Smells like Team Spirit – Bath Rugby 17 - 21 LI
By Steven Dean November 6 2006
London Irish fought back from 11 points down with 20 minutes left to score 2 late tries. They finished 17-21 winners away at a bright Recreation ground.
London Irish fought back from 11 points down with 20 minutes left to score 2 late tries. They finished 17-21 winners away at a bright Recreation ground.
Determination from the experienced bench saw them home. Bob Casey and Robbie Russell combined with Neal Hatley to score a catch and drive try against 14 man Bath. Then a Juan Leguizamon try put Irish in front at the death after a Keiron Roche lineout steal and a Seilala Mapusua barging break.
There was late drama as the final Barry Everitt conversion failed off the post. Irish in front by 4 for the first time with 4 minutes to go. Tension mounted at the end as Riki Flutey cleared out on the full. Delon Armitage was the wise old head among the backs in the late minutes, playing very well in the whole match. But, as they had throughout the match, Bath knocked on at a crucial moment and Irish counted down the seconds to win. It was a match which started out as tedious and frustrating, and built through a mundane series of errors into a one-score tense finish.
Not a game for the neutrals, Bath were bereft of the talented Borthwick, Mears, Grewcock and many others. They didn’t survive mentally when down to 14 in the final quarter, as Irish introduced experienced substitutions.
The first half of this match hinged on the 17th minute decision by referee Maybank to Yellow Card two London Irish players. The first was given to David Paice for a spear tackle on Zac Feanuati, and the second to Neal Hatley for punches thrown. Peter Short of Bath was also carded in the ensuing melee, which followed the dangerous tackle. Irish only conceded 3 points while down to 13 men, but bought an outrageous dummy to concede a Feaunati try just before the break when back to 15. It knocked the froth off my half-time pint, as I considered the exchanges of penalties combined with a high error count. We’d also seen some mystifying refereeing as Mr Maybank struggled for control.
Seasoned ref watchers would have seen a master class in how to balance one bad decision for one side with an equally bad one for the other side. During the half there were off the ball niggles, as a game of rugby threatened to break out during the constant fighting. In struggling to control the earlier slackness we then heard a whistle every few seconds, and wondered what it was for this time. Throwing, catching, running, kicking and tackling all seemed to be crimes. Fighting off the ball seemed to be the only way for players to express themselves.
The second half again contained Yellow cards, one to Bob Casey for enthusiastic rucking 30 seconds after joining as substitute. The second proved more critical as David Barnes left and Irish turned the game around with 10 points in his absence. It may be a matter of controversy to some supporters to question the validity of awarding each or all of these Yellow cards. I’m only here to report the fact that they were given, a slo-mo camera will decide the justice of the matter. Paice should have no complaints, some thought it deserved a straight red, and was boo’ed for every subsequent touch till replaced by Russell. Hatley and Short had exchanged punches, so that was even handed. Bob Casey was seen by the touch judge, and Barnes was an obvious and cynical killing of the ball, exchanging 3pts to save 7.
What seemed to decide the course of the match was the greater experience that London Irish had gained in this matter. This is evidently something that they’d brought from the training ground; the Yellow Card is this season’s new weapon. Rather than cluttering up our attacking and defensive formations with excess players, we’ve introduced a new flavour “London Irish Lite” on to the pitch. Bath were knocked out of their stride when down to 14 men, London Irish had coped like a well rehearsed unit.
First Half
Bath gained an early penalty from a scrum offence, and Malone put it over for 3-0.
The first lineout was given on 10 minutes when the red cap of Aiden McCullen stole Bath ball. This continued the long tradition of Irish domination, and in spite of the absence of the main protagonists Casey & Kennedy v Grewcock & Borthwick it augured well for the afternoon.
Shortly after Irish got a penalty that was too far for Barry to kick so we cautiously kicked from half way to the edge of the 22. Paice didn’t throw straight. The clearance kick from Bath gave Hudson a chance to secure our own lineout ball, but it begs the question –
Why do we lose our most critical lineouts?
Time after time our much-heralded lineout loses it where it matters. Is there puff in our stats because the oppo aren’t competing in midfield ? Number of attacking lineouts won inside opponents 22 is the key statistic. Ok the scoreline is the key statistic, but I don’t think we’re converting all our opportunities.
Whatever, the backs soon tried to redress the loss. Some great handling reminiscent of Llanelli involved a darting Shabbo break, then Armitage, Tagicakibau, and recycled for Armitage, Tagicakibau, Mapusua and Roche. Our first great multiple offload and multiphase attack was ended by Bath being offside. As the offence was bang in front of the posts we took the 3 and levelled the score 3-3 after 15 minutes.
