"This is not a serious game," said Kaj
Nilsson the day before the match, shaking his bear-like
head. "This is a very serious game."
Nilsson, tall, stout and determined to be victorious in
the first pétanque match between Finland and a
team of players from across the world, was proved right
in practice that afternoon when the Finns played with
only some of the tenacity that was to mark their victory
on the field the next day.
The lanky Jukka Itkonen, famous for his pinpoint accuracy
when dislodging opponents' balls, was not in top form
for practice, but K Nilsson stood on the sandy surface
of the small football field behind Barga's middle school
and exhorted his team-mates to win. This was done loudly,
as all Finnish debates seem to be.
Though there may not appear at first sight to be much
similarity between the Italians, playing host to this
year's inaugural Barga Pétanque International,
and the Finns there is much common ground, mainly in terms
of passionate debate. In practice the Finns were as vocal
and flamboyant as they were to be when the hour came for
decisive competitive play.
In true Italian fashion all players did not assemble until
nearly half an hour after the match was due to begin,
with the Reverend Keane showing late for the home side,
which was to be expected. The Rest of the World (RoW)
team had one completely untried player, Alessandro Adami,
who was also the only native Italian available to play.
Adami turned out to be something of a dark horse, causing
the Finns some small worry during the afternoon.
Weather in the week preceding the game had been changeable,
and fears that rain may stop play clouded the opening
rounds. But the gods smiled on the two sides vying for
glory that day, with only ominous drops and peels of thunder
making themselves apparent. At times it seemed as though
the skies applauded the valiant efforts of the RoW side
as it strove to prove itself worthy in the heat of boules-related
battle.
After an abortive attempt by the Finnish captain to rally
his troops with a rendition of the Finnish national anthem,
which was booed in a poor show by His Holiness Keane,
Finland won the toss. This proved to be an omen, the irony
of which was not lost on the RoW team, as was the fact
that the winning score for either side was to be 13.
First to play for the Finns was Inga Itkonen, who left
the RoW team in no doubt of the size of the feat they
would have to perform that day when, after placing the
wooden jack ball some eight metres from the starting circle,
she played her first pétanque ball only inches
away from it. This was to mark out I Itkonen's play from
then on. The other Finns played looser balls.
The RoW team also played wide until Frank Viviano bounced
the jack towards the RoW's balls. Adami then played his
first set of balls to delight from his team-mates, helping
them score an early victory and two vital opening points.
The second game was a distant jack, nearly ten metres
from the circle, and I was to play first for RoW. Having
only played on deeper sand my technique was unsuitable,
but I managed to play close to the jack. At this moment,
thunder rippled across the sky, a warning that my early
accuracy would be to no avail. J Itkonen stepped to the
circle and knocked me out, but the Reverend Keane placed
us back closest to the wood. The Finns concentrated but
could not dislodge us from holding a point, and it fell
to me to play the last ball of the game. All I had to
do was play anywhere that did not upset the balance.
Sadly, through lack of experience and a very unlucky bounce
my throw careened into the centre of the pack, pushing
out our winning ball and leaving the Finns with three
points. My pleas for clemency were met with scowls by
the RoW team, who rightly believed I should have simply
have dropped the ball the minimum six metres. I vowed
not to make the same mistake twice. Little did I know
I would have the chance to make good on this later in
the day.
By the third game the atmosphere had become more tense,
and fears of rain were growing. The game was dominated
by the Finns, with only Viviano showing pluck by hurling
his balls at the pack in a vain attempt to unseat them.
In the fourth, nerves were stretched when Anne-Marrit
Nilsson played a difficult long jack towards the goalposts
and the grass, on to flatter ground. This would require
more controlled backspin from the RoW players, whose skills
in that fine art were not up to the Finns'. Though the
RoW team played well and led in the middle of the game,
J Itkonen showed that he had steadied his nerves, and
his hands, when he produced a peach of a shot, landing
almost on top of the jack. Another point to Finland.
