No second slice of Cherry pie
By Big-Al
February 2 2009
Following on from our comprehensive victory over Gloucester at the MadStad a mere six weeks ago, we travelled to Gloucester in good heart and in confident mood. Castle Grim is not the easiest of grounds to visit, so we knew it would not be easy (out of interest, can anyone tell me why Kingsholm is referred to as Castle Grim).
February 2 2009
Following on from our comprehensive victory over Gloucester at the MadStad a mere six weeks ago, we travelled to Gloucester in good heart and in confident mood. Castle Grim is not the easiest of grounds to visit, so we knew it would not be easy (out of interest, can anyone tell me why Kingsholm is referred to as Castle Grim).
As with the match at the MadStad in December, it is a meeting of the top 2 sides in the Guinness Premiership.
The first surprise of the day is that the weather forecast was correct, we are at Gloucester and it is not raining.
First half – Irish are playing from East to West, Gloucester kick off.
After just 1 minute there are some handbags following a Gloucester lineout on halfway – result is a penalty to Gloucester – not sure if it was for the handbags or something else. Gloucester get another penalty from resulting lineout, and are now in kicking range, but Olly Barkley is off target.
Irish get their first scoring opportunity after 7 minutes – an Irish lineout within the Gloucester 22. After a few phases Gloucester give away a penalty (probably for coming in from the side). Peter Hewat is successful – Gloucester 0, Irish 3.
Our next chance started after 10 minutes, following a kicking exchange, Gloucester knock on giving Irish a scrum about 25m out. Irish free kick from the scrum, and we take another scrum. From the scrum Dodge chips through, Gloucester mis-field and Dodge claims the ball – the ball is fed back from the resulting ruck to Adam Thompstone – who runs in a try on his first start. I have been asked to mention that Adam is sponsored by the Rourke (r43) family and the Tinkerbelles. Peter gets the extras and after 14 minutes it is Gloucester 0, Irish 10.
During the next period of the game, Gloucester have more of the ball, but make little progress when going through the phases – and moves end with a scrum or penalty to Irish. Irish are dominating the lineout, winning our own comfortably and stealing or disrupting Gloucester’s.
Following an Irish lineout about 10m out, some quick hands and the ball moves wide to Delon and onto Topsy to score in the corner (Topsy’s sponsors have not been in touch). This time the extras are missed – from virtually on the touchline Peter hits the post. After 22 minutes it is Gloucester 0, Irish 15.
On 24 minutes another half chance for Irish – a quick lineout from Topsy to Delon, an angled kick from Delon into the Gloucester 22, an awkward bounce to make it difficult to defend, but Elvis’ attempt to kick through goes into touch.
On 26 minutes – the touch judge spots an infringement – appears to be against Bob. Penalty to Gloucester, resulting in a lineout about 30m out. Following a few phases Irish are penalised again, and this time Barkley makes no mistake. 28 minutes, Gloucester 3, London Irish 15.
On 34 minutes Elvis rips the ball from Gloucester and kicks through and chases, Gloucester hold on and give Irish a penalty in front of the posts. Peter makes no mistake – 35 minutes and it is Gloucester 3, London Irish 18.
Gary Johnson comes on for Declan Danaher.
37 minutes and Gloucester get a penalty about 10m into the Irish half – probably coming in from the side. Barkley is successful and it is Gloucester 6, London Irish 18.
39 minutes – a long kick and advantage bounce – and Irish have a lineout about 10m out. Cleared to touch on the 22. Irish win the Gloucester lineout, but clearance is straight into touch, so Gloucester lineout about 25m out. Irish penalised for offside and Barkley slots another 3 points.
Half time – Gloucester 9, London Irish 18.
We have had by far the better of the first half, and the general feeling amongst those of us on the West Terrace was that we should be further ahead.
Second half – and as Irish are now defending the West end, we hope not to see much of the action.
The first incident of note is the touch judge once again spotting an offence against us – but we steal the lineout from the resulting penalty.
In the early second half exchanges, Gloucester have more possession and start to put us under pressure – but we are defending well and there is no real danger.
On 48 minutes Richard Skuse comes on for Tonga.
49 minutes – there is a long stoppage due to an injury to Gloucester replacement scrum half Dave Lewis – who has only been on for a couple of minutes. Let’s hope the injury is not as serious as it looked and he is not out for too long.
On 50 minutes, some poor passing in our own 22 puts us under pressure, but a great break and kick through from Peter Hewat, chased by Topsy, results in a yellow card for Gloucester’s Anthony Allen for not releasing. Peter slots over the resulting penalty and after 52 minutes it is Gloucester 9, London Irish 21.
