Saints or Sinners?

This was another error strewn performance by the home side, and I’m still waiting for our season to turn the corner. There were glimpses of the highs of last season, but the scoreline is as much a reflection of the ineptitude of Northampton, and the generosity of the unusually excellent Roy Maybank than any Irish heroics.

Whilst many of the supporters will be satisfied with 5 tries, and a score line of 40-5 a radio commentary gives a gloss to proceedings. Personal viewing would have allowed the full catalogue of errors to be recorded. I can only hope that we can continue to progress before meeting sterner opposition and a less understanding official.

Our first mistake was after only 1 minute when Shane Geraghty missed an easy conversion. The second some 10 minutes later when Bob Casey failed to roll away from a tackle, and Dom Feanauti with a knock-on in attack some 10 minutes after that. Somehow among all this dross we scored 3 tries and went in 22-0 ahead at half time. I hoped for better things in the second half, but after Topsy Ojo scored the 5^th try with his first touch for 40-5, Geraghty missed the touchline conversion. Yup, we were shocking from start to finish, and we were lucky to be playing Saints in their current form rather than a Magners League side.

It must be a real kick in the Urals for Saints to lose to us. The Saints are NOT the most disciplined side, they gave away penalties for fighting.

They’re NOT the sharpest attacking force, as they could only manage a single suspect score. They’re NOT the best defensively, as they shipped 5 tries. I could go on, but I’m NOT that cruel. RedSaint must be feeling bad enough today, and I have sympathy. NOT !

Prematch.

Traveling to the match by train I found that a thunderbolt had struck electrical signaling and services were packed running an hour late. Being dressed for a soulless concrete stadium in Reading gulag, I was wilting in the sardine can carriage. Glum shoppers fiddling with iPods and phones.

Emerging from the railway station was altogether different, there were hardly any rugby fans around. Granted I was a little early, but no queues for the shuttle bus and just a few at the 3 Guineas. There was a similar lack of atmosphere in the Cowshed bar as several Cher and Bette Midler hits were tortured with a poor karaoke treatment. "You are the wind beneath my duvet" stood out as the worst warbling.

After a bit of socialising by the LISC merchandise gazebo, which included meeting Beef from the Saints board, I popped in to the stadium. There were no queues for beer in the concourses, and the crowd announcement of 7,400 seemed again higher than the actual numbers.

The stadium announcer told us the teams, including "Olive Yer Man Yah". Getting his name right may have contributed to an improved showing as much as playing back at 6. It certainly helped us having Steffon Armitage getting through a tremendous amount of work.

We cheered the news of Faan Rautenbach becoming father to a baby girl, sang "The Fields", and the tiddly peeps of Tadley mini’s formed a phalanx of flags. First came Saints in a clean white away kit to the Corrs "Toss the Feathers" and London Irish in dark green to a huge roar.

Match mascot was announced as 10yr old Constance, I hope she comes back next year as a lucky talisman.

From my half-line view in the East stand Saints kicked off towards the North stand, and Irish received a hard low Spencer special playing right to left.

First half.

I don’t think I’d seen that sort of kick off before. You often get a high hanging kick, but this seemed to be designed to generated a handling error rather be competed for in the air. Anyway we fielded it and looked to be getting quick ball and making progress through a few phases with Geraghty distributing. Then Mike Catt executed a cross field kick to the wing. It seemed like a planned move from the training ground, as we still had an attack going with some momentum. It seemed a little strong, and ever youthful Justin Bishop leapt high to prevent the ball going out on the full. He wasn’t able to catch it, but luckily he did at least stake a place for next weeks lineout by tapping it backwards. Delon Armitage just happened to be loitering in the vicinity to catch the tap back and raced for the line. Seeing that the cover couldn’t beat him Delon ran diagonally and put it down not far from the posts. The conversion looked extremely simple from the stands, but Shane took a little too long with it and the Saints charged towards the kick. This was probably the highlight of their afternoon, as the kick went wide. Nicely and powerfully struck, but the Saints must have been in his eye line. I’m not technical at these kicks to have counted the steps, or the speed of his run up, but a miss is a miss, and it was an aberration. It didn’t happen again in the match, but you can’t just shrug. 5-0

