Kicking in the Foglight - Wuss v LI match report
By Stevie J
December 24 2006
I had this really quite witty beginning in my head. With the game shrouded in fog, I would mention all sorts of players from London Irish’s past running around and telling you dearest reader, that I wouldn’t have known any better because of the fog.
December 24 2006
I had this really quite witty beginning in my head. With the game shrouded in fog, I would mention all sorts of players from London Irish’s past running around and telling you dearest reader, that I wouldn’t have known any better because of the fog.
Unfortunately the fog lifted quite quickly into the game and I was able to see the action clearly. So that’s that idea scuppered. And it means I have to factually report on this tense game that Irish should have wrapped up fairly easily in the second half.
The fog itself was causing us all sorts of consternation. In the two hour drive up to Worcester we were getting mixed signals on whether the game would even go ahead. A clear patch here, a lighter patch there, and then some really quite serious fog on the A417 by Gloucester, wasn’t helped by the fact that referee Maybank inspected Sixways no less than three times. By the time we got to the ground and settled into our seats we couldn’t see what all the fuss was about: while fog was undoubtedly around we could see from corner to corner quite easily.
Ol’ Mayhem agreed and by 8pm we were ready for this quite crucial match-up. It has to be said either by fog or stadium design, your intrepid reported couldn’t see the countdown clock in the ground at all from my seat in the East Stand and this reported is written without the benefit of one.
The first line of my notes doesn’t bode well: ‘Kicks, kicks and more kicking’. The first opportunity for some points came from a typically barnstorming run by Armitage Mark II, breaking a few tackles into the Worcester half within the first two minutes. A penalty from the ensuing ruck by Barry was slotted over from 40 metres out.
After some nervous, tight play by both sides, Irish had an opportunity just within the Worcester half to send over a cross-field kick to take advantage of a napping Warriors defence. Topsy took the ball on the bounce into the corner for the try. The very difficult conversion, made even more-so by the fog was put away by ‘The boot’ for a 10-0 lead within 10 minutes.
Worcester’s play featured as ever a great deal of perspiration and very little inspiration but a kick to the corner by Drahm resulted in a catch and drive by the big Wuss pack. Throughout the first half the Warrior fatboys had the beating of our lads at scrum and maul time, though that would change come the second half. However this time, an Irish offside allowed Wuss to get on the scoreboard, 10-3 to Irish.
The tactical kicking game would continue to go back and forth, but surprisingly Worcester tried to put together a few backs moves. I say surprisingly as on a night made for up-yer-jumper rugby Wuss were trying to throw the ball around a bit. Unsurprisingly all to often the results was minimal metres gained, knock-ons and balls flying out of touch.
And now a word on the line-out. Why, oh why, does this team continue to try and throw it to the back when safe secure ball is needed? I don’t have the stats to hand but if someone told me on long lineout throws our success rate was more than 20% this season I’d be greatly surprised. Another failed attempt to throw it long goes right over Nick Kennedy’s noggin and ends up in Worcester hands, 40 metres out from the Irish posts. Drahm would not pass up a chance to drop a goal against Irish and the scores would be 10-6.
Worcester’s attempts again at some sort of back play were again let down by bad handling. At this point I make the note that with so much ball they should be kicking to the corners and mauling our boys into the ground. Thankfully they don’t heed my advice (what would I know?) and try anyway. A penalty for not rolling away fully 51 metres out is taken by Drahm to make it a 1 point game.
With half time beckoning, Irish are given the ball and manage to keep it long enough to gain two penalties and crab into Worcester territory. At the stroke of half time Barry is given the opportunity to kick for goal 40 metres out and makes it 13-9 at the half.
The second half was a different kettle of something…rugby related altogether. Irish took the game more to Worcester and a half break by Dom Feaunati led to another chance for Barry to kick a goal, with a penalty for not rolling away. 50 minutes gone in the match and it was 16-9, and some breathing room. Irish would continue to control possession, looking for the points when they got into range. A failed Drop Goal by Shane Geraghty, coming onto the pitch for Feaunati occurred a few minutes after that break.
