Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
By Big-Al
February 22 2010
Well this season promised much and it started well enough, we were winning our matches by playing some of the best rugby we have seen in many a year and some of the best rugby in the GP this season. We even had the “experts” on SKY singing our praises.
February 22 2010
Well this season promised much and it started well enough, we were winning our matches by playing some of the best rugby we have seen in many a year and some of the best rugby in the GP this season. We even had the “experts” on SKY singing our praises.
OK, there were one of two blips before Christmas, but in each case we put it behind us and delivered a good performance the following week.
So where did it all go wrong? Sure, we have been unlucky to have had a number of injuries to key players and we lose a few during the international windows. But all teams suffer from injuries and we knew pretty much who we lose during the international periods. In fact we complain that Martin Johnson doesn’t start Dodge and Steff, but if he did, we wouldn’t have had them with us this week.
On to the match:
It is a chilly but clear evening in Newcastle, there is no noticeable wind. The Kingston Park pitch didn’t look to be in the best condition, although better some at this time of the season. The Falcons announcer does not seem to struggle with the names of our South Sea Islanders but does has trouble pronouncing Dermody.
Topsy leads the team out to mark his 100th appearance – we done Topsy – looking forward to the next 100.
Irish kick off, playing towards those of us stood behind the posts in the John Smith’s stand. Although we had the better of the opening exchanges, the first two scoring opportunities fell to the Falcons, but luckily for us Jimmy Gopperth was off target with his penalty attempts after 7 and 10 minutes after a maul and a scrum infringement.
After this it was Irish who dominated the half, in general there was some good kicking although Peter Hewat’s attempted drop goal after 18 minutes did not fall into that category. However it was a well placed kick from Peter a few minutes later that led to an Irish 5m line out. From the resulting maul we drive over and after consulting with the TMO the referee, Rob Debney, awards the try - scored by George Stowers. Unfortunately Tom Homer is off target with the conversion attempt, so it is 0-5 after 23 minutes.
We were on the attack again almost straight away and force another line out in the Falcons 22. A good break from Peter and after a few phases from the forwards Steffon bundles over for our second try, this time Tom is successful with the conversion. 0-12 after 27 minutes.
On 35 minutes it was third time lucky for Jimmy Gopperth as he converted a penalty to bring the score back to 3-12. The score remained unchanged until half time. So looking good so far, we have been dominating play and have two tries in the bag – could we be on for a 5 pointer?
Newcastle kick off the second half. My first notes from the half are that Tom tidies up from a dangerous kick through from the Falcons. We are awarded a penalty from the following passage of play. Chris Malone misses touch but Newcastle knock-on. A couple of minutes later Newcastle have a penalty and Gopperth reduces our lead to 6-12.
Our first substitution is Faan coming on for Paulica.
Newcastle are now dominating proceedings. Following a couple of messy passes Topsy gets pinged for holding on and the Falcons go for the corner. Following the 5m line out Newcastle win another penalty and Gopperth reduces our lead further - 54 minutes and now it is 9-12.
Ryan is on for Molly and Jamie Gibson replaces Richard.
James Buckland replaces David after 62 minutes.
On 66 minutes Newcastle completed their comeback – another penalty from Jimmy Gopperth, presumably for offside, slotted from the half way line. So the score is now 12-12
The next replacement is Andy Perry on for Big Bob – when was the last time Bob lasted the full 80 minutes? I assume Bob had nothing left in the tank by this point as replacing the captain with the score level and 10 minutes to go does not seem like good tactics.
Although Newcastle continue to dominate possession in the last minutes – there is no real threat and the match finishes at 12-12.
From our point of view it was a very poor second half, we never threatened and we saw very little of the ball. In the first half we had a number of good kicks which put the Falcons under pressure, in the second half this was not the case, we gave them time to either run back at us or to kick back with interest. It was probably just about a fair result, it was our first half and Newcastle’s second. I thought that Tom had another good game, Steffon showed why we miss him so much while he is sitting on the England bench and George also looked good apart from his one moment at scrum half.
So what about the Likely Lads – well they are still here, we had glimpses of what they can do in the first half. We know we have a very talented squad, but unfortunately things are just not clicking at the moment and they are currently a little short on confidence, we also have a very good coaching team who are the right people to restore confidence and get things clicking again. There is nothing wrong that one good win will not put right – so let’s all get 100% behind the lads and do our bit to make sure the rest of our season starts next week against Quins.
KEEP THE FAITH
P.S. For those of you younger then myself (which I’m sure is most of you) – “Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?” was a 70s sitcom set in the North East (another of my poor attempts to come up with a relevant and possibly slightly amusing title for a match report – one time I’ll might actually succeed).
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Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 17:39
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Re: Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
Posted by: MadMonk (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 18:47
Thanks Al, great report. For what it's worth I even remember the predecessor predictably called "The likely lads"
Re: Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
Posted by: cailín úr (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 18:56
Very good report Al! Likely lads was before my time though!
Here's to our first win of the year this Sunday!!!
Here's to our first win of the year this Sunday!!!
Re: Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
Posted by: Sussex Hugh (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 19:11
Did we have Thelma at 10?
Re: Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
Posted by: bisach (IP Logged)
Date: 22/02/2010 23:08
You forgot to mention the singing. That's the 1st time in all my visits that I've heard the locals singing "The Blaydon Races."
Re: Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
Posted by: russell o'callaghan (IP Logged)
Date: 23/02/2010 12:07
Absolutely, Big Al. Why do we have this second-half issue? Are our lads not fit, or what? Can't they run around for a full eighty minutes? Is there a pies problem that hasn't been addressed? Do we have any players who actually believe (à la Cipriani) that you can even walk past a night-club, let alone go in one, and still play top-flight rugby? There certainly is something that needs confronting.
Bill, why do Geordies sing the"Bleerdon" races not the Blaydon races, eh? And what the hell does "Why aye" mean. It's the only bit of Geordie you'll ever need; it's the answer to every single question they'll ever ask you.
"Are yer fit?"
"Why aye, mon"
"Are yer ill?"
"Why aye".
" 'S turned out nice, hasn't it?"
"Why aye."
" 'S cráp weather we've been getting, innit?"
"Why aye, mon".
Al, that actor who played one of the Likely Lads, not the one in New Tricks, the other one...well, he's turned out to be a bit bonkers, hasn't he? He's sort of paranoid about the other bloke's success.
Bill, why do Geordies sing the"Bleerdon" races not the Blaydon races, eh? And what the hell does "Why aye" mean. It's the only bit of Geordie you'll ever need; it's the answer to every single question they'll ever ask you.
"Are yer fit?"
"Why aye, mon"
"Are yer ill?"
"Why aye".
" 'S turned out nice, hasn't it?"
"Why aye."
" 'S cráp weather we've been getting, innit?"
"Why aye, mon".
Al, that actor who played one of the Likely Lads, not the one in New Tricks, the other one...well, he's turned out to be a bit bonkers, hasn't he? He's sort of paranoid about the other bloke's success.
Re: Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
Posted by: Props are not stupid (IP Logged)
Date: 23/02/2010 12:49
I thought you were referring to a song by The Libertines called What Became of the Likely Lads. Great song, by the way. I am showing my young age now.
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