The restart was knocked on and the Saints scrum, after being reset, was taken cleanly. Super quick and keen Paul Hodgson flew around the side and grabbed Mark Robinson, so referee Maybank penalised him for being too enthusiastic. Although the position was close to the touchline and 40m out Spencer confidently went for the posts. It was a little short and although keenly followed up by Saints it was cleared by Geraghty to the 22, getting clattered for his trouble. A bit of handbags between Saints 6 Tupai and our own Danie Coetzee was sorted out with a stern word and an Irish penalty, applauded by our hooker. This we cleared to the halfway, won the lineout and had our maul dragged down. Taking a quick tap the whole shebang flared up at the next breakdown with more non-rugby contact. Maybank stepped in and spoke to both captains, as Coetzee made the yak-yak gesture towards the Saints gobbing off to him. Bob Casey marshalled the forwards, it was good to see the intent and discipline. Two flare-ups, no yellow cards, two penalties awarded to us, and Shane kicked us into the 22, for an attacking lineout 5m out. We’d gone the length of the field thanks to Tupai.

Taken at the front by Bob it was lost shortly afterwards in contact. I don’t know the guilty party, but Mark Robinson box kicked from the base of the scrum to 25m just in from the touchline. We took a clean catch but were bundled into touch with another good follow up. Good play from Saints, but they couldn’t maintain it as they lost the lineout. As we attacked in midfield half of the Saints were offside. We got quick ball and with the referee playing the advantage Mike Catt put Paul Hodgson into a gap and he scored under the posts. A more hasty conversion from Shane made the score 12-0 after 10 minutes.

Saints kept it tight in the forwards after the restart for several phases. Bob Casey was penalised for not rolling away from one tackle. For the rest of the game he continued to make great tackles, but I found it amusing to see him rolling away quite theatrically at times. This was probably a key to our play, showing that we’d learned a lot from our recent encounter with Mr Maybank at Bath. From an easier kicking position than his earlier miss Spencer put the kick into touch just inside our 22. Once again though Saints let themselves down by barging in the lineout before the throw was taken. It was nice to see another team getting on the wrong side of Mr Maybank. He doesn’t seem to like the sides who start the violence.

We took it quickly and following the few minutes of up your jumper, pick n go from the Saints forwards it became carnival time for the backs. Some real harum scarum open attack at all costs. One memorable move was Delon linking with Lossy Tagicakibau, back from his Pacific Islands duties. After 3 more great quick phases, some of which worked, some of which didn’t, Saints put an end to the fun with a high tackle, and we kicked to the 22. We had a few more attacking phases after moving it wide from the lineout. It broke down when Dom Feaunati knocked on. The intention was to use him at speed on the crash ball, but the pass seemed to be at his thigh. The gap was there, he’d time his run, the pass was flat and hard, just a little low.

Northampton returned the favour a few minutes later. With 15 minutes to go in the half they gained a scrum 5m from our line. Keeping it tight in the forwards for a few short bursts they were repelled by some solid and organised defence, our front 3 being magnificent, particularly Coetzee.

It put a knot in my stomach, as I worried about Saints scoring, but we put in tackle after tackle until they knocked in haste. The resulting 5m scrum was set and reset until we cleared with a long kick to the halfway which didn’t find touch. Running it back we seemed a little disorganised in defence. Bob Casey and Lossy managed to stop an overlap between them as Saints attacked into our 22. We turned the ball over and Shane Geraghty made a nice break up to the halfway line. The backs had had a breather and relished seeing the ball for the first time in ages.

There was broken play and many tired forwards were out of position and looking for a rest. Moving the ball into midfield the ball didn’t always go to hand and Delon at first dribbled a spilled ball then sharply kicked it ahead towards the posts. Knowing our tight in-goal area the ball was resting about 5m out as he and the Saints full back raced toward it. A neat sidefoot by Delon in to the in-goal area was touched down by long term hero Justin Bishop, as I think Delon was tackled without the ball. It was a fair way off, and we’d scored a try. More importantly it was for Bishop, I hope I can see some more from him in his final season. The easy conversion made it 19-0 with 10 minutes to go.

The Saints hooker got himself on the wrongside of the referee and was Yellow carded. At the next scrum Tupai left to allow the replacement hooker on. He wasn’t missed. I think we missed a penalty by hitting the top of the post, and it bounced away. Again, so I don’t think our luck has changed yet.

