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The late night on Thursday unfortunately meant that few of the CPR squad were able to take up the Bolzano's gracious offer of breakfast. However, as usual the squad assembled in the little bar over the road to start the wake-up process en masse. Dan's future was still uncertain as he had been haggling with the airlines over a return flight, but he managed to regain his composure after downing a couple of lattes and slipping his shades on. Jason, obviously looking to make an impression in his first tour with the team, surprised us all by turning up in a tennis-court shirt and shorts number, but his bid for sartorial dominance was cruelly beaten down a few minutes later. With the Bruce Willis vest back in the case, Jon M came out all guns blazing in his replica England shirt, and was clearly in the mood to stamp his authority all over Milan. Luckily the waiters did manage to bring him a vegetarian sandwich without any ham this time, or we'd have had difficulty in restraining him from turning the place over.
Feeling refreshed, the squad took off to the centre of Milan for the usual Friday pilgrimage to either: (i)get something for the missus, or (ii) sit in a bar casting an eye over the local talent. Thankfully John was on hand to remind everyone at regular intervals that yes they really do drive on the other side here, and no don't laugh and point at the bloke in the white gloves, 'cause he's a copper. Thus, we all managed it safely into the city centre, before heading off on our separate missions in packs of two or three.
After the first foray the team members met up for lunch to compare results. Paul, Tyler and Jason were the most successful, having got a good few beers in already. John was showing signs of both relief and pain, after his series of purchases from the designer emporia meant that his errands had been completed, but at a price. The lunch was dominated once again by Jon M, who seized the opportunity to expound on a variety of topics: life on Mars, the Star Wars missile defence system, the dangers of low-altitude flying, and the gradual denigration of Italian culture, to name but a few. Where was Teo when we needed him ?
After lunch the shopping/drinking resumed, except for John who nipped back to the Bolzano to join the young desk clerk on his telephone sex-line session.
One by one the squad slowly ambled back to the to the hotel later in the afternoon, to find big Al in the reception and Samy outside with the van shouting "Come on, for f**k's ske ! We're late ! F**king hurry up !". It was just like old times. So, it was quickly off to the Vismara for game number two, the long-awaited rematch against Rinosbois.
The long-awaited return match between Rinosbois and CPR was played in the lush surrounds of the Vismara stadium. The CPR squad were now up to 11 with the arrival of Big Al, but Rinosbois were unfortunately down to just 10. Although CPR offered to play with one man down, Rino valiantly proclaimed that "There is no need, because Rinosbois play better with 10 anyway".
As the match kicked off it looked as if Rino was to be proved right, as Rinosbois looked by far the better team, making the most of the space offered by the huge Vismara pitch, and catchig out CPR with their pace. John and Samy had to be particularly vigilant at the back to keep them out, and on one occasion Paul had to trip a Rinosbois forward as he raced through on goal, earning him the first yellow card of his career (albeit it was just a pretend one).
Slowly but surely, however, CPR were beginning to come into the game as their extra man began to tell. A few half-chances had gone a-begging before the chance came that would seal the match. Jason did some great work down the left wing and got his cross into the penalty box, where a couple of CPR players (for once) had had the courage to enter. Garry reached the ball first but the ball spilled to the keeper. His clearance only spiralled up in the air, though, and amidst a ruck of players challenging for the ball it was Teo who got up highest and nodded the ball down into the box again. The ball bounced came down between Garry and Jon M about 6 yards out from goal, and the Scot, overcome with greed, threw himself into the path of the ball, wrapped his left leg around it, and knocked it into the net.
Although CPR now had their noses in front, their one-man advantage was not to last long, as Samy was caught in the middle of a heavy three-way challenge between himself, John and a Rinosbois striker. The injury looked bad, and he had to be helped off the pitch.
Rinosbois started the second half at a breath-taking pace, and could have equalised from any one of three or four good opportunities. However, they came up against John Andrews in excellent form, and CPR managed to keep them out.
For the first 20 mins of the second half Rinos were well and truly in command, and CPR were struggling to get the ball out of their own half. However, it was at that moment that the inspirational figure of the Bomber turned up, striking fear into the hearts of Rinosbois and hope in CPR. CPR took heart from the sight of the big man warming up on the touchline, and they started to find their way into the match once again, particularly when the big fella made his way onto the pitch. As the match moved into its final stages the game was once again flowing from end to end, with fine attacking play broken up by solid defending on both sides.
In the end, though, neither side could find a way to goal again, and it was the solitary, never-again-to-be-repeated strike from the CPR captain which was to be the difference between the teams. There was probably no-one on the pitch at the end happier than John Andrews, for whom a 1-0 win away from home is the ultimate scoreline in football.
After the game CPR and those members of Rinosbois not contemplating suicide after the Milan derby were to take dinner in the Navigli district. Top marks to Samy for driving with a busted leg and having to park the van twice. Andy was still feeling fit after the game, so decided to park his car 1 mile away and then jogged back to meet the rest of us: the boy has stamina. After some tortuous navigation we arrived at the restaurant just in time, and the boys sat down for a good feast. Everyone ate and drank heartily, with the sole exception of Alex, who seemed to lose his appetite after taking a call from Chris Davis halfway through the meal.
The combination of good food, alcohol and exercise was clearly taking its toll on CPR, as there were far fewer night owls who had the energy to go out drinking after the meal. Unsurprisingly it was Paul and Tyler who led the way, with Jason tagging along because he wanted "just one more pint before I call it a day". Ken C shocked us all by declaring himself up for a few more. (Ken later confessed that, although he was up for it anyway, his real intention was to show up Kristian as a lightweight). Andy and Teo were given the dubious honour of escorting the English around the bars of Milan. The valiant Samy, meanwhile, was to spend his Friday night getting X-rayed in the nearest Emergency ward.
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