The next incident from the restart was for Peter Short taking out an Irish player in the air. Given the history and experience we’ve gained in this offence, with Stefon carded against Wasps, and gaining one against Llanelli I thought it might be an automatic yellow. As it was there was just a warning to the player, but this may have caused some resentment between the sides.
Irish lost the next lineout, and David Paice committed an enthusiastic / robust tackle on ex-London Irish player Zac Feaunati, the Bath No 8. The referee may have blown quickly for the offence but the whole park exploded into shoving punching and general non-rugby activity. It was difficult to see who was pulling who apart, who was a victim, a perpetrator, a peacemaker. Maybank allowed the players to let off steam until they’d punched themselves out, then promptly carded Paice. He then took some advice from the linesman and dismissed Neal Hatley, and Bath’s Peter Short. So London Irish were down to 13 men after 17 minutes with the score at 3-3.
I was fuming because “Yellow Fever” seems to have replaced “White Line Fever”. I’m not sure how much the capacity crowd shouting “Off ! Off !” would have influenced the decision. Paice should have no complaints, his tackle did look spear like and sparked the brawl. The linesman was also in a better position, so I’ll have to go with the Hatley decision. What I can’t understand is why the outraged Bath players didn’t get reprimanded for throwing the first punch, surely Hatley was just defending himself ?
Given their numeric advantage in the forwards Malone understandably kicked to the corner. They threw the lineout short and a good tackle from Magne caused them to throw the ball wide to the backs. With greater numbers a Bath player knocked on, and the knot in my stomach relaxed a little. The players were still tense and following handbags involving Kieran Roche the referee spoke to Barry Everitt, acting captain in the absence of the binned Neal Hatley. I didn’t rule out going down to 12, my capacity for surprise was becoming numbed.
Before the scrum could be taken we had to reorganise our front row. So Dominic Shabbo and Aiden McCullen left to allow Robbie Russell to hook, and Richard Skuse to prop. We were solid and Murphy picked up from the base and made a break. It lasted for 0.43 seconds before being halted by the whistle. Apparently Hodgson had shepherded him, prevent a Bath player from making a tackle. Maybe it was deliberate, clumsy, or maybe the offence was non-existent. My cynicism and persecution complex glands were working overtime and I snapped my note-taking pencil in two, loudly bemoaning the decision. As the penalty was in front of the posts and Malone put it over. 6-3 to Bath after 22 minutes.
After the restart we gained a penalty for the nasty Bath shoving in the lineout, and I raised a halfhearted ironic cheer. When you’re down to 13 men your best weapon is territory, and possession. Your two best weapons are territory, possession and mistake free rugby. And a fanatical devotion to the Pope. Fear and surprise. I’ll start again. I had a sour gallows humour at this point, and drained my first hip flask of Bells and Drambuie instead of taking notes.
Bath were actually our best weapon during the ten minutes of depletion, as they engineered a magnificent maul to suck in our defence, and then knocked it on as the released the backs in to acres of space. I’ve not seen them play since Brian Ashton left, but surely they haven’t discarded the ploy that says “Catch the ball”. So we managed to see out the time until we were back at full strength. Full strength, at this time I wondered whether this was a good thing or not. Every phrase seems to be an oxymoron given the players mentality. Fortress Madejski, amicable divorce, first choice kicker, full strength, military intelligence. Full strength just means more idiots on the pitch trying to get on the wrong side of the ref. Full strength indeed. Maybe a system of fines would be in order if it didn’t seem to penalise the committed at the breakdown. No, internal discipline is best left to the club behind closed doors, it’s too complex a situation. But I really don’t like the “Yellow fever”. At this rate people will tell their incredulous grandchildren about the time when London Irish played a full match with 15 players.
Another Bath move ended with an amazing knock-on by Stephenson. Of all the Bath knock-ons this was the best. If you were a connoisseur of the duffed pass then this would take an honoured place in your collection. He had a clear run to the line and was in no danger of a tackle.
We got down the pitch and Barry had an attempt at a drop goal, it went wide. It seemed a bit rushed, whether the pass wasn’t great or the Bath flankers were aware of it I couldn’t say. Bath then had one of their brightest periods, a multi phase attack was halted by a penalty for not rolling away by us, instead of poor handling by them. Malone again scored from in front of the posts. 9-3 with 8 minutes to go in the first half.
I’m not sure if there was an early Bath horn putting off the kicker, or if it was a London Irish one, but I think someone jumped the gun in celebrating the easy kick. It didn’t affect the result, and was the only noticeable point of excellent observance of shush for the kicks.
London Irish matched the tempo on the restart as we also had 5/6 phases of play offloading and recycling until we were squeezed for space out by the wing. Dominic Shabbo considered his options as he received a ball in a phone box of space and dropped it. We did begin to tackle and compete for the ball at the breakdown and looked to be finishing strongly. We gained a penalty for Bath coming into a ruck at the side, and Barry put it over. 9-6 with 3 minutes to go in the first half.