With time running out in the half we gained a penalty which Shane kicked. So 22-0 at half time

Second half.

For the second half I once again searched for negatives to report about the team, and found it quite difficult. I recalled the game against Parma where we’d been something like 32-0 ahead at half time, and finished 67-0, not allowing the visitors to score. In fairness Parma ignored a couple of 3pt opportunities, as did Saints, but we did prevent them from crossing the try line. We made a few substitutions including Skuse for Tonga, and I paid more attention to my hipflask than to my notebook. We scored a Mike Catt drop goal, but I don’t know whether it was during an advantage for Saints offside, we were soon 25-0.

The bonus point which I’d hoped for came very soon. Mike Catt scored under the posts for our 4^th try of the afternoon. It was an opportunists try, and although there was some subsequent doubt over the grounding, the scoreboard recorded it. Another simple conversion make it 32-0 with 34 minutes remaining.

All I hoped for was that we wouldn’t now ease off, take our foot off the gas. I’d have liked to preserve the sanctity of our try line, for once. For the first time since the soggy Newcastle game I think, but that was largely down to the conditions. As it was it took a suspicious try from Robinson to break it. With 30 minutes to go Saints gained a scrum 5 metres from our line. As the referee was distracted, Robinson fed the ball to his second row and gathered it a fraction of a second later. I don’t think the ball went in the tunnel. I suppose it balances out with the Catt touchdown, but he then scooted on a diagonal blindside run to score in the corner. It remained unconverted by Spencer, good distance on the kick but just to the left of the left post. 32-5

We substituted the versatile McCullen for the hard working Murphy, and bareheaded Hudson replaced Kennedy. Geraghty stayed on and grew in confidence with the game and the bonus point won. The contrast between him and Carlos Spencer was quite marked. At times Spencer looked as comical as a penguin with his ineffective half step and overused inside pass. It seemed like a fitting summary of the Saints performance when they gained a penalty for an Irish offside and while playing advantage they were about to kick it. Something must have been said by the Sinners, and Mr Maybank reversed his decision. They just didn’t seem to help themselves at any point. Prior to this game Saints were above us in the table, and many people had predicted a close run game. The bookies had been giving 7-4 for a Saints win, but if it were next week I’d need much longer odds than that. We defended very well and had showed team spirit again.

With 10 minutes to go we brought Topsy Ojo into the attack, and he scored with his first touch. We’d chipped through the advancing Saints defence to around 3m from their line, and a big ruck formed. It was cleared by Saints but only to around 5m. A prime attacking position for the lineout, and a huge defensive ask for the Saints forwards. Thrown to the front we gathered it in, and the forwards shoved but made no impression. A few more phases of play and the ball went wide to Topsy who appeared to have no room on the touchline. But he made space by dodging inside and then out with the defender touching but not holding him. How he scored from there I don’t know, but that is finishing, the art of try scoring. He made the defender look sick and touched down in the corner. 40-5 with 10 minutes to go.

The touchline conversion was missed for what was probably the final mistake of an error strewn performance. We really must stop giving these points away. Full time was signaled by referee Maybank, London Irish 40 Northampton Saints 5.

The man of the match was announced as Mike Catt, which it is hard to disagree with. He played well, being deft and creative, doing simple things well without the showboating of Spencer. Geraghty gained confidence from his second start. I know I joked about the first missed simple conversion, but he was very good afterwards, and had a good stab at the final one. In between his passing was good, from short to very long. His kicks to touch were much better this week, and his tactical kicks through showed he has a mixture of skills. Armitage and Bishop worked very well together creating and supporting each others efforts for 2 tries. Tagicakibau and Feanauti had good speed and defense, they both had a good game.

Our lineout stole and disrupted, with Bob being magnificent everywhere else. He looked fully fit, and quick, making good tackles and paying heed to the referee. Danie Coetzee had another good game being substituted late on. He was involved in the physical exchanges with the nasty brute Tupai, but kept himself in check and that was mature of him not to overreact to the provocation. It set the tone, and we played the full match with all our players, in spite of late tackles and high tackles, and other skullduggery. Topsy scored with his first touch from nowhere, and I hope that he is fully and completely fit, there were no bandages on his legs since the Llanelli game.

