Not Sam's Grandma

So heading towards the Madstad we had our good luck grandma with us who had travelled down from Liverpool. She hasn’t seen us lose yet. She watched us beat Leeds at Madstad Jan 06, Sale away Feb 07 and then Wasps on St. Patrick’s Day 07.

So this would make it 4 wins out of 4 for her. But coming off that ‘performance’ against Wasps it looked as if she was in for a big surprise. And I was thinking of headlines for the report before kick off assuming we would lose - either ‘Club nor country’ or ‘Here we go again’.

So settling down into our seat and watching the warm up we noticed Danie warming up properly which we were all very pleased to see after that pre-season injury. We saw our first glimpse of Peter Hewat warming up and then converting 3 out of 3 kicks in practice with us hoping he would mirror that in the game. Also a wonderful sight for all London Irish fans, Shane kicked a ball! Great news! Kick off was delayed by 5 minutes due to the fact the game was on Sky and the Bath Newcastle game had overrun.

Peter Hewat kicked off. After a few kicks, Mr Davey gives his first pen of the game on our 10m line. Hewat cleared the ball to the Glos 22; we won the line out and gained another pen for a pulling down of the maul. Hewat blasts the kick over (very different kicking style) making it 3-0 to the Irish just 2 minutes gone. A few plays after kick off and a moment of comical genius from Mr.Davey. He gives us a penalty for coming in the side and quickly calls over Buxton and reaches into his left pocket and pulls out a white handkerchief and blows him nose, Bless you Mr Davey.

Irish shift the ball out wide and break into the Glos 22 and chip through, unfortunately the ball bounces out. A very positive start. Glos clear the ball and then SHANE clears the ball to 50m. We win the ball back and again spread it out to the left wing and break to the 22. Eventually we get a lineout on Glos 22 and receive a pen for pushing in the lineout, good spot from Mr Davey (that felt odd). Hewat misses a pen fairly close to touch so still 3-0 after 10 mins. We again spread the ball out a few times from the 22, Shane chips through with a good chase and Glos take the ball over their own line, 5m scrum. Good pressure from Irish. Eventually cleared after another good period of attack.

Then Glos’ first real attack of the game 15 mins in, a chip over quickly taken by Maps who runs down the left. Pressure eventually gives us a pen on the 50m in the corner. Hewat goes for the post and sends it right. Still 3-0.

Irish get turned over at ruck but re gain possession with a massive kick from Ojo into Glos half. Irish break down left and “Mary” makes a cynical foul (In our house Ryan Lamb is called Mary as in “Mary had a little lamb” Mum wanted to call him “Squirt” but that is Ciprani’s name!). Mr Davey reaches into his left pocket and sends Mary to the bin, no sneeze this time. 21 mins gone. Following open play Glos win a scrum and clearance. Irish gain position over ball shift right via Delon, Tops makes a break after the ball is recycled Shane kicks over the top into perfect space with Phil on the left wing, he kicks it forward a little too much and it goes out the back. Mr Davey checks with the TMO (after England game you can’t be sure if they are any good!). 22 Drop out. After a few minutes of play Glos get a pen on the 45m and Paterson steps up with 100% record at the World Cup behind him and misses for a change. After a few minutes of play where Glos attack a little “Mary” returns.

There is then more play with kicking back and forth with a few turnovers both ways. There was a little break from Maps and a little break from Glos. They get a lineout on half way and start a maul; they then seemed bring their own maul down unnoticed by Davey or the touch judge but by the whole of the West stand. Dad was cross with the touch judge but having watched on Sky since thinks he was right! The half time whistle goes and with only 3 points but complete domination there was some worry. during half time there is much talk about ‘red zone conversions’ and the fact that Brian and Toby looked bleak.

Oops missed the first minute and a half as I forgot I was reporting! Anyway, Irish get a lineout on Glos 22 and have a steady attack. Shane chips over again and Tomas goes over in the corner. TRY FOR IRISH!! (dropped pen, no worries I have two!) Hewat adds the extras from right in the corner, 10-0 To Irish. I have then written in big letters WE’RE BACK IN BUSINESS. After the kick off Glos get a scrum outside of our 22. Big tackles coming in from Irish. Delon hobbled a little, “Mary” chips through and TRY for Balshaw in the corner and converted by Paterson. Against the run of play if I do say so myself. 10-7.

Play then continues with lots of penalties, lineouts and kicking in open play. Suddenly only 25 mins to go. Irish chip through and the ball bounces off a Glos man and the ball goes out. Glos then take the lineout out quickly and the ref allows play to go on 10 seconds later the ref awards the lineout back to London Irish, lots of confusion.

Irish break away down the left hand side and Hewat runs with Tomas outside him with just the Full back to go. Hewat either didn’t see or hear Tomas or thought he could run over Balshaw but Tomas took the tackle possibly costing us 5 points. Shane drops back for a drop goal but misses it with 20 minutes to go, 10-7

First changes, P Murphy off replaced by R Thorpe D Murphy off replaced by T Warren

Irish get a penalty just outside the 22 towards the corner again and Hewat takes the 3, but misses and leave the score at 10-7 we’re still keeping the pressure on Glos. Peter Hewat comes off for S Armitage, which means Delon moves to FB and Steffon at centre.

15 mins to go, getting rather anxious now as you may be able to see because I keep looking at the clock. Turn over in open play leads to an Irish penalty which is kicked into Glos 22. Steffon is running hard as you would expect from the great impact sub. But soon it is knocked on, close to finishing them.

Glos clear to 50m and Irish drive on with 11 minutes to go. Shane chips through but bounces out on the 22. Danie returns to action with David Paice leaving the field.

Irish steal the lineout and shift it to the back with good off loading especially from Shane. A Fantastic attack from Irish takes place, which is spread out left, Shane stabs it through and Tops pounces, Try? TMO is looking and iit s given. Try for Tomas De Vedia. (After watching on Sky, Tops missed the ball completely and Tomas grounded it after the ball bounced under Tops.) Will Delon convert from the corner with no kicking practice. Good connection, I shout YES and it didn’t go over! How could I tell?

15-7 with 7 minutes to go. Glos get a penalty for pushing straight after the kick off which Paterson kicks, 15-10 with 6 minutes 30 seconds to go, very silly Irish!

Warren Fury comes on for Dodge, play continues leading to a Glos knock on, on the 50m line. 4 minutes 30 seconds to go, tension builds. Irish are just holding on, Glos take a lineout on the 22m line. Solid defence from Irish, including big hits. Glos are driven out of the 22, fantastic defence. 2 MINUTES TO GO.

Last Substitution is Bob Casey off for Gary Johnson (Poor Jeremy didn’t get on!)

1 MINUTE TO GO. Glos still with possession, into 22. Glos pen and tap quickly, same again. 0 Seconds left. Ball stuck in a ruck and whistle is blown. Is that it?

FULL TIME 15-10 and I can breathe again. Mum still not sure if the game is over. London Irish Win. The crowd are ecstatic as is Grandma. (4 out of 4 now!)

After clapping everyone off (they all looked extremely happy including Brian and Toby) went into the craic and watched Hamilton’s chance of winning the F1 title slowly fade away, then listened to the music, great atmosphere. Then up into the bar to finish off.

All in all a fantastic day with an amazing performance for all the boys. Well done lads, lets see if we can beat those Quins. Oh and the lucky Grandma did get half a pint of Guinness at the end (but lives too far away to come every week.)

COME ON YOU IRISH.

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