Plenty of icing, but no cherry on the top
By MadMonk
August 19 2010
It is a short turnaround. Having got in late from the London Welsh match last night I am up at the crack of dawn to go back to postcode TW for the Middlesex 7s at Twickers. It being mid August I am reluctant to abandon my summer plumage and so don the Fat Blokes habit. The winter ensemble is also still soaking wet from the traditional rugby experience of standing on the touch line in pouring rain.
August 19 2010
It is a short turnaround. Having got in late from the London Welsh match last night I am up at the crack of dawn to go back to postcode TW for the Middlesex 7s at Twickers. It being mid August I am reluctant to abandon my summer plumage and so don the Fat Blokes habit. The winter ensemble is also still soaking wet from the traditional rugby experience of standing on the touch line in pouring rain.
We have to be up early because as defending champions London Irish is first up. I should not complain, many of the players who entertained us last night are playing again today. Convention also dictates that the defending champions are eased in with a game against a side that do not regularly enter. Our problem is that this time it is Leicester. I have no idea how seriously they will take the competition.
We arrive to join SoreDoc and family plus increasing numbers of Irish supporters in a lockout. HQ will not open their doors till 10. Since this is only half an hour before kick-off and all bags must be searched, we (and every one else) only just get to our seats in time.
Armitage to Armitage to Armitage. First score Delon. Under the posts. Second score Delon in the corner. Finally Tigers get in on the act. Half time 12-7 to the defending champions. We decide to move towards the other end with Props and family and inexplicably find ourselves in the VIP enclosure behind the commentators so apologies if I am caught on mike. Second half first score to Ryan lamb. Conversion missed. Losi scores under posts converted. Final score under the post. An emphatic statement of intent for the defending champions.
Next up HFW Wailers v Exeter chiefs. We wander off in search of the Walthams. By the time we find them Exeter are 7-0 up and it is half time. A try apiece in the second half. HFC score again with the clock at zero. The conversion goes over so it is 14 apiece. Sudden death extra time. Wailers look to be through, but bottle it and knock on in the offload. Exeter keeps possession and break to make the winning try.
That is two matches without a drink. Time to head for the Waltham hospitality tent in the car park. I receive a text. Wasps have won 21-7 against Newcastle. We get back to our seats (well someone else’s seats actually) in time to see England, under the banner of Help for Heroes, beat Saracens with a golden try after a tight low scoring game. Mini wants to watch the army who are up next against the Pups. I am sure Foggy will want one of the Pups’ shirts, they are very pink. It is however the Army who score first. The half time hooter has gone. Army has possession on their line but try to run it. They lose the ball and let the Pups in to level the score. They make amends half way through the second half to ease ahead 12-7 putting in another soon after.
Mrs Monk fancies the Kenyans who are playing Leeds. This does not mean she thinks the Kenyans will win (although she does) it means she fancies the Kenyan players. Anyway Kenya scores first in the corner. They almost score again on the half time hooter. Second half they emphatically open the score with a fine individual try under the post. When they score again Leeds look to be left behind at 19-0 but respond to get on the scoreboard. The Kenyan response looks to have scored but is judged to be held up. Finally Tykes get a consolation try.
We decamp to Waltham Manor-on-car-park for luncheon. It is a protracted affair. When Daveopposite arrives in clockwork orange costume, complete with codpiece over trousers it goes rapidly downhill. It is 2pm by the time we make it back to watch more rugby. I find Pups doing a demolition job on Leeds in the third plate quarterfinals. Final score Gilbert Pups 33 Leeds 5.
Mini wants to know when Irish play again. I tell him it is after Wales v Marauders. It takes most of the first half but eventually Wales run in two tries in quick succession. I realise that the team in red are Marauders and Wales are in green. This is a bit confusing after my lunchtime refreshments. Marauders come back early in the second half to halve the deficit. Only to have it cancelled out moments later. Another score puts them out of reach at 24-7 although that is narrowed to 24-14 at the death.