Neal Hatley and Tonga gave us a solid scrum and there was no weakening when Skuse came on. Phil Murphy did nothing wrong either, and was always in the right place, constantly moving. 2 of the best performances came from the back row though, Magne and Armitage. Magne had a carry from a stolen lineout early on, and it gave him the confidence to walk all over the Saints for the rest of the game. Steffon in contrast didn’t do any of his cannonball runs, but competed for the ball in the tackle area, clearing out rucks. He played at the 80 minute pace for the game, rather than his impact sub intensity. Paul Hodgson scored a try and although he gave that early penalty away it showed Robinson that he was there. I’d like to say it kept him honest, but it probably forced him into feeding his scrum behind the front row.

Out of all that lot, I think I’d pick Danie Coetzee for temperament and tenacity and tackling as my MotM, although classy Catt probably won us the match, and Bishop would get the sentimental vote.

I should just have enough time now to get to Sunbury for the ‘A’ team game. It will be nice to watch one, though I may make some notes.

Teams:
London Irish - D Armitage; Bishop, Feaunati, Catt (capt), Tagicakibau (Ojo 67mins); Geraghty, Hodgson (Rees 70mins); Hatley (Lea’aetoa 66mins), Coetzee (Russell 44mins), Lea’aetoa (Skuse 40mins), Kennedy (Hudson 59mins), Casey, Magne, S Armitage, Murphy (McCullen 59mins).

Northampton Saints - Going (Vass 76mins); Bourett, Kydd (Mallon 59mins), Myring, Diggin; Spencer, Robinson; Smith (Tonga’uiha 58mins), Hartley, Budgen, Damien Browne (Lord 65mins), Gerard, Tupai (Richmond 36-44mins), Fox (capt), Easter (Daniel Browne 58mins).

Scorers:
London Irish – Tries: D Armitage, Hodgson, Bishop, Catt, Ojo; Cons: Geraghty (3); Pens: Geraghty (2); Drop-goal: Catt.

Northampton Saints - Try: Robinson.

Yellow card:
Hartley (34mins)

Attendance: 7,400

TIMELINE: 2mins IRISH Try D Armitage 5-0 9mins IRISH Try Hodgson Con Geraghty 12-0 29mins IRISH Try Bishop Con Geraghty 19-0 34mins SAINTS Yellow card Hartley 38mins IRISH Pen Geraghty 22-0 HALF-TIME IRISH 22 SAINTS 0 46mins IRISH Drop-goal Catt 25-0 48mins IRISH Try Catt Con Geraghty 32-0 54mins SAINTS Try Robinson 32-5 64mins IRISH Pen Geraghty 35-5 68mins IRISH Try Ojo 40-5 FULL-TIME IRISH 40 SAINTS 5 First half timeline  2 London Irish Try - D Armitage 9 London Irish Try - P Hodgson 9 London Irish Conversion - S Geraghty 29 London Irish Try - J Bishop 29 London Irish Conversion - S Geraghty 34 Northampton Saints Yellow card - D Hartley 36 Northampton Saints Substitution - D Richmond on for P Tupai 38 London Irish Penalty kick - S Geraghty Second half timeline 41London Irish Substitution - R Skuse on for T Lea'aetoa 44 London Irish Substitution - R Russell on for D Coetzee 44 Northampton Saints Substitution - P Tupai on for D Richmond 46 London Irish Drop kick - M Catt 48 London Irish Try - M Catt 48 London Irish Conversion - S Geraghty 54 Northampton Saints Try - M Robinson 58 Northampton Saints Substitution - D Browne on for M Easter 58 Northampton Saints Substitution - S Tonga'uiha on for T Smith 59 London Irish Substitution - J Hudson on for N Kennedy 59 London Irish Substitution - A McCullen on for P Murphy 59 Northampton Saints Substitution - S Mallon on for R Kydd 64 London Irish Penalty kick - S Geraghty 64 Northampton Saints Substitution - M Lord on for D Browne 66 London Irish Substitution - T Lea'aetoa on for N Hatley 68 London Irish Substitution - T Ojo on for S Tagicakibau 68 London Irish Try - T Ojo 68 London Irish Substitution - R Rees on for P Hodgson 75 Northampton Saints Substitution - I Vass on for V Going

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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