Trooping the colours

U19 rugby team, Mirepoix.  regional finals.

Given that the song they sing on the bus home from every defeated away game goes on est trop nul, on est trop nul, on est, on est, on est trop nul,   it was gratifying that the boys had got this far.

The blue and white flags came out, pinned to window sills and flying from café awnings.

They lost.  And while the bandas played and the town danced and the cafés filled, I found the team skulking in the darkness beside the Halle.