London Irish are on v Exeter Chiefs for the quarter final refereed by our very own Wayne Barnes. Right from the off Delon goes in for a try. Towards the end of the first half Losi gets in on the Armitage family party which makes it 12-0 at half time. First blood in the second half almost to Chiefs but they knock on allowing Irish to clear. Jamie Gibson gets his name on the score sheet. 19-0 three minutes left. Chiefs run in with only Dodge to beat but spill in the tackle. They do however narrow the gap in the next play. Losi puts it beyond doubt with the final play taking it up to 24-7. We are in the semi final.
I head for the bar while Wasps take on England, sorry, Help for Heroes. By the time I get back Wasps are 7-0 up and it is half time. Two England tries in the corner put them 10-7 up. A late try for Wasps also in the corner mean they squeeze through courtesy of their first half conversion. We play them later in the first cup semi but there is a lot of rugby to play before then.
Kenya v Army. Poor tactics by Kenya after a try saving tackle allows the army in to score first. They play very different styles of sevens. Kenya are lithe and quick still polishing their tactical skills the army are professional sevens players, big and savvy. They put in two more tries in the first half leaving our African cousins with a mountain to climb. The army are clear again but are all too tired to run for the line. Eventually someone draws the short straw and has to run in the fourth try. Finally Kenya get a consolation try and go out of the competition the wrong side of a 28-5 score line.
Now it is Samurai v Quins in the final quarter final. Samurai you will remember were the losing finalists last year when we lifted the trophy. They are effectively mercenaries, the clothing manufacturer buying in the finest talent on the Sevens international circuit to advertise their products. Samurai take the first blood. Seconds before half time Quins respond but unlike the internationals convert going in with a slender 2 point lead which they extend soon after the restart. Quins 12 Samurai 5. Cheating Quins clearly have problems changing their spots (do cheetahs have spots, or is that leopards?) For the second time they blatantly take out a man off the ball. This time they earn a yellow card. A try to Samurai takes them to 12 all then 12-17 with a minute left. That is how it finished proving there is justice, but leaving last year’s finalists on track for a repeat of the final. Still there are the semis to get through, starting with the plate.
Wailers v Falcons. Patience is rewarded and Wailers set up a well worked move inside their own half and score. Falcons respond with one of their own. As the clock runs down to half time Wailers score again but cannot add the extras. Second half Newcastle score and edge into the lead. I need the loo so will have to wait to see how it finished. Mini tells me Newcastle won. Pups meanwhile are 7-14 down v Wales. Irish are up next. The faithful are re-gathering. By the end Wales are decisively 31-14 to the good and take on Falcons for the plate final.
Two more hurdles for Irish. Wasps kick off and immediately are yellow carded for a dangerous late tackle. Steff powers over in the corner. Later Wasps think they have scored but pass is well forward. Back down the other end little bro Guy Armitage gives it his big brother who scores in exactly the same place. Despite pressurising our line Wasps go in for the pep talk with nothing on the score board. We continue to dominate in the second half with another score under the posts. 17-0 three min left. Yet another score, this time Marcus Watson 22-0 last minute. We are in the final!
It is the second semi final. Samurai v the Army. Are we going to get a repeat of last year’s final or will we have to face the Army? Minimonk has bought a calendar with pictures of his rugby heroes holding guns. Mrs Monk does not approve. Samurai quickly go 12-0 up v Army a repeat of last year's final is looking more likely, especially since they score again on the half time whistle. Second half they extend their lead to 24-0 in the first minute. Poor Minimonk. He is shattered after a week's camping. Mrs Monk promises she will take him home as soon as we are knocked out. That is not happening. Back to the match 29-0 now. Steady on, we need to beat them later on. Lets hope they are worn out!
There are a few exhibition matches while the boys get their breath back, then Wales v Newcastle in the plate final. First blood Falcons. Wales get on scoreboard just before half time, but cannot add the extras. Second half, and Newcastle add another well worked try. Wales do not give up and with 3 minutes left narrow the gap to 14-10. With the clock on zero for agonising minutes Wales keep possession but cannot turn it into points and eventually Falcons manage to get the ball off the field.
