Don't Muck Up February
By Big-Al
February 7 2010
Part 2
Big-Al’s pre-match thoughts
The phrase "Don't Muck up January" (a polite version of the saying for family reading) has been mentioned on a few recent threads - and looking back it has not been our best month.
February 7 2010
Part 2
Big-Al’s pre-match thoughts
The phrase "Don't Muck up January" (a polite version of the saying for family reading) has been mentioned on a few recent threads - and looking back it has not been our best month.
We left December riding high in the GP having just become the first team this season to beat Sarries, after 5 pointers home & away against Brive - we were well placed in our Heineken cup pool and we didn't care about the LV= Anglo-Welsh thingy.
We enter February having lost our only GP game in the last month - but a losing bonus at Northampton is hardly a disaster, but still disappointing as we had put ourselves into a winning position. We are out of the Heineken cup and didn't even manage to drop into the Amlin - I thought we put in a good performance against Leinster and enough has already been said and written about the Scarlets' match. And although we didn't care about the LV= thingy, we do care when it is against Quins.
So it is February - a new month - and if we want to end the season with a good shot at winning something, every game is now important - so forget January, let's make sure we Don't Muck Up February .
So it is off to Worcester for the last round of the pool stage of the LV= cup, mathematically we are still in with a chance (having done Maths at college I do understand how this competition works and what needs to happen for us to qualify). But realistically we are out - so today is about giving a few of the guys much needed rest, other much needed game time and hopefully put in a good performance and build confidence for the remainder of the season.
I'm wearing my lucky socks and favourite shirt, my bag is packed - nibbles for the coach (mini frittatas this week - you can order M&S nibbles online), camera, wig, flask of tea, but no tambourine as it Worcester - time to go - I'll write about the match when I get back....
The Journey
Once again we had a very enjoyable coach journey - sandwiches, crisps and various beers provided as part of the package and as always a good selection of nibbles provided by those of us on the coach. The frittatas seemed to go down well.
On the return journeys PANS asked those on the coach to submit a line each to produce a match report - so this week we have two reports.
The Match
Well I did take notes during the match, but most of what I have noted down was in case something was about to happen - but in most cases it didn't happen. Worcester took the lead after just 5 minutes - we lost a messy scrum and Worcester broke from half way leading to a try from Chris Pennell, converted by Willie Walker. 7-0 to our hosts. There were a number of kicking exchanges during the game, which Worcester generally had the better of. If you have Chris Latham playing against you - do not kick the ball to him, but also do not kick it to a space that he can get to by the time the ball gets there.
On 17 minutes, we take a quick lineout and from the resulting play we win a penalty about 40m out and fairly central. Ryan converts the penalty, so it is now 7-3 and we are 100% with our kicking. Worcester’s response was to butcher a try scoring opportunity – but a few minutes later they did extend their lead after we infringed at the scrum and Willie Walker made the score 10-3.
Now I do not claim to be an expert on the goings on of the front row or of scrummaging – so I’m probably not the best person to comment on the refereeing of the scrum – but it did seem at times that sir was taking it turns as to which side to penalise in this area. Just after the half hour it was our turn to get the penalty which was slotted over by Ryan to make the score 10-6 (still 100% with our kicking). A few minutes later Willie Walker converts another penalty for Worcester (yes - it was our turn to infringe at the scrum), so it is 13-6 to Worcester at half time.
Still no need to worry – a good half time team talk from Toby would sort things out and we always play better in the second half.
The first item of note in the second half came after 5 minutes. We are penalised at a line out and then marched back 10m for a bit of back chat. Ryan then said something further to the ref for which he was yellow carded (I assume he did not say “with all due respect sir, I disagree with your decision but I will accept it”). Willie Walker converts the penalty so it is 16-6 after 45 minutes.
Around this time the substitutions start (sorry - I didn’t take notes of the Worcester subs) - Clarke replaces Faan.
My next note tells me that following a quick penalty, we go through a number of phases but make no progress and eventually lose the ball – unfortunately I could repeat this comment a number of times and that would sum up our second half.
After 52mins Willie Walker extends Worcester’s lead to 19-6 with a penalty for yet another scrum infringement.
James Tideswell replaces Dan and Jamie Gibson replaces Richard. Ryan’s time in the sin bin is over and he is replaced by Jamie Lennard.
A couple of minutes later it is Worcester’s turn to be penalised at the scrum, Peter takes over kicking duties and maintains our 100% record – 19-9
And that was it for the scoring – my notes for the final 20 minutes list our substitutions (Peter R for Alfredo and Mike Catt for Seilala on 62mins; Danie for James Buckland and Kieran Low for Andy Perry on 77mins), mention us going through the phases only to lose the ball and Worcester generally looking more likely to do something, and right at the death Worcester very nearly did, but a try saving tackle from Topsy meant it finished Worcester 19, London Irish 9.
Big-Al’s post-match thoughts
Well it was not the performance we were looking for – no one on our side could be pleased with their game – and to add to our worries, Maps had been receiving treatment for a few minutes before being replaced by Mike and Peter H took a knock to his shoulder towards the end. Hopefully both will be OK for next week. On the plus side (yes even after that match I can find a plus side) – we were 100% with our penalty kicks.
Well done to Worcester – a deserved victory – and it is always a pleasure to visit. But let’s hope when we return for our GP fixture we can manage a much improved performance and a different result.