On 56 minutes Gloucester get a penalty kickable territory following something in the scrum. Barkley is on target. Gloucester 12, London Irish 21.
59 minutes and another Gloucester penalty about 5m into the Irish half, this time for a high tackle by Hoff. And Barkley is successful again – Gloucester 15, London Irish 21.
61 minutes – Allen is back on, Gloucester have out scored us 6 points to 3 while down to 14 men.
62 minutes – and Maps is yellow carded – why? I have no idea. Another Gloucester penalty and Barkley makes it Gloucester 18, London Irish 21.
Irish substitutions – Danie Coetzee is on for Davie Paice and James Hudson for Nick Kennedy. On 65 minutes - Mike Catt replaces Peter Hewat.
66 minutes a break by Simson-Daniel and pass to Balshaw – and a great tackle by Dodge on our 22.
69 minutes – Alex Corbisiero replaces Richard Skuse
72 minutes, from a Gloucester scrum, a few phases, and the ball goes wide to Walker and onto Balshaw for a try in the corner. Barkley misses the conversion. So 74 minutes gone and Gloucester are in the lead 23 to 21.
Maps is back on – 8 points to 0 in Gloucester’s favour during the sin binning. During the remaining minutes we failed to put any pressure on Gloucester.
Gloucester had one further penalty on 79 minutes – Barkley misses, and the final score is Gloucester 23, London Irish 21.
So how did we lose that? On 35 minutes we led by 15 points and seemed in total control. A couple of late penalties brought Gloucester within 9 points at half time.
But despite Gloucester having more possession early in the second half, we did not seem to be in any trouble and after 52 minutes we extended our lead to 12 points – so still well clear and still seemingly in control.
But from then on it all went wrong – we didn’t take advantage while Gloucester were a man down (they out scored us during this period), and we gave away too many penalties – so although Gloucester improved as the game went on, I feel this is one we through away.
Congratulations to Iain Balshaw on his 50th premiership try. And wishing Dave Lewis a speedy recovery.
GLOUCESTER: W. Walker; I Balshaw; H Trinder; A Allen; J Simpson-Daniel; O Barkley; R Lawson (D Lewis 47 mins; R Lamb 49 mins); A Dickinson (N Wood 54 mins); O Azam; G Somerville; A Eustace (M Bortolami 56 mins); A Brown; A Strokosch (A Hazell 42 mins); A Satala; G Delve
LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; T Ojo; E Seveali’I; S Mapusua; A Thompstone; P Hewat (M Catt 65 mins); P Hodgson; C Dermody; D Paice (D Coetzee 63 mins); T Lea’aetoa (R Skuse 48 mins; A Corbisiero 68 mins); N Kennedy (J Hudson 63 mins); B Casey; R Thorpe; D Danaher (J Johnson 36 mins); C Hala’Ufia
SCORES: Hewat – pen (7 mins) 0-3; Thompstone (sponsored by the Rourke family and Tinkerbelles) – try; Hewat - con (14 mins) 0-10; Ojo – try (20 mins) 0-15; Barkley – pen (28 mins) 3-15; Hewat – pen (35 mins) 3-18; Barkley – pen (37 mins) 6-18; Barkley - pen (40 mins) 9-18; Hewat – pen (53 mins) 9-21; Barkley – pen (56 mins) 12-21; Barkley – pen (59 mins) 15-21; Barkley – pen (63 mins) 18-21; Balshaw – try (72 mins) 23-21.
Finally, I ask you all to pay a thought for the poor match reporter. I have now done two match reports for the Craic – and we have lost both times.
Am I responsible for these defeats?
Would it be better if I never do another report?
And what do I do with the lucky socks now?
The first surprise of the day is that the weather forecast was correct, we are at Gloucester and it is not raining.
First half – Irish are playing from East to West, Gloucester kick off.
After just 1 minute there are some handbags following a Gloucester lineout on halfway – result is a penalty to Gloucester – not sure if it was for the handbags or something else. Gloucester get another penalty from resulting lineout, and are now in kicking range, but Olly Barkley is off target.
Irish get their first scoring opportunity after 7 minutes – an Irish lineout within the Gloucester 22. After a few phases Gloucester give away a penalty (probably for coming in from the side). Peter Hewat is successful – Gloucester 0, Irish 3.
Our next chance started after 10 minutes, following a kicking exchange, Gloucester knock on giving Irish a scrum about 25m out. Irish free kick from the scrum, and we take another scrum. From the scrum Dodge chips through, Gloucester mis-field and Dodge claims the ball – the ball is fed back from the resulting ruck to Adam Thompstone – who runs in a try on his first start. I have been asked to mention that Adam is sponsored by the Rourke (r43) family and the Tinkerbelles. Peter gets the extras and after 14 minutes it is Gloucester 0, Irish 10.