At this point I’ll admit I switched off. People looked at the clock, and some filtered away for the half time rush. I started to flick back through my notes, expanding my bizarre shorthand. Maybe my lack of concentration transmitted to the pitch, but Walshe dummied in the centre channel and put the renowned speedster and part-time punchbag Zac Feanauti away down the wing. It was another lurch to the emotions. There’s never a bad time to score, but on the stroke of halftime we’d conceded the first try of the match. We’d rode our luck, taken the decisions, and enjoyed some bad Bath handling, only to be slack at the end. As it was Malone missed the kick 2m in from the touchline and the half finished. 14-6 to Bath at half time.
Second Half
I was reminded of the Llanelli game as the second half began. A long time Bath maul finished with the referee’s whistle. A show of strength and organised muscle in an area where I think we’ve been 2nd best to many teams. But no, this time the superb and observant referee had spotted Bath using a nefarious Tractor & EEC subsidised muck loader manoeuvre. Filth, of course, and the referee had started the 2nd half brightly. I used my binoculars to see whether someone in a Maybank mask had replaced him. A decision in our favour ? Who are you, and what have you done with the real Maybank ? Perhaps there was evidence of a join just behind the ears, but he looked the same. After the first half, things could only get better
Soon Bath made a line break, and Hodgson for once failed with the last tackle and they poured into our 22. Tackle after tackle went in as they knocked on the door or our try line. Much better handling from Bath, and eventually our speciality the offside was spotted and the referee played advantage until putting them out of their misery. Straight in front, again I must emphasise. 17-6 to Bath
Here my notes say that we must do the basics well, and that we must score next. There is also a terse comment on the mental barrier of a lead going into double figures. As it happened it seemed that Bath had great confidence and looked a yard quicker and a kilo heavier and stronger. The game certainly kicked up a gear as London Irish responded.
Sailosi Tagicakibau made some good yards with his smooth and powerful running, and Bath worked had to slow the resultant ball down. The referee gave us the scrum but no penalty as I looked to the sky for help.
In the break we subbed Hudson who’d been ok, and brought on Bob Casey. Olivier Magne went off and Declan Danaher came on for his 1000th game, and he’s only 26. A double celebration. I was heartened now, and underlined the “We MUST score next” part of my notepad.
Scrums were set and reset, as I loved the shove and stability the Bob gave us. Bath crumpled and collapsed, I don’t know twice, probably 3 times, and the inevitable penalty came. But NO!!
He penalised US !! Why oh why oh why would we infringe when we had the Bath scrum by the short n curlies ? One of a thousand unfathomables. Our attacking advantage was lost, but only temporarily.
Our wings showed some great appetite for work by combining, Shabbo and Tagicakibau linked in a counter attack, and supported each other and gained a penalty for the tackler not rolling away. Barry kicked to the corner and we had a lineout in the Bath 22. We got the shove on, but then the linesman rushed on following some off the ball handbags. Unbelievably Bob Casey was pulled out for some over-enthusiastic rucking with his boot. 2 minutes after his 6 week absence he was off for 10 minutes, our 3rd yellow card of the afternoon.
We survived that patch also, I have no good notes for that 10 minute period. I chose to savour my 2nd hip flask and observe my fellow man. I philosophised with fellow supporters that “Yes, that probably was the ball game”, and wondering if I’d ever seen a worse game.
Barry Everitt showed some good distribution, and we got a penalty for not rolling away in the tackle. It was Bath forwards favourite mistake, and just seems lazy. They were on the wrong side of the ruck everytime ref, and cost poor Bob 10 minutes. Anyway the kick was around the 22, but just in from touch and he missed it. Score remained 17-6.
My notes say “Delon ran the ball back and Mapasua supported but lost the ball forward, Bath attack but was the overlap. Nick Abandenon is subbed for Cheeseman, the Bath scrum is penalised, Delon misses touch, and a Bath high kick is knocked on. The worst rugby seen.”
Then things brightened up, Shabbo and Tagicakibau combined with an unusually quiet Flutey for a sparkling break. Bath cynically and deliberately slow down the ball and David Barnes is yellow carded, the 5th and final one of the afternoon. We also got a penalty that Barry Everitt put over from in front. 17-9 and glimmer of hope.
It’s only 3-3 in the second half, and we have 14-14 in players, but we take a psychological advantage as a fierce looking Richard Skuse put some major body language on to the pitch replacing the South Sea island(er), Tonga Lea’aetoa. Two large men, but Skuse has menace and muscle beyond his bulk. Coaching or management, this was the moment where Smith and Booth won the game. They’d selected a strong bench and now they deployed them.