By the start of the fifth game the score was up to 5-2
to Finland, and the RoW's early two-point lead now looked
as illusory as it later proved to be. The Reverend Keane
fought well in repelling early Finnish successes, but
once more I Itkonen stepped into the breach to pull it
back for the Finns. Viviano clawed back the lead for RoW,
but J Itkonen got closer. Keane knew the team's fate in
this round rested on him and he did not disappoint, playing
a beautiful bomb and knocking out J Itkonen's ball. J
Itkonen responded with a hard throw but, for some reason
known only to the gods, he missed. Viviano brought up
the rear and the game finished with the RoW team taking
a point back.
Now the rain is spotting on our faces and on the pitch.
Murmurs are heard from the players and from the grandstand.
The Finns are grimly determined to carry on, as am I,
but Viviano is unsure. Keane simply grins from behind
his sunglasses.
The RoW team played the sixth game loose, to their cost,
with the Finns playing closer except for the final balls.
At the end of the game it is only through use of the measuring
string that honour can be satisfied, with the Finns winning
one point.
In the seventh the high tension became apparent when,
with both team's balls too close to call, measurement
had to be taken twice on the same balls after a 'miscommunication'
between team captains. It turns out the RoW are closer
by mere millimetres. The game remained this way until
I Itkonen played a handsome long ball, dislodging the
RoW holder. The RoW team is by now getting used to the
dread feeling of euphoria being deflated.
The eighth is marked out simply by the fact that the Finns
nearly threw away their lead as I Itkonen played an uncharacteristically
bad ball knocking the RoW in close, but the Finns rectified
this by getting J Itkonen to knock the jack out of the
pack. His accuracy, I begin to realise, is that of a marksmen,
and belies his age.
Game nine was a very long jack by the Finns, which I for
one believe may have been some centimetres beyond the
regulation ten metres, but the length favoured no one's
play. At the start of the ninth, the score was 8-3 to
Finland. The RoW team licks its wounds, and determines
to give its all.
Fortunately, after my earlier error, I sit this game
out. But my sacrifice is no help, with the RoW team flailing
and balls falling too far from the jack. I Itkonen plays
a lazy lob close in, sealing our fate. To rub salt in
wounds so fresh may be ill-mannered, but this did not
stop A Nilsson and K Nilsson gaining three further points.
Now the Finns are at 12-3. Suddenly the Finns are within
spitting distance of victory. One more would be enough.
Their smiles are as unstoppable as they are lupine, and
I despairingly tell Viviano that at least it will take
them ten games to take us to 13 points.
But Viviano remained optimistic, and we rallied a little.
None the less, I was convinced the tenth game would be
our last, especially as I was to rejoin the fray.
The Finns lead off and I play first in response for the
RoW. By some mad luck I got my first ball only 15cm in
front of the jack, effectively blocking the Finns, who
try to dislodge me but cannot. His Holiness gained another
point for the RoW and Adami scored a third. The RoW team
rejoice as the gap is closed to 12-6. Suddenly we feel
the sweet taste of victory in our mouths, and we want
more. Perhaps the Finns could crumble? Perhaps J Itkonen's
hand may drift? For an instant, anything is possible
.
Sadly, as the rain has passed overhead so does our moment.
In the eleventh game I finally get my chance claw back
some honour. After a spirited attempt by the Finns to
dislodge my opening close ball ended with both Viviano
and Keane knocking it back in. I throw my ball lightly
to the six-metre point and smile. Keane and Viviano seem
pleased, and with luck my copybook is now clean. We take
a further point.
But the twelfth game, with the score at 12-7, will prove
to be too much for the RoW squad. To gain six more points
before the Finns score just one is a Sisyphean task. Valiant
though the effort is, the eyes are not keen enough. Adami
plays a short jack, perfect for the practised Finns, and
in the end RoW throw their balls wildly at the Finns'
pack trying, fruitlessly, to break them up. I tried, at
the end, to move the jack but it was too little, and too
late.
The Finns, with great ceremony and some confusion awarded
the RoW team first, second and third prizes, with the
Reverend Keane also gaining a set of pétanque balls.
"I've always thought barganews needed more balls,"
said Viviano later. He is truly a wordsmith.
And so it was that the players left the pitch with the
Finns' honour satisfied and the RoW's dignity intact.
Our comeback had been brief but hearty, but the Finns
were undeniable and, as the rain clouds moved off to the
northeast, we walked back to town with our heads held
high. Fortunately Kaj Nilsson refrained, this time, from
trying to sing.
Rupert
Collins-White
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