Shower ?

London Irish v Bath Rugby – September 18, 2006 7.30pm

Half-Time 27-10 to the Irish

In the first half, last Monday's half back pairing of Richie Rees and Barry
Everitt worked better, and linked well with the sharp attacking of Shane
Geraghty and Gonzalo Tiesi in the centres, and some strong running by Phil
Murphy. Dave Fitter had an excellent time at prop for 40 minutes. All these
senior players left, job done, and the balance changed for the 2nd period.

Full-Time 32-41 to Bath

London Irish scored only one charge down try, whilst 9,10 and 13 for Bath
ran the game. Pietro Tavagli at 9 was lively all match and made many good
runs, diagonally and laterally, showing good acceleration. George Hughes at
10 had many good conversions, and also showed good speed in running through
replacement centres, linking with13 Tom Cheeseman. These players made the
difference, and were responsible for the scoreline.

So, it was 6 replacements at half time by the home side which led to the
different scoreline - much to the delight of a female Bath supporter just
behind me. She had a certain siren like quality, and not for luring
sea-faring types to their doom.

A detailed match report – the blow by blow, minute by minute, follows for
aficionados of my prose style, but there will be few jokes, just
descriptions of the rugby.

Kick-off

An early offence by Bath gave Barry Everitt a penalty in front of the posts.
3-0
We then conceded 3 penalties in a row at the breakdown, for offside etc, and
Bath advanced down the field. Luckily this excellent attacking position was
wasted by a Bath handling error as the ball was threatening the wing inside
our 22. We won't always be so lucky.

Soon after we gained 2 penalties in a row, and thanks to Barry's boot and a
following wind, we were attacking on the Bath 22. With our back line
waiting, standing deep to the centres, the first phase was a strong run from
7 Richard Thorpe who cut back, we got quick release from a well presented
ball and 9 Rees passed it quickly. Geraghty sped to feed Tiesi who
electrified the crowd with his take of high speed ball and acceleration, his
diagonal run from 10m took the final defender with him, and with his upper
body strength fended of with one arm, and grounded the ball cleanly with the
other. 8-0. Conversion missed, and we wondered if the swaying poplars had
put him off, but Barry proved how kicking is not always a given thing.

Bath got a penalty soon after, in an easy position and ''twas 8-3

We gained a good attacking position following a Bath offside and an Everitt
kick into the 22. The line out did its work, but Geraghty spilled the ball
forward trying to offload to his left in the tackle. I don't know if we want
to go back to mistake-free rugby if it means no ambition, the correct
balance is in words of the coach and the decision of the player. Geraghty
has flair and generally makes the right decision - he looked a little out of
depth against Wasps first team, as they compress time so effectively – but
tonight he shone in his partnership with Tiesi.

Murphy made a strong run from 5metres, but was stopped on the line. Our next
line out was given not straight and Bath scrum allowed them to relieve
pressure. Gary Johnson stole a line out, our large lock is often captain (
today it was Barry ) had a very good solid game. This unexpected possession
led to another example of Geraghty and Tiesi combining to carve up the
middle, and Barry put a clever chip behind the defence into the Bath 22. The
safe option was to shepherd the ball out about 5m from the try line. Great
attacking chance, and we threw the line out short, gathering for a rolling
maul. But we peeled for individual runs, and after 2 phases Barry was
released on the blind side to sell a dummy and scoot to the line.Score now
13-3. Barry fails to convert his own try from way out wide.

We immediately scored from the restart, which really thrilled the Sunbury
crowd. Phil Murphy picked up the kick-off and handed off his first man and
tucked the ball under his arm and beat a prop on the outside, hugging the
touchline into the Bath half. Richie Rees showed good awareness and support
skills to continue the move weaving through the disarray in the Bath defence
Moving infield he found the supporting Gary Johnson on a straight powerful
run down the 15m channel to the edge of the Bath 22. Quick ball from the
next 2 phases gave us the chance to spin it wide, and the try was scored by
David Howells in the far corner. Barry topped it off with a touchline
conversion which gave us a 20-3 scoreline. A real team try which gladdened
the heart, young Howells had a mature game which belied his 18 years.

A good run through the middle by the Bath 7 James Scaysbrook, started by 9
Travagli, was stopped by Gonzalo Tiesi as a last ditch tackle on the 22.
Tiesi was penalised for not rolling away and Bath went for a kick to the
corner, a solid line out gained them another penalty for an over eager
offside defence This time a clever quick tap led to a diagonal run to the
left of the posts. Easily converted, and Bath had started to play. 20-10.

With their confidence buoyed Bath kicked long and 3 men chased. London Irish
full back Charlie Gower could only let the ball bounce, the 15 may have been
out of position, the kick unexpected, but he was in trouble as the ball
failed to find touch. Isolated he took the option to prevent a certain try
by committing the offence of holding back the attacking player, and was
yellow carded.

Bath kicked to the corner, but our full strength forwards held them out
until a magnificent tackle by Gonzalo halted the attack,as the player held
on. I was relieved, and again we were back on the attack from a long Barry
kick to 5m from Bath line. First we threw long and lost the throw, but there
was some offence, and we took the next short. Even though we were a man
light in the backs, Geraghty put the ball behind the defence for Tiesi to
neatly gather and ground the ball by the posts. Converted by Barry we went
in to half-time 27-10 ahead.

In the half-time interval I sought out food, and spotted Bob Casey on
crutches. Out for 6-8 weeks following a midweek training accident. He just
landed awkwardly on one ankle and strained ligaments, right there level with
where the burgers were being cooked. We glared at the offending turf, as if
it was somehow faulty. He was pretty stoic about it, saying he's had 4 years
injury free, and you realise just what solidity and dependability he's given
us.