Murphy ran the restart back, and Everitt found a good touch. Two minutes after Skuse came on, Bob Casey returned from the bin. We chose this moment to also bring a bristling Juan Manuel Leguizamon on, so we had 3 fresh forwards against 14 men of Bath for 10 minutes.
I perked up. 20 minutes to go, and there was a change in the air. Smells like Team Spirit.
Delon Armitage showed another aspect of his developing game. In addition to his early speed and willingness to run at players with ball in hand, he firstly developed his chip and chase game. He scored too many tries in the tight in-goal area of Reading for it to be accidental. He’s now showing us that he’s aware enough to chip ahead for other players. Delon, Topsy and Dominic Shabbo are all products of the academy, and I liked seeing Delon using Dom’s speed.
The territory gained led to a lineout where the dinner plate sized hands of Bob Casey gathered the ball and the forwards powered over the line. The announcement was that Neal Hatley grounded the ball, he was certainly in the vicinity. But I later heard that Robbie Russell may have got the final touch, but Barry Everitt converted it. 17-16 with 15 minutes left.
Only one point in it, and a Llanelli-style comeback was quite possible, this time with a more positive outcome. The London Irish fans largely confined into the corners were making a little noise. Delon Armitage ran back the restart and there was again lots of physicality and little rugby. The scoreline became a worry, like a horse race we needed to be in front at the finishing line. Slightly behind didn’t do it, it would be the final whistle which mattered.
We put in big tackles and fought for every ball, trying to gain turnovers, we really increased the intensity of our defence. There was also far more urgency in attack.
Delon Armitage was doing the right thing and aiming huge kicks upfield to gain us territory, but just failed to find touch. As Bath counter attacked they met Seilala Mapusua and Sailosi Tagicakibau. In possession we had a strong multi phase attack which led to Barry Everitt kicking deep into the Bath 22. With Bob Casey threatening the middle line out Bath panicked and enabled Keiran Roche to steal the ball. It was enhanced by barging break through the line by Seilalal Mapusua, and Juan Manuel Leguizamon powered over the line.
17-21 and the Reading visitors were in front for the first time.
Barry Everitt added to the drama of the moment to hit the post, but the score remained significantly beyond a Malone drop goal. Hitting the post seems to be as frequent as yellow cards, it’s happened in several matches this season. At Twickenham and with the Mike Catt drop goal attempts, at the least.
The last few minutes were interesting, as Riki Flutey kicked out on the full from outside the 22, adding to the pressure. Bath won the lineout, but underlined their motif of the afternoon with another handling error. This was Bath: Backs – Handling errors, Forwards – Not rolling away from the tackle.
Richie Rees replaced Paul Hodgson for the last couple of minutes, and Delon Armitage calmly gathered a high ball under our posts to cap a solid performance at full back. Bob Casey also eased pressure by stealing a late lineout. In fact the pace of the rugby in the last few minutes was frantic. Our scrum proved solid as I had one eye on the clock and one on the pitch. With only 40 seconds remaining Richie Rees made a match-saving tackle, although Bath gained a penalty the clock was against them.
The scorers:
For Bath:
Tries: Feaunati
Cons:
Pens: Malone 4
For London Irish:
Tries: Russell, Leguizamon
Cons: Everitt
Pens: Everitt 3
Scoring sequence :
03: Pen Malone, 3-0
15: Pen Everitt, 3-3
25: Pen Malone, 6-3
38: Pen Malone, 9-3
40+4: Pen Everitt, 9-6
40+5: Try Feaunati, 14-6
(Half-time)
46: Pen Malone, 17-6
63: Pen Everitt, 17-9
71: Try Russell, Conversion Everitt, 17-16
80+1: Try Leguizamon, 17-21
Yellow card: Paice, Hatley (London Irish, 17), Casey (London Irish, 50). Short (Bath, 17), Barnes (Bath, 58)
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Michael Stephenson, 13 Shaun Berne, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 David Bory, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Nick Walshe, 8 Isaac Feaunati, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Andy Beattie (c), 5 Rob Fidler, 4 Peter Short, 3 David Flatman, 2 Rob Hawkins, 1 David Barnes.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Laurence Ovens, 18 Chris Goodman, 19 Jonny Faamatuainu, 20 Andy Williams, 21 Tom Cheeseman, 22 Joe Maddock.
London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Dominic Shabbo, 13 Seilala Mapusua, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Barry Everitt, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Phil Murphy, 7 Olivier Magne, 6 Aidan McCullen, 5 James Hudson, 4 Kieran Roche, 3 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 2 David Paice, 1 Neal Hatley (c).
