LI Rain on Rodney Parade
By Sam_R43
August 23 2010
My first rugby game of the year and a chance to see how the new IRB Directives work (or don’t work). Fresh from the first referee meeting of the year and the notes of how the IRB want us to play the game this year, I was ready for my first game down in sunny Wales.
August 23 2010
My first rugby game of the year and a chance to see how the new IRB Directives work (or don’t work). Fresh from the first referee meeting of the year and the notes of how the IRB want us to play the game this year, I was ready for my first game down in sunny Wales.
Rodney Parade is (in my opinion) the only nice rugby ground left in Wales & always provides a nice setting despite the rest of the town being rebuilt.
Of course, as we were standing in the uncovered terrace watching the players warm up the rain started to fall - much to Dan Bowden’s delight having still not played a game in the dry for us yet. Clarke was captaining the side despite Bob starting, and despite Dodge giving us a small injury scare in warm up, he came out at the kick-off raring to go. My apologies for the lack of time in this report as despite Rodney Parade being a lovely ground it didn’t provide us with a clock so here are the events that happened between minutes 0 to 40.
Dan’s first touch of the ball went well as he quickly stepped around a couple of Dragons players. LI then kicked the ball ahead and Dragons got a penalty. Here is the first IRB Directive, Chris (who was ahead of the kicker) was standing still whereas this year the IRB want to see players running backwards to get onside. So Dragons take the lead from 45m out, 3-0.
After a certain period of time another Directive rears its head, penalty to Irish as while Dragons were in possession they had players standing in front of the scrum half blocking off our player (like players do all the time for box kicks). So that gives Ryan a chance to level the scores just on the 22m. Despite his reputation for normally missing his first kick, he gets it and the score is 3-3.
Now for a friendly the game seemed to be anything but, with players pulling each others’ shirts well after the ball had gone and little fights happening off the ball. The Dodge bursts into life from a quick tap penalty from a scrum he dances his way up to the Dragons 5m line, quick ball out wide through the backs means Topsy gets in in the corner. This is despite the announcer giving the try to Delon, much to Topsy’s disappointment. Great conversion from Ryan to make the score 3-10.
Dec then gets a yellow card for something only the ref saw as he was playing an advantage to Dragons, the scrum half puts his hands on the ball, Dec tackles him, the ref blows up and sends Dec to the bin. Around the same time Chris is helped off the pitch limping towards the changing rooms (seen after the game on crutches) to be replaced by George & his new hair(less) style. Dragons get a scrum on the LI 5m and the ball squirts out the back, a Dragons player collects it and runs underneath George trying to tackle him and scores under the posts, converted to make it 10-10.
Then the referee and his assistant try to referee a lineout. The players line up nowhere near the mark, James Buckland wants to throw the ball down the middle of the lineout but is instructed by the assistant to stand where he was and throw it over the Dragons players, meanwhile the referee gets bored and awards a free kick to Dragons for delaying the feed, which somehow turned into a penalty (probably for talking back). Dragons take the three and get it meaning the score at Half time is 13-10 to the Dragons.
No substitutions over half time, so here are the events from minutes 40-80.
LI get a penalty in front of the posts and Ryan gets the three, 13-13. Ryan then put a great kick through to put Dragons on the defensive and is forced out 10m for their line. Directive! LI form a maul for the lineout but give away a penalty for blocking, this year referees are making sure that no one is standing in front of the ball carrier when they are taken down from the air. Dragons get a yellow card for offside in the red zone (same offence Ryan got away with in the first half) and Ryan takes the three and makes it 13-16 to LI. Another penalty for LI and another three points from Ryan, 13-19. Great try next, Ryan puts a nice little chip over the Dragon’s defence and collects, passes out to JJ who darts round a few players and offloads to George who scores under the posts! Converted by Ryan to make it 13-26.
Next directive, penalty for Dragons for not releasing the tackled player. Extra emphasis on making sure when a player (Steff) tackles a player he has to completely let go off him before going for the ball. This is to try and reverse the mess last year and give the tackled player a better chance to get the ball back. Dragons have a couple of scrums on the 5m and after some really slow ball they break a couple of tackles they get in under the posts, 20-26 to LI. Then discover that the referee has missed a directive (tut tut), referees have been asked to slow down the scrum engagement sequence, whereas this referee thought that pauseengage was one word, good job I wasn’t the assessor.
Another good chip over from Ryan from the 22m and Tom tackles the defender off the try line, 5m scrum to LI. A scrum, ruck & drive later LI pile over and score a try! We thought Paice was last one up so we thought he scored, but feel free to give it to any of the forwards, converted by Ryan. Full time score 20-33 to LI.
So as we walked back through the pouring rain to get to the car we thought that the game was alright. We played quite well considering a couple of key players were missing but still looked strong, especially in the second half. Ryan had a great game and saw some really good play and kicks. Hoping Chris (on crutches) and Richard (arm in sling) aren’t serious injuries and if we don’t have a major injury crisis we should be in for a good season. Roll on Edinburgh, great more rain.
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StumbleuponLI Rain on Rodney Parade
Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 23/08/2010 14:45
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Re: LI Rain on Rodney Parade
Posted by: Carlovian (IP Logged)
Date: 23/08/2010 15:04
Thanks, Sam - great report.
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