misinterpretations of every character. Sadly the optimism amongst the audience created by this clever opening was quickly abated.
The actors did little to emphasise that this was a wittier take on a farce, ignoring the power that Bennett’s puns and soliloquies would usually give to the piece, and instead creating what was a hugely uncomfortable piece of theatre. The acting was inconsistent and more often than not, completely unbelievable. Rob Edwards, playing the sex-obsessed Arthur Wicksteed changed in an instant from the preying doctor to the philosophising elder man without any explanation, and very little understanding from the audience. Similarly Paula Jennings, playing the alluring Felicity Rumpers, gave no life or credibility to her role, making the character seem entirely two-dimensional. While the programme claimed that this is a play that ‘faces up squarely to the inevitables of birth, life, decay and death’, this production seemed to completely ignore these subtleties within the text, instead focusing on a world of middle class, sex starved mania, in which women can only be seen as sexual objects and men as their predators.
Aside from the set, the only element that managed to save the play in any way was the character of Mrs Swabb, played by Russel Dixon. In this character Dixon managed, where the other actors had not, to find a balance between reality and comedy, creating the only truly hilarious character in the play. Unfortunately this one great character could not carry the entire play, and the simplistic interpretation, over exaggerated and unbelievable acting and failure to connect with the audience make this performance of Habeas Corpus one to avoid.
Habeas Corpus ran at the Bolton Octagon between 20th October and 12th November.
With the likes of X-Factor bad man, Frankie Coccoza, being brandished as a ‘Rock N Roll’ figure, the world is in desperate need of some proper rock icons. Luckily a couple of blokes from Lowestoft have donned their cat suits once again to save our musically impoverished souls. With support from Crown Jewel Defence and the spectacularly weird, but wonderful Foxy Shazam, The Darkness are announcing their revival in style.
Kicking off proceedings with the rifftastic ‘Black Shuck’, The Darkness showed the sought of classic rock n roll spirit that first caught our eye back in 2000. Never being a band ashamed of their glam rock heritage, they came onto the stage in typically extravagant fashion, with front man Justin Hawkins emerging from a huge cage containing drummer Ed Graham. As they blasted through classics from their black catalogue, we were treated to tracks from their album which is set to be released in April next year. An undoubted highlight came from the sought of timely ‘Christmas Time’, which can’t help but a raise a smile, and a brilliant version of Queen’s ‘Tie Your Mother Down’.
Despite having a wealth of great live material the night was really building up to that song, and when it came it didn’t disappoint. The Darkness attracts teenagers looking to find a band with real substance, as well as tickling the fancy of older guys who hear the strains of Thin Lizzy in the songs. Whether they’ll ever be taken seriously, especially now that Justin is sporting a rather fine musketeer’s moustache, I don’t know, but they certainly are adept at their craft and offer a great alternative to limp R&B and chart music. With the previous troubles behind them, The Darkness are back and hopefully for a lot longer this time.
With Munster and Leinster securing Heineken Cup victory twice each in the last six years, it’s safe to say Irish domestic rugby’s star is consistently on the rise. Munster have been European heavyweights for much of the last decade – and with players of the ilk of O’Driscoll, D’Arcy and Johnny Sexton – it was only a matter of time before Leinster joined them. Indeed, even Ulster have enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance after reaching the quarter-final stage last season.
Yet as a Sexton master class saw Northampton outgunned in this year’s final, the cheers could be heard out in Galway – not just Dublin – as Leinster’s victory paved the way for Ireland’s junior provincial side, Connacht, to make their first foray into European Club rugby’s premier competition.
It has taken sixteen years of trying but finally the side from Ireland’s wild, windy West have their chance to slug it out with Europe’s finest. It serves as a remarkable achievement for a club who in comparison to their rivals are extremely limited in finances and fan base – and also presents an outstanding opportunity for Connacht to cement themselves as a familiar name on the continent.
The prospect of Heineken Cup rugby may even enable them to hold onto their best talents – the likes of Sean Cronin and Paul Warwick have been lured by bigger sides in recent years. The inevitable loss of their finest players means Connacht’s squad is an eclectic mix of home-groan starlets, such as Tiernan O’Halloran, club veterans like John Muldoon and Michael Swift, and the occasional international in Johnny O’Connor and talisman Gavin Duffy.
Led by club legend Eric Ellwood, Connacht headed into their first game – away at Harlequins – with the all too familiar title of plucky underdogs.
The two sides clashed in last year’s Amlin Cup, with Harlequins subjecting the men in green to two tight defeats. The English side were also enjoying a club record-equalling start to the season after ten consecutive victories.
With this, there was an air of inevitability about Connacht’s 25-17 loss at the Stoop. In an intense, physical battle, Connacht outscored ‘Quins by two tries to one and dominated for much of the game – but the boot of Nick Evans proved to be the difference between the sides.
Yet despite the loss, it was a positive debut for Connacht.
They now prepare to welcome the aristocrats of European rugby – the mighty Toulouse – to the humble Galway Sportsground.
The French giants may have four European Cups under their belts – but not even they will fancy the trip west.
Future of the Left Polymers are Forever EP Xtra Mile Recordings 4 stars
It seems to be the done thing when reviewing a Future of the Left release to make some reference to front man Andy ‘Falco’ Falkous’s lyrics. Although not the band’s only selling point (they make cracking songs too), Falkous’s often bizarre but always entertainingly witty and sarcastic story-telling comes as a breath of fresh air at a time when the vast majority of today’s radio-friendly, chart-topping material is, comparably, a bit dull on the lyrical front. The band’s latest offering is certainly no exception, with lines such as ‘their daughter had his laugh but not his smokers cough, it must have been the lack of tar in heroin’ and ‘I am skiing backwards through Kelvin Mackenzie’s garden in the summer’ providing as good an example as any of what makes this band so special.
And there’s plenty more where that came from. The Polymers Are Forever EP serves as 21 minutes of evidence that this criminally, yet consistently, overlooked British outfit still know how to produce some of the most gutsy and infectious rock music around today. This will come as some relief to die-hard fans, who may have feared the worst after a major re-shuffle of band members since their most recent LP, including the departure of co-front man and bassist Kelson Mathias. Whether this will have a detrimental effect on the band’s live experience, in which the inter-song exchange of playful insults between Mathias and Falkous provided almost as much entertainment as the music itself, remains to be seen. Regardless, the six tracks on offer here more than whet the appetite for the release of new LP The Plot Against Common Sense, due early next year.