Replacements: 16 Richard Skuse, 17 Robbie Russell, 18 Bob Casey, 19 Juan Leguizamon, 20 Declan Danaher, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Gonzalo Tiesi.
Referee: Roy Maybank
Touch judges: Bob Mullis, Ken Stewart
Television match official: Matt Peters
There was late drama as the final Barry Everitt conversion failed off the post. Irish in front by 4 for the first time with 4 minutes to go. Tension mounted at the end as Riki Flutey cleared out on the full. Delon Armitage was the wise old head among the backs in the late minutes, playing very well in the whole match. But, as they had throughout the match, Bath knocked on at a crucial moment and Irish counted down the seconds to win. It was a match which started out as tedious and frustrating, and built through a mundane series of errors into a one-score tense finish.
Not a game for the neutrals, Bath were bereft of the talented Borthwick, Mears, Grewcock and many others. They didn’t survive mentally when down to 14 in the final quarter, as Irish introduced experienced substitutions.
The first half of this match hinged on the 17th minute decision by referee Maybank to Yellow Card two London Irish players. The first was given to David Paice for a spear tackle on Zac Feanuati, and the second to Neal Hatley for punches thrown. Peter Short of Bath was also carded in the ensuing melee, which followed the dangerous tackle. Irish only conceded 3 points while down to 13 men, but bought an outrageous dummy to concede a Feaunati try just before the break when back to 15. It knocked the froth off my half-time pint, as I considered the exchanges of penalties combined with a high error count. We’d also seen some mystifying refereeing as Mr Maybank struggled for control.
Seasoned ref watchers would have seen a master class in how to balance one bad decision for one side with an equally bad one for the other side. During the half there were off the ball niggles, as a game of rugby threatened to break out during the constant fighting. In struggling to control the earlier slackness we then heard a whistle every few seconds, and wondered what it was for this time. Throwing, catching, running, kicking and tackling all seemed to be crimes. Fighting off the ball seemed to be the only way for players to express themselves.
The second half again contained Yellow cards, one to Bob Casey for enthusiastic rucking 30 seconds after joining as substitute. The second proved more critical as David Barnes left and Irish turned the game around with 10 points in his absence. It may be a matter of controversy to some supporters to question the validity of awarding each or all of these Yellow cards. I’m only here to report the fact that they were given, a slo-mo camera will decide the justice of the matter. Paice should have no complaints, some thought it deserved a straight red, and was boo’ed for every subsequent touch till replaced by Russell. Hatley and Short had exchanged punches, so that was even handed. Bob Casey was seen by the touch judge, and Barnes was an obvious and cynical killing of the ball, exchanging 3pts to save 7.
What seemed to decide the course of the match was the greater experience that London Irish had gained in this matter. This is evidently something that they’d brought from the training ground; the Yellow Card is this season’s new weapon. Rather than cluttering up our attacking and defensive formations with excess players, we’ve introduced a new flavour “London Irish Lite” on to the pitch. Bath were knocked out of their stride when down to 14 men, London Irish had coped like a well rehearsed unit.
First Half
Bath gained an early penalty from a scrum offence, and Malone put it over for 3-0.
The first lineout was given on 10 minutes when the red cap of Aiden McCullen stole Bath ball. This continued the long tradition of Irish domination, and in spite of the absence of the main protagonists Casey & Kennedy v Grewcock & Borthwick it augured well for the afternoon.
Shortly after Irish got a penalty that was too far for Barry to kick so we cautiously kicked from half way to the edge of the 22. Paice didn’t throw straight. The clearance kick from Bath gave Hudson a chance to secure our own lineout ball, but it begs the question –
Why do we lose our most critical lineouts?
Time after time our much-heralded lineout loses it where it matters. Is there puff in our stats because the oppo aren’t competing in midfield ? Number of attacking lineouts won inside opponents 22 is the key statistic. Ok the scoreline is the key statistic, but I don’t think we’re converting all our opportunities.
Whatever, the backs soon tried to redress the loss. Some great handling reminiscent of Llanelli involved a darting Shabbo break, then Armitage, Tagicakibau, and recycled for Armitage, Tagicakibau, Mapusua and Roche. Our first great multiple offload and multiphase attack was ended by Bath being offside. As the offence was bang in front of the posts we took the 3 and levelled the score 3-3 after 15 minutes.
The next incident from the restart was for Peter Short taking out an Irish player in the air. Given the history and experience we’ve gained in this offence, with Stefon carded against Wasps, and gaining one against Llanelli I thought it might be an automatic yellow. As it was there was just a warning to the player, but this may have caused some resentment between the sides.