Big-Al’s positive bit
I think many know that I always take a positive view of all things London Irish and despite recent results and performances, I still do. We have a very good squad, but things are not coming together at the moment – however when it does, our opponents that day will be on the end of a serious hiding. I see no reason why the day it all comes right should not be next Sunday – so let’s all get behind the team – whatever is your preferred method of support (be it drumming, shouting, singing, cheering, chanting, applauding, ….) – do it more than ever next week and I’m sure the lads will respond with the performance we have all been waiting for.
KEEP THE FAITH
We enter February having lost our only GP game in the last month - but a losing bonus at Northampton is hardly a disaster, but still disappointing as we had put ourselves into a winning position. We are out of the Heineken cup and didn't even manage to drop into the Amlin - I thought we put in a good performance against Leinster and enough has already been said and written about the Scarlets' match. And although we didn't care about the LV= thingy, we do care when it is against Quins.
So it is February - a new month - and if we want to end the season with a good shot at winning something, every game is now important - so forget January, let's make sure we Don't Muck Up February .
So it is off to Worcester for the last round of the pool stage of the LV= cup, mathematically we are still in with a chance (having done Maths at college I do understand how this competition works and what needs to happen for us to qualify). But realistically we are out - so today is about giving a few of the guys much needed rest, other much needed game time and hopefully put in a good performance and build confidence for the remainder of the season.
I'm wearing my lucky socks and favourite shirt, my bag is packed - nibbles for the coach (mini frittatas this week - you can order M&S nibbles online), camera, wig, flask of tea, but no tambourine as it Worcester - time to go - I'll write about the match when I get back....
The Journey
Once again we had a very enjoyable coach journey - sandwiches, crisps and various beers provided as part of the package and as always a good selection of nibbles provided by those of us on the coach. The frittatas seemed to go down well.
On the return journeys PANS asked those on the coach to submit a line each to produce a match report - so this week we have two reports.
The Match
Well I did take notes during the match, but most of what I have noted down was in case something was about to happen - but in most cases it didn't happen. Worcester took the lead after just 5 minutes - we lost a messy scrum and Worcester broke from half way leading to a try from Chris Pennell, converted by Willie Walker. 7-0 to our hosts. There were a number of kicking exchanges during the game, which Worcester generally had the better of. If you have Chris Latham playing against you - do not kick the ball to him, but also do not kick it to a space that he can get to by the time the ball gets there.
On 17 minutes, we take a quick lineout and from the resulting play we win a penalty about 40m out and fairly central. Ryan converts the penalty, so it is now 7-3 and we are 100% with our kicking. Worcester’s response was to butcher a try scoring opportunity – but a few minutes later they did extend their lead after we infringed at the scrum and Willie Walker made the score 10-3.
Now I do not claim to be an expert on the goings on of the front row or of scrummaging – so I’m probably not the best person to comment on the refereeing of the scrum – but it did seem at times that sir was taking it turns as to which side to penalise in this area. Just after the half hour it was our turn to get the penalty which was slotted over by Ryan to make the score 10-6 (still 100% with our kicking). A few minutes later Willie Walker converts another penalty for Worcester (yes - it was our turn to infringe at the scrum), so it is 13-6 to Worcester at half time.
Still no need to worry – a good half time team talk from Toby would sort things out and we always play better in the second half.
The first item of note in the second half came after 5 minutes. We are penalised at a line out and then marched back 10m for a bit of back chat. Ryan then said something further to the ref for which he was yellow carded (I assume he did not say “with all due respect sir, I disagree with your decision but I will accept it”). Willie Walker converts the penalty so it is 16-6 after 45 minutes.
Around this time the substitutions start (sorry - I didn’t take notes of the Worcester subs) - Clarke replaces Faan.
My next note tells me that following a quick penalty, we go through a number of phases but make no progress and eventually lose the ball – unfortunately I could repeat this comment a number of times and that would sum up our second half.
After 52mins Willie Walker extends Worcester’s lead to 19-6 with a penalty for yet another scrum infringement.
James Tideswell replaces Dan and Jamie Gibson replaces Richard. Ryan’s time in the sin bin is over and he is replaced by Jamie Lennard.
A couple of minutes later it is Worcester’s turn to be penalised at the scrum, Peter takes over kicking duties and maintains our 100% record – 19-9
And that was it for the scoring – my notes for the final 20 minutes list our substitutions (Peter R for Alfredo and Mike Catt for Seilala on 62mins; Danie for James Buckland and Kieran Low for Andy Perry on 77mins), mention us going through the phases only to lose the ball and Worcester generally looking more likely to do something, and right at the death Worcester very nearly did, but a try saving tackle from Topsy meant it finished Worcester 19, London Irish 9.
Big-Al’s post-match thoughts
Well it was not the performance we were looking for – no one on our side could be pleased with their game – and to add to our worries, Maps had been receiving treatment for a few minutes before being replaced by Mike and Peter H took a knock to his shoulder towards the end. Hopefully both will be OK for next week. On the plus side (yes even after that match I can find a plus side) – we were 100% with our penalty kicks.
Well done to Worcester – a deserved victory – and it is always a pleasure to visit. But let’s hope when we return for our GP fixture we can manage a much improved performance and a different result.
Big-Al’s positive bit
I think many know that I always take a positive view of all things London Irish and despite recent results and performances, I still do. We have a very good squad, but things are not coming together at the moment – however when it does, our opponents that day will be on the end of a serious hiding. I see no reason why the day it all comes right should not be next Sunday – so let’s all get behind the team – whatever is your preferred method of support (be it drumming, shouting, singing, cheering, chanting, applauding, ….) – do it more than ever next week and I’m sure the lads will respond with the performance we have all been waiting for.
KEEP THE FAITH
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