I will call it Adams Park, not the Causeway (I can’t be doing with these sponsored stadia) a fast game of 9 tries, 5-4 in favour of the home team.

 

Unlike my one previous visit to High Wycombe I was healthy and able to shout from the Jewson Stand where today I joined vocal forces with JJ, Pod, Mally, DJMC and After Noon.

 

Our side was bolstered by the return of Matt Burke and Stuart Grimes, though joint captain Ian Peel was absent.

 

We began the game kicking into the wind, but pinned the European Champions back early on and centre Epi Taione barged through to score the opening try of the game, Jonny Wilkinson knocking over the extra two.

 

Predictably we did have to weather a Wasps storm though, and from a released ball Richard Birkett pounced from close range for a try which, combined with Alex “One of the greatest fly-halves England has ever had” King’s conversion, levelled things up.

 

Wasps came straight back at us, and as Tom Voyce chased a kick down their left Semo Sititi had little choice but to carry the ball into touch, the old phrase “it’s better to concede a lineout than a try” ringing true as King kicked a drop goal from the resulting throw.  However, were it not for Sofa’s quick thinking, we’d have conceded another score for sure.  King did add another penalty soon however.

 

As the hosts continued to attack us relentlessly, a breakdown on our left was spread to the opposite flank where Voyce gratefully got his try as we simply ran out of defenders.  Joe Worsley scored Wasps’ third, although it was converted by wing Edd Thrower as King was being treated for clashing heads with Wilkinson in the build up.

 Heading into injury time, we managed to throw a cat into the pigeon-filled Wasps dressing room with Jamie Noon running through for a converted try to leave us 25-14 down at the break.

 

Thrower and Wilkinson exchanged penalties in the second half before we won a lineout in the right hand corner, from which Colin Charvis was driven over in a showing of brute strength from our forwards.  Although Jonny missed the conversion, at 28-22 we were right back in contention…

 

but not for long as Sofa was sin-binned on our line to leave us depleted for 10 minutes, Thrower immediately kicking three points.  There was no mercy for our Boys, with two more tries from Mark Van Gisbergen and Ayoola Erinle, the latter converted, taking the Champions out of sight.  All that was left was for Michael Stephenson to secure a try bonus point a few minutes from time, though unfortunately we couldn’t get another for a second point, and were defeated 43-29.

 

My verdict on the game?  I think Wasps showed why they are so good and so feared by taking the chances quickly which they either themselves created or were given to them by our mistakes.  Every turnover they seemed to make five metres within seconds.  But on the other hand, although we didn’t win the game, I can’t imagine many other teams will score four tries at Adams Park or indeed anywhere against Wasps this season, so we can be pleased with our attacking.  It is the defence which is a massive problem, as Rob Andrew has acknowledged.

 

The absence of Mark Mayerhofler becomes more telling by the week, and while I know we must learn how to cope, I admit that I have no idea how.  Joe Shaw’s injury only makes things worse, leaving but Epi and Matthew Tait, neither great defenders.  But Epi has been a good ATTACKING centre for two weeks at least.

 

But I am not paid to find the solution to this problem.  Rob, Ross and Blackie are.

Speaking of being paid, the players are paid to play.  They play for themselves, their coaches, their boss, but also for US.  They play for me and for you who is reading this.  Without us there would be no Falcons and they wouldn’t be paid for playing the game they love.

 

Yet despite reported promises from Rob Andrew and Ross Nesdale, there was no acknowledgement of our support today YET AGAIN.  We waited for them to come back out but if they did they took a fair while.

 

We managed to corner James Grindal outside the stadium, who said that after Rob had had words with the team ten players went back out.  That may be, but it was 15 minutes after the game, we had given up waiting & we were already in the bar!

 

Three questions James unfortunately didn’t answer:

1) Would Rob really have minded if the Lads stayed out an extra minute while they applauded the fans they claim to value so much

2) If he does, couldn’t they applaud and look around on their way to the tunnel?

3) Ten players came back out.  What on Earth were the other twelve doing???

 

James saw we waited outside the stadium to voice our opinion.  Hopefully he didn’t see our comments directed only at him but the whole squad.  Hopefully he has relayed the message.  My opinion is that we see what happens at Newport, and if there’s no improvement, then we need to make our voices heard louder within the club.

 

And as for the pathetic excuse that the players don’t like to clap us after a defeat (so laughable it surely can’t be true!) – WHY?  Is it all our fault?  They should clap us MORE for still shouting and singing for them!  Why did we chant “Falcons, Falcons, Falcons!” as the players left the field today?  Because win or lose we still love them.  The appreciation we receive in defeat is even MORE important.

 

The players hurt after a defeat?  I hope they do!  If they don’t they shouldn’t be playing the game!  But imagine how we feel, paying not getting paid to travel the length of England every two weeks, when the boys lose.  And whether Leicester take more fans away is actually irrelevant – no away fans at KP make as much noise as us when we travel, and 100 of us often out-shout thousands of home supporters.

 

We deserve recognition.  Jon Dunbar gave it to us, Joe Shaw still does.  Why can’t the rest?

 

OK, that rant is over now.

 

What of our league form so far?  Well, by my reckoning in an average season we would have exactly what we have now after those 6 games – 14 points.  We have two more than we did at the same stage last year and FIVE more than in 2002/03.  So we’re still improving, but slowly.  Our W3 L3 form is classic of the last few average years.  Will this most optimistic of seasons turn out to be the same?  Despite having a blindly positive reputation to keep up, I have to say it’s slipped into the back of my mind.  Time will tell.  What is certain – a win over Saracens next weekend is now IMPERATIVE.

 

Positives – Jonny having his best game of the season so far, excellent in the tackle and on the run.  Matthew Tait the same when he came on.  Scoring four tries away to the European Champions.

 

Negatives – scoring four tries away from home and not just losing but not even getting a losing BP too (how often has that happened in the ZP?)

 

Fans – certainly better than at Gloucester, although the tactic of scattering us around the ground is still weakening our support, we must find a way to combat this.

 

Programme - £2.50, 64 pages, 25 pages adverts.  A bit too much advertising for my liking.  Pictures and a two-page article of the away team though, plus columns from the chief executive and chairman as well as Warren Gatland.

 

London Wasps – Mark Van Gisbergen 1T, Ed Thrower 2C 2P, Peter Richards, Rob Hoadley (49, Ayoola Erinle 1T) , Tom Voyce 1T, Alex King 1C 1DG 1P(28, James Brooks) , Matt Dawson (46, Harvey Biljon) , Henry Nwume (62, Ali McKenzie) , Phil Greening (62, Trevor Leota) , Tim Payne, John Hart, Richard Birkett 1T, Joe Worsley 1T (71, Mark Lock) , Jonny O'Connor, Lawrence Dallaglio (c) (71, James Haskell).

 

Newcastle – Matthew Burke, Tom May (39, Mathew Tait) , Jamie Noon 1T, Epi Taione 1T, Michael Stephenson 1T, Jonny Wilkinson (c) 3C 1P, Hall Charlton, Micky Ward (41, James Isaacson) , Andy Long, Marius Hurter (64, Matthew Burke) , Luke Gross (65, Craig Hamilton) , Stuart Grimes, Mike McCarthy (74, Ed Williamson) , Colin Charvis 1T, Semo Sititi.  Subs not used: David Walder, James Grindal.

 

Referee: David Rose

Attendance: 10,000

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