Irish lost the next lineout, and David Paice committed an enthusiastic / robust tackle on ex-London Irish player Zac Feaunati, the Bath No 8. The referee may have blown quickly for the offence but the whole park exploded into shoving punching and general non-rugby activity. It was difficult to see who was pulling who apart, who was a victim, a perpetrator, a peacemaker. Maybank allowed the players to let off steam until they’d punched themselves out, then promptly carded Paice. He then took some advice from the linesman and dismissed Neal Hatley, and Bath’s Peter Short. So London Irish were down to 13 men after 17 minutes with the score at 3-3.
I was fuming because “Yellow Fever” seems to have replaced “White Line Fever”. I’m not sure how much the capacity crowd shouting “Off ! Off !” would have influenced the decision. Paice should have no complaints, his tackle did look spear like and sparked the brawl. The linesman was also in a better position, so I’ll have to go with the Hatley decision. What I can’t understand is why the outraged Bath players didn’t get reprimanded for throwing the first punch, surely Hatley was just defending himself ?
Given their numeric advantage in the forwards Malone understandably kicked to the corner. They threw the lineout short and a good tackle from Magne caused them to throw the ball wide to the backs. With greater numbers a Bath player knocked on, and the knot in my stomach relaxed a little. The players were still tense and following handbags involving Kieran Roche the referee spoke to Barry Everitt, acting captain in the absence of the binned Neal Hatley. I didn’t rule out going down to 12, my capacity for surprise was becoming numbed.
Before the scrum could be taken we had to reorganise our front row. So Dominic Shabbo and Aiden McCullen left to allow Robbie Russell to hook, and Richard Skuse to prop. We were solid and Murphy picked up from the base and made a break. It lasted for 0.43 seconds before being halted by the whistle. Apparently Hodgson had shepherded him, prevent a Bath player from making a tackle. Maybe it was deliberate, clumsy, or maybe the offence was non-existent. My cynicism and persecution complex glands were working overtime and I snapped my note-taking pencil in two, loudly bemoaning the decision. As the penalty was in front of the posts and Malone put it over. 6-3 to Bath after 22 minutes.
After the restart we gained a penalty for the nasty Bath shoving in the lineout, and I raised a halfhearted ironic cheer. When you’re down to 13 men your best weapon is territory, and possession. Your two best weapons are territory, possession and mistake free rugby. And a fanatical devotion to the Pope. Fear and surprise. I’ll start again. I had a sour gallows humour at this point, and drained my first hip flask of Bells and Drambuie instead of taking notes.
Bath were actually our best weapon during the ten minutes of depletion, as they engineered a magnificent maul to suck in our defence, and then knocked it on as the released the backs in to acres of space. I’ve not seen them play since Brian Ashton left, but surely they haven’t discarded the ploy that says “Catch the ball”. So we managed to see out the time until we were back at full strength. Full strength, at this time I wondered whether this was a good thing or not. Every phrase seems to be an oxymoron given the players mentality. Fortress Madejski, amicable divorce, first choice kicker, full strength, military intelligence. Full strength just means more idiots on the pitch trying to get on the wrong side of the ref. Full strength indeed. Maybe a system of fines would be in order if it didn’t seem to penalise the committed at the breakdown. No, internal discipline is best left to the club behind closed doors, it’s too complex a situation. But I really don’t like the “Yellow fever”. At this rate people will tell their incredulous grandchildren about the time when London Irish played a full match with 15 players.
Another Bath move ended with an amazing knock-on by Stephenson. Of all the Bath knock-ons this was the best. If you were a connoisseur of the duffed pass then this would take an honoured place in your collection. He had a clear run to the line and was in no danger of a tackle.
We got down the pitch and Barry had an attempt at a drop goal, it went wide. It seemed a bit rushed, whether the pass wasn’t great or the Bath flankers were aware of it I couldn’t say. Bath then had one of their brightest periods, a multi phase attack was halted by a penalty for not rolling away by us, instead of poor handling by them. Malone again scored from in front of the posts. 9-3 with 8 minutes to go in the first half.
I’m not sure if there was an early Bath horn putting off the kicker, or if it was a London Irish one, but I think someone jumped the gun in celebrating the easy kick. It didn’t affect the result, and was the only noticeable point of excellent observance of shush for the kicks.
London Irish matched the tempo on the restart as we also had 5/6 phases of play offloading and recycling until we were squeezed for space out by the wing. Dominic Shabbo considered his options as he received a ball in a phone box of space and dropped it. We did begin to tackle and compete for the ball at the breakdown and looked to be finishing strongly. We gained a penalty for Bath coming into a ruck at the side, and Barry put it over. 9-6 with 3 minutes to go in the first half.
