More than 7,000 people made the journey to the Memorial Stadium last night to see Bristol play host to the Rugby League World Cup.

The fact that the game was between the USA, who had never taken part in the competition before, and the Cook Islands, with a population of 11,000 the same size as the Essex village of Tiptree, did not matter.

For many sports fans it was an occasion not to be missed, and despite the wet and blustery conditions it was an absorbing encounter which the USA won 32 points to 20.

An element of razzmatazz was added to proceedings with dozens of cheerleaders, and big screens had also been erected at the Mem which broadcast live action as well as slow-motion replays, not something that home fans watching Bristol Rovers are used to seeing.

The most bizarre sight of the evening, however, were the assorted water carriers and fitness coaches of the USA in their brightly coloured t-shirts who patrolled behind their players on the field like football sweepers for most of the match.

When the final hooter was sounded, they joined the throng whooping and hollering as if they had won the World Cup trophy, not a group game against a tiny island in the South Pacific.