Rugby League Four Nations final - England V Australia.

I shouldn't really admit to this, but I had every intention of placing two large bet on both France to win their play off tie against Ireland in the soccer world cup and England to beat Australia on a +10 handicap. As it was, the ever tempting lure of alcohol stood in my way.

I took £15 worth of betting money to Leeds to spend before going into the match itself and witnessing the match, hoping for an England win. Or at least a loss of no more than nine points. Neither came, but it didn't affect the betting record as badly as you might  think.

The Old Peacock pub saw almost every penny of my £15 betting budget as I dragged myself away from the bar and headed to the west stand of the Elland Road stadium in time for kick off.

Inside the local bookmakers had its own stand which allows it to provide punters a chance to gamble once inside the ground. I think it was called Taylors. I could be wrong, though. My alcohol blood content was way beyond any acceptable level by this point in the evening.

I do distinctively remember the amount of money I placed on England (+10) to win, £1.32 exactly. I did what any betting alcoholic does in a situation where he is extremely intoxicated. Write out the bet, put your hand in your pocket, and dump a vast amount of silver and copper coins on the counter. Then smile to the employee who has to spend the next two minutes counting your change while a seven man queue quietly forms behind you.

But having spent the rest of my money, it meant no more alcohol for me that night. Which is just as well because £5 for a pint of watered down Carling isn't on my list of must have beverages. It meant I could watch the game and remember the details. Sam Burgess dummied both Petro Civoniceva and the world's best fullback, Billy Slater to score England's first. Brett Morris equalised before Peter Fox gave England back the lead. Then Greg Inglis scored a controversial try before Jonathan Thurston extended Australia's lead with a penalty before half time.

Sam Burgess got his second try and England held on until the hour mark when Australia opened the floodgates and dominated the rest of the match. Final score; England 16-46 Australia.

Picture taken by Nicholas Woodward.
Match report seen at www.bbc.co.uk/rugbyleague