At this point I’ll admit I switched off. People looked at the clock, and some filtered away for the half time rush. I started to flick back through my notes, expanding my bizarre shorthand. Maybe my lack of concentration transmitted to the pitch, but Walshe dummied in the centre channel and put the renowned speedster and part-time punchbag Zac Feanauti away down the wing. It was another lurch to the emotions. There’s never a bad time to score, but on the stroke of halftime we’d conceded the first try of the match. We’d rode our luck, taken the decisions, and enjoyed some bad Bath handling, only to be slack at the end. As it was Malone missed the kick 2m in from the touchline and the half finished. 14-6 to Bath at half time.
Second Half
I was reminded of the Llanelli game as the second half began. A long time Bath maul finished with the referee’s whistle. A show of strength and organised muscle in an area where I think we’ve been 2nd best to many teams. But no, this time the superb and observant referee had spotted Bath using a nefarious Tractor & EEC subsidised muck loader manoeuvre. Filth, of course, and the referee had started the 2nd half brightly. I used my binoculars to see whether someone in a Maybank mask had replaced him. A decision in our favour ? Who are you, and what have you done with the real Maybank ? Perhaps there was evidence of a join just behind the ears, but he looked the same. After the first half, things could only get better
Soon Bath made a line break, and Hodgson for once failed with the last tackle and they poured into our 22. Tackle after tackle went in as they knocked on the door or our try line. Much better handling from Bath, and eventually our speciality the offside was spotted and the referee played advantage until putting them out of their misery. Straight in front, again I must emphasise. 17-6 to Bath
Here my notes say that we must do the basics well, and that we must score next. There is also a terse comment on the mental barrier of a lead going into double figures. As it happened it seemed that Bath had great confidence and looked a yard quicker and a kilo heavier and stronger. The game certainly kicked up a gear as London Irish responded.
Sailosi Tagicakibau made some good yards with his smooth and powerful running, and Bath worked had to slow the resultant ball down. The referee gave us the scrum but no penalty as I looked to the sky for help.
In the break we subbed Hudson who’d been ok, and brought on Bob Casey. Olivier Magne went off and Declan Danaher came on for his 1000th game, and he’s only 26. A double celebration. I was heartened now, and underlined the “We MUST score next” part of my notepad.
Scrums were set and reset, as I loved the shove and stability the Bob gave us. Bath crumpled and collapsed, I don’t know twice, probably 3 times, and the inevitable penalty came. But NO!!
He penalised US !! Why oh why oh why would we infringe when we had the Bath scrum by the short n curlies ? One of a thousand unfathomables. Our attacking advantage was lost, but only temporarily.
Our wings showed some great appetite for work by combining, Shabbo and Tagicakibau linked in a counter attack, and supported each other and gained a penalty for the tackler not rolling away. Barry kicked to the corner and we had a lineout in the Bath 22. We got the shove on, but then the linesman rushed on following some off the ball handbags. Unbelievably Bob Casey was pulled out for some over-enthusiastic rucking with his boot. 2 minutes after his 6 week absence he was off for 10 minutes, our 3rd yellow card of the afternoon.
We survived that patch also, I have no good notes for that 10 minute period. I chose to savour my 2nd hip flask and observe my fellow man. I philosophised with fellow supporters that “Yes, that probably was the ball game”, and wondering if I’d ever seen a worse game.
Barry Everitt showed some good distribution, and we got a penalty for not rolling away in the tackle. It was Bath forwards favourite mistake, and just seems lazy. They were on the wrong side of the ruck everytime ref, and cost poor Bob 10 minutes. Anyway the kick was around the 22, but just in from touch and he missed it. Score remained 17-6.
My notes say “Delon ran the ball back and Mapasua supported but lost the ball forward, Bath attack but was the overlap. Nick Abandenon is subbed for Cheeseman, the Bath scrum is penalised, Delon misses touch, and a Bath high kick is knocked on. The worst rugby seen.”
Then things brightened up, Shabbo and Tagicakibau combined with an unusually quiet Flutey for a sparkling break. Bath cynically and deliberately slow down the ball and David Barnes is yellow carded, the 5th and final one of the afternoon. We also got a penalty that Barry Everitt put over from in front. 17-9 and glimmer of hope.
It’s only 3-3 in the second half, and we have 14-14 in players, but we take a psychological advantage as a fierce looking Richard Skuse put some major body language on to the pitch replacing the South Sea island(er), Tonga Lea’aetoa. Two large men, but Skuse has menace and muscle beyond his bulk. Coaching or management, this was the moment where Smith and Booth won the game. They’d selected a strong bench and now they deployed them.
Murphy ran the restart back, and Everitt found a good touch. Two minutes after Skuse came on, Bob Casey returned from the bin. We chose this moment to also bring a bristling Juan Manuel Leguizamon on, so we had 3 fresh forwards against 14 men of Bath for 10 minutes.
