Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
By Babs O
March 23 2009
After a Saturday night to remember (or not as the case was for many!!), another St Patrick’s Day party had arrived and as I made my journey from South East London to Reading, I pondered on the factors that make it a great day out. Sun was shining, Ireland had won the Grand Slam and for once…
March 23 2009
After a Saturday night to remember (or not as the case was for many!!), another St Patrick’s Day party had arrived and as I made my journey from South East London to Reading, I pondered on the factors that make it a great day out. Sun was shining, Ireland had won the Grand Slam and for once…
I wasn't driving which meant I could really enjoy the festivities. Getting to Reading at 11.30 and seeing the sheer numbers outside the 3Gs, I sensed that the festivities from Saturday night were carrying on hard and would do for the rest of the day!
To the rugby and my prediction before the game was that both teams liked to play expansive running rugby and given the conditions, I was expecting a high scoring game. The game also saw a return to the MadStad for our very own Barry The Boot who was given a very warm reception by the crowd. For my money, the man we had to keep quiet was Ben Foden who had been in sparkling form for the Saints and I was hoping that Maps put a marker on him early to make sure he didn't cut us open. So to kick off and the expectation of a good start from the majority of the 21,000 crowd… that was not to be!
Straight from kick off, Irish won possession and kicked long to Foden who rather than kick decided to counter from his own 22, and before we knew it Reihana had scored on the Irish left which was converted by Barry to leave us 7-0 down with less than 2 min played. You could almost sense the crowd thinking "not another bad start" meaning we would have to play catch up yet again! The next 10 mins was relentless Irish pressure which ended up with Thomstone scoring with a powerful finish and an excellent conversion by Tom Homer making the score 7-7. With both teams looking to run the ball, there was a sense that my prediction could be accurate but with Mr Davey in a very whistle happy mood, there were a number of penalty infringements being awarded to both teams. 15 mins in and Homer slots 3 points for the men in green but Barry responds 10 mins later with 3 for the saints. 28 mins, 3 more points for Homer but then the Irish defence goes to sleep from the kick off and saints create on overlap on out right giving Roger Wilson an easy finish. So 15-13 Saints with 8 mins left in the half. Still enough time for Homer to smash over another penalty from close to half way to give Irish a 16-15 lead at the half.
So into the 2nd half, and 5 mins in, Steff is unfortunate to earn a 10 min rest from Davey and Reihana gets a long range penalty for the Saints. Little errors start creeping into the Irish game but from turnover ball, we almost score a try after a number of phases but it comes to nothing except another penalty which Reihana takes. 21-16 to the Saints and I am starting to worry as we haven't looked our fluent best. 60 mins and another 3 points off the post and we are up against it now, 24-16. More whistle blowing and a chance for irish to cut the lead which Homer takes with another crisp strike, 24-19 and things are looking a bit more positive as we start to raise the intensity of our defence, forcing the saints to concede more penalties. They give away a penalty in their 22 for pulling Maps back and once again that man Homer strikes to make it a 2 point game, 24-22 Northampton. Have you seen the theme of the second half yet?? So 69 mins and a penalty to the men in green which Homer sends sailing over and now Irish are ahead and in the ascendancy. The team and crowd can smell blood and feel that whoever scores the next points will win this game. We also had the pleasure (or horror depending on your perspective!) of a streaker who clearly was enjoying herself and the sunshine! Anyway back to the action and Saints knock on as Irish are attacking at the 5m line and a scrum is awarded. The pack with a monumental effort force the saints pack to splinter meaning Davey awards the penalty try to the men in green! So 32-24 to Irish and you feel that is the game won with only 3 mins remaining. Another penalty against Irish and Saints take the 3 to ensure a losing bonus point. Final score 32-27 to London Irish.
So great weekend of results for the Irish and a game we managed to win despite not playing particularly well and a needed 4 points in our quest for the playoffs and HC rugby again. Man of the match? Well Steffon kept his high standards, Adam Thomstone did well as did James Hudson. However Tom Homer stood out above the rest purely for the fact he kicked us to victory. 100% record in his second game as a frontline kicker in front of a large crowd. He was clearly nervous in his sky interview after the game but fair play to the young man and he made the London Irish crowd very happy indeed. With a number of players to be back for our next game in 2 weeks, the future looks bright… the future looks green!
To the rugby and my prediction before the game was that both teams liked to play expansive running rugby and given the conditions, I was expecting a high scoring game. The game also saw a return to the MadStad for our very own Barry The Boot who was given a very warm reception by the crowd. For my money, the man we had to keep quiet was Ben Foden who had been in sparkling form for the Saints and I was hoping that Maps put a marker on him early to make sure he didn't cut us open. So to kick off and the expectation of a good start from the majority of the 21,000 crowd… that was not to be!