This is it! The final! I hope I have taped this because I cannot watch and text. It is all Irish for the first minute, Samurai are hanging in but nick a lineout and almost go through. Irish rebuild, Samurai are all offside. Next penalty to Samurai who kick for corner but overcook it. Scrum back. Samurai look dangerous and 5 minutes in they get the try but not the conversion. Salosi is off injured. Having lost him for most of last season I hope it is not serious. Delon is almost through, we are still pressurising the line and eventually JJ (Jonathan Joseph) gets across the whitewash, and again no conversion so 5 all as we approach half time. Another player is off injured I didn’t see who. Marland Yarde gets in to take us into the lead. Delon add the extras so half time it is 12-5 to us.
Second half: a bad bounce at the kickoff hands advantage to Samurai who pass into touch only to steal the lineout and score a couple of passes later. Samurai miss the conversion so we are still two points ahead. Gibson is targeted for the restart, the ball is spilled in the tackle Samurai regain possession and are immediately in for a try to retake the lead at 12-15. Samurai hit the ball to Gibson again at the restart but this time he gets it away to Yarde. A few phases later Yarde is sin-binned for a high tackle. Three Minutes left, two of them 6 versus 7. Samurai chip ahead and are first to the ball as it crosses the line, but Dodge tracks back and holds the ball up. The temperature is rising. Yarde is back on but we are defending a 5m scrum. Dodge snaffles a turnover but we concede another penalty. Samurai are allowed to take a drop goal which would put the game beyond reach, but having missed all their conversions decide to run it. Another chip through, but this time Yarde is quicker and touches down in goal. The clock has run down we have possession. We gain a penalty and keep possession. One minute extra. Guy almost through. Another penalty to Irish, two extra minutes. Delon has the ball in hand. He chips through, he runs through, he is clear, he is over the line, he only needs the ball to sit up for him. The bounce is unkind and a Samurai boot gets the ball off the field. That is how close we were to retaining the trophy. No wonder the boys look flat when they come down the steps from collecting the runners up trophy.
We arrive to join SoreDoc and family plus increasing numbers of Irish supporters in a lockout. HQ will not open their doors till 10. Since this is only half an hour before kick-off and all bags must be searched, we (and every one else) only just get to our seats in time.
Armitage to Armitage to Armitage. First score Delon. Under the posts. Second score Delon in the corner. Finally Tigers get in on the act. Half time 12-7 to the defending champions. We decide to move towards the other end with Props and family and inexplicably find ourselves in the VIP enclosure behind the commentators so apologies if I am caught on mike. Second half first score to Ryan lamb. Conversion missed. Losi scores under posts converted. Final score under the post. An emphatic statement of intent for the defending champions.
Next up HFW Wailers v Exeter chiefs. We wander off in search of the Walthams. By the time we find them Exeter are 7-0 up and it is half time. A try apiece in the second half. HFC score again with the clock at zero. The conversion goes over so it is 14 apiece. Sudden death extra time. Wailers look to be through, but bottle it and knock on in the offload. Exeter keeps possession and break to make the winning try.
That is two matches without a drink. Time to head for the Waltham hospitality tent in the car park. I receive a text. Wasps have won 21-7 against Newcastle. We get back to our seats (well someone else’s seats actually) in time to see England, under the banner of Help for Heroes, beat Saracens with a golden try after a tight low scoring game. Mini wants to watch the army who are up next against the Pups. I am sure Foggy will want one of the Pups’ shirts, they are very pink. It is however the Army who score first. The half time hooter has gone. Army has possession on their line but try to run it. They lose the ball and let the Pups in to level the score. They make amends half way through the second half to ease ahead 12-7 putting in another soon after.
Mrs Monk fancies the Kenyans who are playing Leeds. This does not mean she thinks the Kenyans will win (although she does) it means she fancies the Kenyan players. Anyway Kenya scores first in the corner. They almost score again on the half time hooter. Second half they emphatically open the score with a fine individual try under the post. When they score again Leeds look to be left behind at 19-0 but respond to get on the scoreboard. The Kenyan response looks to have scored but is judged to be held up. Finally Tykes get a consolation try.