I perked up. 20 minutes to go, and there was a change in the air. Smells like Team Spirit.
Delon Armitage showed another aspect of his developing game. In addition to his early speed and willingness to run at players with ball in hand, he firstly developed his chip and chase game. He scored too many tries in the tight in-goal area of Reading for it to be accidental. He’s now showing us that he’s aware enough to chip ahead for other players. Delon, Topsy and Dominic Shabbo are all products of the academy, and I liked seeing Delon using Dom’s speed.
The territory gained led to a lineout where the dinner plate sized hands of Bob Casey gathered the ball and the forwards powered over the line. The announcement was that Neal Hatley grounded the ball, he was certainly in the vicinity. But I later heard that Robbie Russell may have got the final touch, but Barry Everitt converted it. 17-16 with 15 minutes left.
Only one point in it, and a Llanelli-style comeback was quite possible, this time with a more positive outcome. The London Irish fans largely confined into the corners were making a little noise. Delon Armitage ran back the restart and there was again lots of physicality and little rugby. The scoreline became a worry, like a horse race we needed to be in front at the finishing line. Slightly behind didn’t do it, it would be the final whistle which mattered.
We put in big tackles and fought for every ball, trying to gain turnovers, we really increased the intensity of our defence. There was also far more urgency in attack.
Delon Armitage was doing the right thing and aiming huge kicks upfield to gain us territory, but just failed to find touch. As Bath counter attacked they met Seilala Mapusua and Sailosi Tagicakibau. In possession we had a strong multi phase attack which led to Barry Everitt kicking deep into the Bath 22. With Bob Casey threatening the middle line out Bath panicked and enabled Keiran Roche to steal the ball. It was enhanced by barging break through the line by Seilalal Mapusua, and Juan Manuel Leguizamon powered over the line.
17-21 and the Reading visitors were in front for the first time.
Barry Everitt added to the drama of the moment to hit the post, but the score remained significantly beyond a Malone drop goal. Hitting the post seems to be as frequent as yellow cards, it’s happened in several matches this season. At Twickenham and with the Mike Catt drop goal attempts, at the least.
The last few minutes were interesting, as Riki Flutey kicked out on the full from outside the 22, adding to the pressure. Bath won the lineout, but underlined their motif of the afternoon with another handling error. This was Bath: Backs – Handling errors, Forwards – Not rolling away from the tackle.
Richie Rees replaced Paul Hodgson for the last couple of minutes, and Delon Armitage calmly gathered a high ball under our posts to cap a solid performance at full back. Bob Casey also eased pressure by stealing a late lineout. In fact the pace of the rugby in the last few minutes was frantic. Our scrum proved solid as I had one eye on the clock and one on the pitch. With only 40 seconds remaining Richie Rees made a match-saving tackle, although Bath gained a penalty the clock was against them.
The scorers:
For Bath:
Tries: Feaunati
Cons:
Pens: Malone 4
For London Irish:
Tries: Russell, Leguizamon
Cons: Everitt
Pens: Everitt 3
Scoring sequence :
03: Pen Malone, 3-0
15: Pen Everitt, 3-3
25: Pen Malone, 6-3
38: Pen Malone, 9-3
40+4: Pen Everitt, 9-6
40+5: Try Feaunati, 14-6
(Half-time)
46: Pen Malone, 17-6
63: Pen Everitt, 17-9
71: Try Russell, Conversion Everitt, 17-16
80+1: Try Leguizamon, 17-21
Yellow card: Paice, Hatley (London Irish, 17), Casey (London Irish, 50). Short (Bath, 17), Barnes (Bath, 58)
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Michael Stephenson, 13 Shaun Berne, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 David Bory, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Nick Walshe, 8 Isaac Feaunati, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Andy Beattie (c), 5 Rob Fidler, 4 Peter Short, 3 David Flatman, 2 Rob Hawkins, 1 David Barnes.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Laurence Ovens, 18 Chris Goodman, 19 Jonny Faamatuainu, 20 Andy Williams, 21 Tom Cheeseman, 22 Joe Maddock.
London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Dominic Shabbo, 13 Seilala Mapusua, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Barry Everitt, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Phil Murphy, 7 Olivier Magne, 6 Aidan McCullen, 5 James Hudson, 4 Kieran Roche, 3 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 2 David Paice, 1 Neal Hatley (c).
Replacements: 16 Richard Skuse, 17 Robbie Russell, 18 Bob Casey, 19 Juan Leguizamon, 20 Declan Danaher, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Gonzalo Tiesi.
Referee: Roy Maybank
Touch judges: Bob Mullis, Ken Stewart
Television match official: Matt Peters
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponSPORTNETWORK SPECIALS
More London Irish headlines
London Irish latest threads
London Irish Poll