During the next period of the game, Gloucester have more of the ball, but make little progress when going through the phases – and moves end with a scrum or penalty to Irish. Irish are dominating the lineout, winning our own comfortably and stealing or disrupting Gloucester’s.
Following an Irish lineout about 10m out, some quick hands and the ball moves wide to Delon and onto Topsy to score in the corner (Topsy’s sponsors have not been in touch). This time the extras are missed – from virtually on the touchline Peter hits the post. After 22 minutes it is Gloucester 0, Irish 15.
On 24 minutes another half chance for Irish – a quick lineout from Topsy to Delon, an angled kick from Delon into the Gloucester 22, an awkward bounce to make it difficult to defend, but Elvis’ attempt to kick through goes into touch.
On 26 minutes – the touch judge spots an infringement – appears to be against Bob. Penalty to Gloucester, resulting in a lineout about 30m out. Following a few phases Irish are penalised again, and this time Barkley makes no mistake. 28 minutes, Gloucester 3, London Irish 15.
On 34 minutes Elvis rips the ball from Gloucester and kicks through and chases, Gloucester hold on and give Irish a penalty in front of the posts. Peter makes no mistake – 35 minutes and it is Gloucester 3, London Irish 18.
Gary Johnson comes on for Declan Danaher.
37 minutes and Gloucester get a penalty about 10m into the Irish half – probably coming in from the side. Barkley is successful and it is Gloucester 6, London Irish 18.
39 minutes – a long kick and advantage bounce – and Irish have a lineout about 10m out. Cleared to touch on the 22. Irish win the Gloucester lineout, but clearance is straight into touch, so Gloucester lineout about 25m out. Irish penalised for offside and Barkley slots another 3 points.
Half time – Gloucester 9, London Irish 18.
We have had by far the better of the first half, and the general feeling amongst those of us on the West Terrace was that we should be further ahead.
Second half – and as Irish are now defending the West end, we hope not to see much of the action.
The first incident of note is the touch judge once again spotting an offence against us – but we steal the lineout from the resulting penalty.
In the early second half exchanges, Gloucester have more possession and start to put us under pressure – but we are defending well and there is no real danger.
On 48 minutes Richard Skuse comes on for Tonga.
49 minutes – there is a long stoppage due to an injury to Gloucester replacement scrum half Dave Lewis – who has only been on for a couple of minutes. Let’s hope the injury is not as serious as it looked and he is not out for too long.
On 50 minutes, some poor passing in our own 22 puts us under pressure, but a great break and kick through from Peter Hewat, chased by Topsy, results in a yellow card for Gloucester’s Anthony Allen for not releasing. Peter slots over the resulting penalty and after 52 minutes it is Gloucester 9, London Irish 21.
On 56 minutes Gloucester get a penalty kickable territory following something in the scrum. Barkley is on target. Gloucester 12, London Irish 21.
59 minutes and another Gloucester penalty about 5m into the Irish half, this time for a high tackle by Hoff. And Barkley is successful again – Gloucester 15, London Irish 21.
61 minutes – Allen is back on, Gloucester have out scored us 6 points to 3 while down to 14 men.
62 minutes – and Maps is yellow carded – why? I have no idea. Another Gloucester penalty and Barkley makes it Gloucester 18, London Irish 21.
Irish substitutions – Danie Coetzee is on for Davie Paice and James Hudson for Nick Kennedy. On 65 minutes - Mike Catt replaces Peter Hewat.
66 minutes a break by Simson-Daniel and pass to Balshaw – and a great tackle by Dodge on our 22.
69 minutes – Alex Corbisiero replaces Richard Skuse
72 minutes, from a Gloucester scrum, a few phases, and the ball goes wide to Walker and onto Balshaw for a try in the corner. Barkley misses the conversion. So 74 minutes gone and Gloucester are in the lead 23 to 21.
Maps is back on – 8 points to 0 in Gloucester’s favour during the sin binning. During the remaining minutes we failed to put any pressure on Gloucester.
Gloucester had one further penalty on 79 minutes – Barkley misses, and the final score is Gloucester 23, London Irish 21.
So how did we lose that? On 35 minutes we led by 15 points and seemed in total control. A couple of late penalties brought Gloucester within 9 points at half time.
But despite Gloucester having more possession early in the second half, we did not seem to be in any trouble and after 52 minutes we extended our lead to 12 points – so still well clear and still seemingly in control.