The teams came out for the second half, and London Irish were transformed.
16,17,18, 19, 21 & 22 replaced 9,10, 12, 13, 3 and 8. I may be wrong, but
Steve Taylor, Alex Corbisiero, James Campbell, Steffon Armitage, Michael
Holding and Matt Humphries came on. Richie Rees, Barry Everitt, Shane
Geraghty, Gonzalo Tiesi, Dave Fitter, and Phil Murphy came off.
No 1 Dan Murphy may have come off, but he was back on later, but could have
played on the other side of the scrum. No 6 Aiden McCullen may have been
replaced, certainly there were players out there without numbers, and I
missed the announcements due to socialising.

This led to the second half having quite a different character, but it was
no less entertaining, containing as it did the Bath comeback, and a little
dust-up resulting in a 14-a-side game.

A Bath kick to 11 David Howells is cleared but not confidently, and soon
after by 15 Charlie Gower even less so, but Bath help out by knocking
forward.
A good break by Bath 7 James Scaysbrook is turned over as he released in
isolation, and we then set the pattern of the half with some fierce close
encounters. Steffon is penalised for lying on the floor and the ball
bouncing of his hand, but at least he'd disrupted a potent Bath maul.
Quickly Bath put the ball wide and wing 11 Ian Davey scores in the corner.
27-15

Bath threatened to score shortly after with another flowing move down the
same far wing, but the Irish full back is up with play and intercepts what
would have been a try scoring pass from the wing inside to the centre. May
have been from 11 Davey to 12 Davis, but it was on the far side. It's not
really important, I mean it's one Bath schmuck to another, and who really
reads this anyway ? (Rhetorical question) If you want know read the Bath
report. Good intercept by 15 Charlie Gower, back on the pitch anyway, but
it's only delaying the inevitable.

In the next minute, Bath probe the weak spot down that centre channel and
this time the repeat move works, a dummy from 10 George Hughes allows him
free passage from half way to the try line. A desperate defensive run across
pitch from our 11 David Howells keeps him honest and prevents the run in.
27-20 and the conversion is missed. So well done young Howells. Little
contributions like this make professional rugby players, and it was one of
my favourite moments. There's always something to learn and enjoy from these
Sunbury games, and one is when a player shows intelligence and grit to chase
and harry the opposition.

With the scores getting close the next close exchanges led to a dust up.
Some enthusiastic rucking may have been stamping and tempers snapped,
punches were thrown and landed. Referee Maybank consulted both touch judges
and the ABA, then sent 2 players to the bin.

Steffon gave a penalty away in midfield and Bath continued to run it, being
easily able to, and knowing this was their advantage. A large overlap was
then created by a good quick scarpering run by Bath No 9 Pietro Travagli,
and any one of 3 players could have run it in. The try was converted by 10
George Hughes and the scores were level at 27-27.

The critical readers may notice that I've not always credited the
try-scorers. This is largely due to the timing of the announcements, while
the crowd were still applauding, and my ears still ringing from the
siren-like quality of that Bath supporter. Enthusiastic is one thing, but
car alarm impressions are another. Anyway, lets not be churlish, these were
real tries, all of them good and uncontentious, I don't think I saw referee
Roy Maybank allow any forward passes to go.

Irish upped their game and the pressure levels, forcing a charge down deep
in the Bath 22, in front of the posts we passed it to our replacement prop
to barge over. 32-27. I think it was 18 James Campbell. The easy enough
conversion hit the post and bounced out. Are we teaching this in coaching
now ? It seems to be a widespread tactic, after Riki successfully did it at
Twickenham.

Following a knock on by us, on our 40m line, we pressure the Bath ball
through some flying flankers, and hack through the spilled ball. Another
barging tackle on the Bath defender and the ball is spilled and hacked
again. In this broken play you'd expect us to have the advantage, but this
was like London Irish of last season. The opposition have been studying the
tapes. Bath picked up the ball 10m from their own line, and knew where their
speed merchants were. Unsurprisingly they passed to them and counter
attacked with pace. This is not just an Ashton legacy, it's a Bath trait,
and it was lovely to do it to them at their place last season. However in
the here and now, it was Bath centre 13 Tom Cheeseman who dotted down a
magnificent length of the field move, and 10 Hughes converted. 32-34 and
Bath in the lead for the first time.

The Irish Academy manager joined the field as a player, but made little
positive impact. In fact the error count increased as we firstly kicked too
long into the dead ball area for a scrum back, losing good attacking
platform. Then we kicked out on the full awarding possession to the
opposition inside our half. Another flowing backs move was finished by
Hughes and Cheeseman, with Hughes adding the conversion. 32-41 and the final
score.

I'll leave the conclusions to others, but there were many heartening things
for me. Geraghty and Tiesi looked good, very good, a partnership in the
centre, skilfully making breaks and tries without needing to barge it
through. Everitt and Rees had improved also, with Barry kicking from hand
superbly, and Richie busy darting and probing, but the passes between them
better. Murphy, Fitter and Johnson also had great games and Richard Thorpe
had flashes. In his second half appearance, Steffon got penalised, though he
was never near a carding. Just enthusiastic and physical, a crowd favourite
as everything he does is 100%.

Overall Bath won by 41 to 32, and I think both teams will have learned a lot
about their squad. Each applauded the other team off the field, and everyone
in the crowd joined in. It was very enjoyable, and well worth the entrance
fee.

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