Worcester were having no ball and Irish were continually asking questions at this point of the Warriors defence. A brilliant break by the Dodge we all know and love in the Worcester half (a lovely show and go) almost got a try as a pass 5 metres out was given to Topsy, but the speed merchant had no room left at this point and was forced out of touch. A few minutes later, Irish received a penalty after another scrum gone awry had a fortunate outcome, Mayhem indicating a Worcester player attempting to kick Topsy’s head off as he went for the ball. Barry would miss this one, and if you don’t include a ridiculous drop goal attempt, Barry would end the game kicking 4 out of 5 in difficult conditions, a much better representation of what he can give the team than the last few times he has appeared for the club.
And then, the nail biting began. As ever it begins not with bad play but a tremendous break by Mapasua. Huh? Yes, a great break followed by a blind and quite ludicrous offload that wasn’t on was hacked on by Wuss and put out by an Irish defender (Bishop, I think) at our own 5-metre line. Whoops. Irish had just handed the initiative back to a team that looked particularly unthreatening, doing nothing for 70 minutes. A catch and drive was foiled illegally and several scrum attempts came close before the ball made it to the Worcester backs 5 metres out. A stabbed through ball by Drahm made it under a falling LI defender and Havilli fell on it to make it 14-16 with a tough conversion to come. Having seen Barry make almost the same kick earlier I had every confidence that Drahm would also. It didn’t, and hit off the post. The Warriors crowd, now roused from slumber, booed Mayhem for not allowing Drahm to take it again. An Irish defender had rushed the kick too early, Topsy I believe. Having not seen it I couldn’t comment on whether it put Drahm off.
With 2 minutes left to go, and all of us pondering aloud the almost certainty that Drahm would win this with a wobbly Drop Goal, Wuss got a penalty. Shane Geraghty of all people, using his hands in the ruck, clear as daylight. So a kick to win the match, at around halfway with not too much angle. We all thought the worst. As, it would appear, did Shane Drahm would under cooked his kick by a smidge and it fell into the warm loving hands of Phil Murphy.
As ever with Irish, a good solid away performance was almost killed by a moment or two of madness. Worcester on this evidence…they don’t have much and it doesn’t please me to say that. They still might get out of trouble, they are no shortage of teams to chase in Falcons, Saints and Quins but I fear for them. And this was after four straight wins, they looked devoid of attacking ideas. For Irish, they took a gamble to play Worcester at their own game and it came off, barely. A word or two on Barry Everitt; who played this game like it needed to be played. His line kicking, goal kicking and up and unders were good all night and he was the right man for the job. He still can’t get our backline moving, but for murky Friday nights like this, he’s invaluable.
The fog itself was causing us all sorts of consternation. In the two hour drive up to Worcester we were getting mixed signals on whether the game would even go ahead. A clear patch here, a lighter patch there, and then some really quite serious fog on the A417 by Gloucester, wasn’t helped by the fact that referee Maybank inspected Sixways no less than three times. By the time we got to the ground and settled into our seats we couldn’t see what all the fuss was about: while fog was undoubtedly around we could see from corner to corner quite easily.
Ol’ Mayhem agreed and by 8pm we were ready for this quite crucial match-up. It has to be said either by fog or stadium design, your intrepid reported couldn’t see the countdown clock in the ground at all from my seat in the East Stand and this reported is written without the benefit of one.
The first line of my notes doesn’t bode well: ‘Kicks, kicks and more kicking’. The first opportunity for some points came from a typically barnstorming run by Armitage Mark II, breaking a few tackles into the Worcester half within the first two minutes. A penalty from the ensuing ruck by Barry was slotted over from 40 metres out.
After some nervous, tight play by both sides, Irish had an opportunity just within the Worcester half to send over a cross-field kick to take advantage of a napping Warriors defence. Topsy took the ball on the bounce into the corner for the try. The very difficult conversion, made even more-so by the fog was put away by ‘The boot’ for a 10-0 lead within 10 minutes.
Worcester’s play featured as ever a great deal of perspiration and very little inspiration but a kick to the corner by Drahm resulted in a catch and drive by the big Wuss pack. Throughout the first half the Warrior fatboys had the beating of our lads at scrum and maul time, though that would change come the second half. However this time, an Irish offside allowed Wuss to get on the scoreboard, 10-3 to Irish.