We decamp to Waltham Manor-on-car-park for luncheon. It is a protracted affair. When Daveopposite arrives in clockwork orange costume, complete with codpiece over trousers it goes rapidly downhill. It is 2pm by the time we make it back to watch more rugby. I find Pups doing a demolition job on Leeds in the third plate quarterfinals. Final score Gilbert Pups 33 Leeds 5.
Mini wants to know when Irish play again. I tell him it is after Wales v Marauders. It takes most of the first half but eventually Wales run in two tries in quick succession. I realise that the team in red are Marauders and Wales are in green. This is a bit confusing after my lunchtime refreshments. Marauders come back early in the second half to halve the deficit. Only to have it cancelled out moments later. Another score puts them out of reach at 24-7 although that is narrowed to 24-14 at the death.
London Irish are on v Exeter Chiefs for the quarter final refereed by our very own Wayne Barnes. Right from the off Delon goes in for a try. Towards the end of the first half Losi gets in on the Armitage family party which makes it 12-0 at half time. First blood in the second half almost to Chiefs but they knock on allowing Irish to clear. Jamie Gibson gets his name on the score sheet. 19-0 three minutes left. Chiefs run in with only Dodge to beat but spill in the tackle. They do however narrow the gap in the next play. Losi puts it beyond doubt with the final play taking it up to 24-7. We are in the semi final.
I head for the bar while Wasps take on England, sorry, Help for Heroes. By the time I get back Wasps are 7-0 up and it is half time. Two England tries in the corner put them 10-7 up. A late try for Wasps also in the corner mean they squeeze through courtesy of their first half conversion. We play them later in the first cup semi but there is a lot of rugby to play before then.
Kenya v Army. Poor tactics by Kenya after a try saving tackle allows the army in to score first. They play very different styles of sevens. Kenya are lithe and quick still polishing their tactical skills the army are professional sevens players, big and savvy. They put in two more tries in the first half leaving our African cousins with a mountain to climb. The army are clear again but are all too tired to run for the line. Eventually someone draws the short straw and has to run in the fourth try. Finally Kenya get a consolation try and go out of the competition the wrong side of a 28-5 score line.
Now it is Samurai v Quins in the final quarter final. Samurai you will remember were the losing finalists last year when we lifted the trophy. They are effectively mercenaries, the clothing manufacturer buying in the finest talent on the Sevens international circuit to advertise their products. Samurai take the first blood. Seconds before half time Quins respond but unlike the internationals convert going in with a slender 2 point lead which they extend soon after the restart. Quins 12 Samurai 5. Cheating Quins clearly have problems changing their spots (do cheetahs have spots, or is that leopards?) For the second time they blatantly take out a man off the ball. This time they earn a yellow card. A try to Samurai takes them to 12 all then 12-17 with a minute left. That is how it finished proving there is justice, but leaving last year’s finalists on track for a repeat of the final. Still there are the semis to get through, starting with the plate.
Wailers v Falcons. Patience is rewarded and Wailers set up a well worked move inside their own half and score. Falcons respond with one of their own. As the clock runs down to half time Wailers score again but cannot add the extras. Second half Newcastle score and edge into the lead. I need the loo so will have to wait to see how it finished. Mini tells me Newcastle won. Pups meanwhile are 7-14 down v Wales. Irish are up next. The faithful are re-gathering. By the end Wales are decisively 31-14 to the good and take on Falcons for the plate final.
Two more hurdles for Irish. Wasps kick off and immediately are yellow carded for a dangerous late tackle. Steff powers over in the corner. Later Wasps think they have scored but pass is well forward. Back down the other end little bro Guy Armitage gives it his big brother who scores in exactly the same place. Despite pressurising our line Wasps go in for the pep talk with nothing on the score board. We continue to dominate in the second half with another score under the posts. 17-0 three min left. Yet another score, this time Marcus Watson 22-0 last minute. We are in the final!
