Will They Make It 10?
Men's Rugby
Bottle Match 2006 Preview
In this brave new `corporate' world of branding and business schools and with College's centenary approaching, it is sometimes hard to remember that there was life before Imperial College. On 25 February an event from that distant era will once again rear its glorious head and erupt in a display of pride, passion and sporting skill, the likes of which are rarely seen.
When 15 men of strength and honour step forth to do battle with 15 archfoes down in the depths of darkest Cornwall, the glory of the Royal School of Mines and Imperial will go hand in hand in the most furious rugby match to be found: The Bottle Match.
The Bottle Match is now 104 years old, having been started in 1902 and is believed to be the oldest varsity sports fixture in the World, after the Oxbridge boat race. It is contested each year by the Royal School of Mines (RSM) and Camborne School of Mines (CSM) based in Cornwall, with the venue alternating each year between London and Cornwall. This year we're making the trip down to the land of the pasty. Wondering why it's called the Bottle Match? Well, behind the union bar you'll see a 3' black bottle with the RSM crest on one side and the CSM crest on the other. It was `acquired' from the top of a Bass-Charrington beer lorry many years ago, presented as the trophy for the match and decorated with the insignia shortly after. The event is the highlight of the RSM and the CSM sporting calendar, and is keenly supported, not just by staff and current students, but also by former RSM members, with the RSM Association, our Alumni organisation, providing vocal support at the game itself. News of the result spreads far and wide to the four corners of the earth where graduates of both mining schools are now based; places such as Australia, South Africa and Canada.
Although the fate of the Bottle rests solely on the rugby match, the event has expanded to include other sports such as football, men's and women's hockey, and squash. This year sees further expansion with the introduction of a golf match and a female rugby sevens match to add even more flavour to this already colourful festival of sport. All the matches are hotly contested with each school aspiring to that elusive prize, the whitewash. But it's not just about sport, winning and losing. The event is a celebration of the good things that can come of traditions and history, which seem so undervalued in the current climate. It is an event that is hugely enjoyable, with the `friendly' rivalry between RSM and CSM during the matches forgotten at the after-game celebrations. Last year, the RSM won the bottle match for a record 9th year in a row by the slimmest of margins, thanks to a late penalty. This year, the lads have been training hard, and are feeling quietly confident. Can RSM hold the bottle for a decade? If you think I'm gonna jinx it by saying we'll do it, you've got another thing coming. Has this whetted your appetite? Do you want to witness a sporting tradition like no other? Well, supporters, tickets are limited but available through Simon ; just email sport@rsmonline. co.uk for more details or go online at www.rsmonline.co.uk and you could be winging your way to Cornwall to witness the most intense sporting weekend around.