The tactical kicking game would continue to go back and forth, but surprisingly Worcester tried to put together a few backs moves. I say surprisingly as on a night made for up-yer-jumper rugby Wuss were trying to throw the ball around a bit. Unsurprisingly all to often the results was minimal metres gained, knock-ons and balls flying out of touch.
And now a word on the line-out. Why, oh why, does this team continue to try and throw it to the back when safe secure ball is needed? I don’t have the stats to hand but if someone told me on long lineout throws our success rate was more than 20% this season I’d be greatly surprised. Another failed attempt to throw it long goes right over Nick Kennedy’s noggin and ends up in Worcester hands, 40 metres out from the Irish posts. Drahm would not pass up a chance to drop a goal against Irish and the scores would be 10-6.
Worcester’s attempts again at some sort of back play were again let down by bad handling. At this point I make the note that with so much ball they should be kicking to the corners and mauling our boys into the ground. Thankfully they don’t heed my advice (what would I know?) and try anyway. A penalty for not rolling away fully 51 metres out is taken by Drahm to make it a 1 point game.
With half time beckoning, Irish are given the ball and manage to keep it long enough to gain two penalties and crab into Worcester territory. At the stroke of half time Barry is given the opportunity to kick for goal 40 metres out and makes it 13-9 at the half.
The second half was a different kettle of something…rugby related altogether. Irish took the game more to Worcester and a half break by Dom Feaunati led to another chance for Barry to kick a goal, with a penalty for not rolling away. 50 minutes gone in the match and it was 16-9, and some breathing room. Irish would continue to control possession, looking for the points when they got into range. A failed Drop Goal by Shane Geraghty, coming onto the pitch for Feaunati occurred a few minutes after that break.
Worcester were having no ball and Irish were continually asking questions at this point of the Warriors defence. A brilliant break by the Dodge we all know and love in the Worcester half (a lovely show and go) almost got a try as a pass 5 metres out was given to Topsy, but the speed merchant had no room left at this point and was forced out of touch. A few minutes later, Irish received a penalty after another scrum gone awry had a fortunate outcome, Mayhem indicating a Worcester player attempting to kick Topsy’s head off as he went for the ball. Barry would miss this one, and if you don’t include a ridiculous drop goal attempt, Barry would end the game kicking 4 out of 5 in difficult conditions, a much better representation of what he can give the team than the last few times he has appeared for the club.
And then, the nail biting began. As ever it begins not with bad play but a tremendous break by Mapasua. Huh? Yes, a great break followed by a blind and quite ludicrous offload that wasn’t on was hacked on by Wuss and put out by an Irish defender (Bishop, I think) at our own 5-metre line. Whoops. Irish had just handed the initiative back to a team that looked particularly unthreatening, doing nothing for 70 minutes. A catch and drive was foiled illegally and several scrum attempts came close before the ball made it to the Worcester backs 5 metres out. A stabbed through ball by Drahm made it under a falling LI defender and Havilli fell on it to make it 14-16 with a tough conversion to come. Having seen Barry make almost the same kick earlier I had every confidence that Drahm would also. It didn’t, and hit off the post. The Warriors crowd, now roused from slumber, booed Mayhem for not allowing Drahm to take it again. An Irish defender had rushed the kick too early, Topsy I believe. Having not seen it I couldn’t comment on whether it put Drahm off.
With 2 minutes left to go, and all of us pondering aloud the almost certainty that Drahm would win this with a wobbly Drop Goal, Wuss got a penalty. Shane Geraghty of all people, using his hands in the ruck, clear as daylight. So a kick to win the match, at around halfway with not too much angle. We all thought the worst. As, it would appear, did Shane Drahm would under cooked his kick by a smidge and it fell into the warm loving hands of Phil Murphy.
As ever with Irish, a good solid away performance was almost killed by a moment or two of madness. Worcester on this evidence…they don’t have much and it doesn’t please me to say that. They still might get out of trouble, they are no shortage of teams to chase in Falcons, Saints and Quins but I fear for them. And this was after four straight wins, they looked devoid of attacking ideas. For Irish, they took a gamble to play Worcester at their own game and it came off, barely. A word or two on Barry Everitt; who played this game like it needed to be played. His line kicking, goal kicking and up and unders were good all night and he was the right man for the job. He still can’t get our backline moving, but for murky Friday nights like this, he’s invaluable.
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