It is the second semi final. Samurai v the Army. Are we going to get a repeat of last year’s final or will we have to face the Army? Minimonk has bought a calendar with pictures of his rugby heroes holding guns. Mrs Monk does not approve. Samurai quickly go 12-0 up v Army a repeat of last year's final is looking more likely, especially since they score again on the half time whistle. Second half they extend their lead to 24-0 in the first minute. Poor Minimonk. He is shattered after a week's camping. Mrs Monk promises she will take him home as soon as we are knocked out. That is not happening. Back to the match 29-0 now. Steady on, we need to beat them later on. Lets hope they are worn out!
There are a few exhibition matches while the boys get their breath back, then Wales v Newcastle in the plate final. First blood Falcons. Wales get on scoreboard just before half time, but cannot add the extras. Second half, and Newcastle add another well worked try. Wales do not give up and with 3 minutes left narrow the gap to 14-10. With the clock on zero for agonising minutes Wales keep possession but cannot turn it into points and eventually Falcons manage to get the ball off the field.
This is it! The final! I hope I have taped this because I cannot watch and text. It is all Irish for the first minute, Samurai are hanging in but nick a lineout and almost go through. Irish rebuild, Samurai are all offside. Next penalty to Samurai who kick for corner but overcook it. Scrum back. Samurai look dangerous and 5 minutes in they get the try but not the conversion. Salosi is off injured. Having lost him for most of last season I hope it is not serious. Delon is almost through, we are still pressurising the line and eventually JJ (Jonathan Joseph) gets across the whitewash, and again no conversion so 5 all as we approach half time. Another player is off injured I didn’t see who. Marland Yarde gets in to take us into the lead. Delon add the extras so half time it is 12-5 to us.
Second half: a bad bounce at the kickoff hands advantage to Samurai who pass into touch only to steal the lineout and score a couple of passes later. Samurai miss the conversion so we are still two points ahead. Gibson is targeted for the restart, the ball is spilled in the tackle Samurai regain possession and are immediately in for a try to retake the lead at 12-15. Samurai hit the ball to Gibson again at the restart but this time he gets it away to Yarde. A few phases later Yarde is sin-binned for a high tackle. Three Minutes left, two of them 6 versus 7. Samurai chip ahead and are first to the ball as it crosses the line, but Dodge tracks back and holds the ball up. The temperature is rising. Yarde is back on but we are defending a 5m scrum. Dodge snaffles a turnover but we concede another penalty. Samurai are allowed to take a drop goal which would put the game beyond reach, but having missed all their conversions decide to run it. Another chip through, but this time Yarde is quicker and touches down in goal. The clock has run down we have possession. We gain a penalty and keep possession. One minute extra. Guy almost through. Another penalty to Irish, two extra minutes. Delon has the ball in hand. He chips through, he runs through, he is clear, he is over the line, he only needs the ball to sit up for him. The bounce is unkind and a Samurai boot gets the ball off the field. That is how close we were to retaining the trophy. No wonder the boys look flat when they come down the steps from collecting the runners up trophy.
Craic Members' Photo Archives
Big-Al
R1 - London Irish v Leicester Tigers
Q/F - London Irish v Exeter Chiefs
S/F - London Irish v London Wasps
Final - London Irish v ULR Samurai International
Cill Dara
R1 - London Irish v Leicester Tigers
Q/F - London Irish v Exeter Chiefs
S/F - London Irish v London Wasps
Final - London Irish v ULR Samurai International
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StumbleuponPlenty of icing, but no cherry on the top
Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 19/08/2010 12:44
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Re: Plenty of icing, but no cherry on the top
Posted by: Sussex Hugh (IP Logged)
Date: 19/08/2010 16:58
That's an astonishingly good report, many thanks. But for being covered in beer I could almost have been there!
Re: Plenty of icing, but no cherry on the top
Posted by: PV (IP Logged)
Date: 19/08/2010 17:15
Thanks for this report, great detail.
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