But from then on it all went wrong – we didn’t take advantage while Gloucester were a man down (they out scored us during this period), and we gave away too many penalties – so although Gloucester improved as the game went on, I feel this is one we through away.
Congratulations to Iain Balshaw on his 50th premiership try. And wishing Dave Lewis a speedy recovery.
GLOUCESTER: W. Walker; I Balshaw; H Trinder; A Allen; J Simpson-Daniel; O Barkley; R Lawson (D Lewis 47 mins; R Lamb 49 mins); A Dickinson (N Wood 54 mins); O Azam; G Somerville; A Eustace (M Bortolami 56 mins); A Brown; A Strokosch (A Hazell 42 mins); A Satala; G Delve
LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; T Ojo; E Seveali’I; S Mapusua; A Thompstone; P Hewat (M Catt 65 mins); P Hodgson; C Dermody; D Paice (D Coetzee 63 mins); T Lea’aetoa (R Skuse 48 mins; A Corbisiero 68 mins); N Kennedy (J Hudson 63 mins); B Casey; R Thorpe; D Danaher (J Johnson 36 mins); C Hala’Ufia
SCORES: Hewat – pen (7 mins) 0-3; Thompstone (sponsored by the Rourke family and Tinkerbelles) – try; Hewat - con (14 mins) 0-10; Ojo – try (20 mins) 0-15; Barkley – pen (28 mins) 3-15; Hewat – pen (35 mins) 3-18; Barkley – pen (37 mins) 6-18; Barkley - pen (40 mins) 9-18; Hewat – pen (53 mins) 9-21; Barkley – pen (56 mins) 12-21; Barkley – pen (59 mins) 15-21; Barkley – pen (63 mins) 18-21; Balshaw – try (72 mins) 23-21.
Finally, I ask you all to pay a thought for the poor match reporter. I have now done two match reports for the Craic – and we have lost both times.
Am I responsible for these defeats?
Would it be better if I never do another report?
And what do I do with the lucky socks now?
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StumbleuponNo second slice of Cherry pie
Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 02/02/2009 01:32
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Re: No second slice of Cherry pie
Posted by: cir mhor (IP Logged)
Date: 02/02/2009 06:10
In answer to your question, in 1891, GRFC bought a portion of the Castle Grim estate to use as its ground - that's now Kingsholm.
Re: No second slice of Cherry pie
Posted by: Carlovian (IP Logged)
Date: 02/02/2009 11:14
Thanks for another good report Al (saw you on TV, btw!)
We watched the first half live on TV and the (recorded) second half later - just as well we knew the result by then. I didn't think we played so badly as had been suggested, but losing that lead so quickly through penalties was frustrating. Bob looked absolutely furious at the end of the match - even scary!
K
We watched the first half live on TV and the (recorded) second half later - just as well we knew the result by then. I didn't think we played so badly as had been suggested, but losing that lead so quickly through penalties was frustrating. Bob looked absolutely furious at the end of the match - even scary!
K
Re: No second slice of Cherry pie
Posted by: ray_of_the_east (IP Logged)
Date: 02/02/2009 15:25
so it wasn't a bad dream, it did really happen bu%%er 
great report big Al
great report big AlRe: No second slice of Cherry pie
Posted by: antoinog (IP Logged)
Date: 02/02/2009 21:58
Great report Big Al.
Standing behind you I had no idea why Maps was carded. As it happened at the far end I also wasn't aware that that their guy Allen had been carded - even more disappointing that they outscored us when we had a man advantage.
I can't blame you for the loss with your reporting altho 2 for 2 does not look good. My inviting the Glaws fellas down in front of us coincided with us starting to leak points in the second half - perhaps the blame is mine??
Must look out for you/us on the Sky recording of the game!
Standing behind you I had no idea why Maps was carded. As it happened at the far end I also wasn't aware that that their guy Allen had been carded - even more disappointing that they outscored us when we had a man advantage.
I can't blame you for the loss with your reporting altho 2 for 2 does not look good. My inviting the Glaws fellas down in front of us coincided with us starting to leak points in the second half - perhaps the blame is mine??
Must look out for you/us on the Sky recording of the game!
Re: No second slice of Cherry pie
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 03/02/2009 08:07
We did try to clear out the Glaws supportors from our space on the west after you had made that mistake. 
Good to be able to put another face to a name on the board antoinog, We were to Al's left.
To many mistakes and errors to blame any one person last weeek (although Mr Pearson must be high on the list!)
Lets hope we get the show back on the road next week.
Good to be able to put another face to a name on the board antoinog, We were to Al's left.
To many mistakes and errors to blame any one person last weeek (although Mr Pearson must be high on the list!)
Lets hope we get the show back on the road next week.
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