Straight from kick off, Irish won possession and kicked long to Foden who rather than kick decided to counter from his own 22, and before we knew it Reihana had scored on the Irish left which was converted by Barry to leave us 7-0 down with less than 2 min played. You could almost sense the crowd thinking "not another bad start" meaning we would have to play catch up yet again! The next 10 mins was relentless Irish pressure which ended up with Thomstone scoring with a powerful finish and an excellent conversion by Tom Homer making the score 7-7. With both teams looking to run the ball, there was a sense that my prediction could be accurate but with Mr Davey in a very whistle happy mood, there were a number of penalty infringements being awarded to both teams. 15 mins in and Homer slots 3 points for the men in green but Barry responds 10 mins later with 3 for the saints. 28 mins, 3 more points for Homer but then the Irish defence goes to sleep from the kick off and saints create on overlap on out right giving Roger Wilson an easy finish. So 15-13 Saints with 8 mins left in the half. Still enough time for Homer to smash over another penalty from close to half way to give Irish a 16-15 lead at the half.
So into the 2nd half, and 5 mins in, Steff is unfortunate to earn a 10 min rest from Davey and Reihana gets a long range penalty for the Saints. Little errors start creeping into the Irish game but from turnover ball, we almost score a try after a number of phases but it comes to nothing except another penalty which Reihana takes. 21-16 to the Saints and I am starting to worry as we haven't looked our fluent best. 60 mins and another 3 points off the post and we are up against it now, 24-16. More whistle blowing and a chance for irish to cut the lead which Homer takes with another crisp strike, 24-19 and things are looking a bit more positive as we start to raise the intensity of our defence, forcing the saints to concede more penalties. They give away a penalty in their 22 for pulling Maps back and once again that man Homer strikes to make it a 2 point game, 24-22 Northampton. Have you seen the theme of the second half yet?? So 69 mins and a penalty to the men in green which Homer sends sailing over and now Irish are ahead and in the ascendancy. The team and crowd can smell blood and feel that whoever scores the next points will win this game. We also had the pleasure (or horror depending on your perspective!) of a streaker who clearly was enjoying herself and the sunshine! Anyway back to the action and Saints knock on as Irish are attacking at the 5m line and a scrum is awarded. The pack with a monumental effort force the saints pack to splinter meaning Davey awards the penalty try to the men in green! So 32-24 to Irish and you feel that is the game won with only 3 mins remaining. Another penalty against Irish and Saints take the 3 to ensure a losing bonus point. Final score 32-27 to London Irish.
So great weekend of results for the Irish and a game we managed to win despite not playing particularly well and a needed 4 points in our quest for the playoffs and HC rugby again. Man of the match? Well Steffon kept his high standards, Adam Thomstone did well as did James Hudson. However Tom Homer stood out above the rest purely for the fact he kicked us to victory. 100% record in his second game as a frontline kicker in front of a large crowd. He was clearly nervous in his sky interview after the game but fair play to the young man and he made the London Irish crowd very happy indeed. With a number of players to be back for our next game in 2 weeks, the future looks bright… the future looks green!
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StumbleuponGrand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2009 10:48
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Re: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: JamesC (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2009 13:39
I thought the 4 points in the sun was a reference to liquid intake
Re: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: Clontarf (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2009 13:46
Well done Babs, the match was a 4 pointer, the liquid intake considerably more.
Re: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: JamesC (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2009 14:01
Looks like Paddy L is still recovering as the match report has yet to put in an appearance on the offy site
Re: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: MadMonk (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2009 21:43
Quote:JamesC
Looks like Paddy L is still recovering as the match report has yet to put in an appearance on the offy site
All things come to he who waits
Re: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: Props are not stupid (IP Logged)
Date: 24/03/2009 09:53
Babs,
Very good report, it reflects how close the game was. I haven't watched it on telly yet as I don't think my heart can take it.
Very good report, it reflects how close the game was. I haven't watched it on telly yet as I don't think my heart can take it.
Re: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: AMS (IP Logged)
Date: 24/03/2009 10:14
It was good to put a face to the name...
I was a bit worried after the Wasps match (given certain match reporters' seeming ability to jinx matches) that we might not win while you took notes, but pleased to be wrong!!!
I was a bit worried after the Wasps match (given certain match reporters' seeming ability to jinx matches) that we might not win while you took notes, but pleased to be wrong!!!
Re: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: Babs O (IP Logged)
Date: 24/03/2009 10:43
Well its about time we won a game i was writing the report for! am planning to head to the rematch at franklin gardens so maybe i will do the double??
Re: Grand Slam, Triple Crown and 4 Points in the Sun
Posted by: Trouble_gb (IP Logged)
Date: 24/03/2009 10:48
Well done Babs!
You have just refreshed my memory as it was getting a bit hazy after half time
You have just refreshed my memory as it was getting a bit hazy after half time
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