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The Novelty Has Gone


By Iron Lung
September 13 2018

The first home game of the season usually brings an opportunity to get the winter routine down to a tee. Parkrun or the lad's football match before a quick lunch and a dash to the Madjeski, a swift pint and then to our seats, chew the fat with friends not seen for a few months and then the rugby. Win or lose, rain or shine, come on you Irish.

For some reason today felt different, we're in a league we don't want to be in, huge favourtites to go straight up, and had beaten our supposed nearest challengers on their patch the previous week. The crowds were sparse, the hotel bar was never more than 1-2 people deep and seats were available for most. It struck me then that the novelty factor of being in the championshiop had worn off, we've been here, done that, got the t-shirt and visited the more characterful grounds around the country. Between our last trip down and this season we'd been reminded of games against the big boys, England stars, world cup legends and realised that was where we really want to be.
 
The road to staying there starts here though, whilst we have no right to go up we need to see the shoots ready to bloom to allow us to stay where we feel we belong. Did we see those shoots? It's hard to say when a win comes as easily as this one, so you have to dig a bit deeper.
 
On our last trip to the Championship I had a running joke with my son about the catch and drive being almost our sole method of scoring, I felt it hid inadequecies elsewhere. Just like last time the forwards were hugely on top, scrums and lineouts were won at will, Jake Schatz pogoing the ball as Irish drove a Nottingham scrum backwards a particular highlight. However, this simply set the platform and the backs would have to do their thing. 
 
This they did to an extent, the backline felt like a work in progress, the ball not quite moving slickly but the moves were bright and full of promise. Myler is a class apart at this level and the centres looked like they could do some real damage with a bit more game time together; Stephenson in particular caught the eye going forward but Campbell also combined well with his fellow backs for our second try. Tom Parton showed why so many fans have been calling for him to start, with a couple of excellent runs from deep and at least one excellent up and under, more of the same please Tom. Topsy put in some good defensive hits and McLean finished off a couple of moves at the end.
 
The defence does need some work though, we were vulnerable to runners coming back inside and leaked late tries which sounds like a line I could have taken from any match report for the last couple of seasons. We need to improve there.
 
Are the green shoots sprouting? It's early days yet but seeing us take advantage of a dominant pack by letting the backs loose was encouraging, a ten man game might win this league but we'll soon be back here if that's all we have to offer. I'm also pleased that there's things to improve on, I want to see progress through the season. By the end of the season I want to see that defence watertight, the handling slicker and for us to play for the full eighty minutes. At the end of the season can we say we are better than we are today?
 
The novelty of the championship has worn off but there's hope for the future.
 
(Editor's Note: Iron Lung kindly provided an image for this story but the SN site currently won't allow me to upload it...)

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The Novelty Has Gone
Discussion started by The Craic www.londonirish.org , 13/09/2018 14:12
The Craic www.londonirish.org
13/09/2018 14:12
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NoelBrosnan
13/09/2018 19:32
Rarely go to Reading, its not London, the only good bit about relegation is I get to see some great away games. The Brentford stadium is progressing nicely, time to come home and building up our support again.

waltham
13/09/2018 23:04
Nice one Iron Lung...felt somewhat the same. Didn't go post match as only one of us is a "Member" this season.

Can't agree with NB about Brentford...really wish I could but there's no way LI will get anything like the 14k predicted, nevermind the 26k Bristol managed on their opening day.

Either go out and really market in Thames Valley...OR do it now around West London and offer some sort of once give to goto Reading THISand NEXT season, otherwise the new Brentord stadium will be very, very empty when its open in 2020.

HMRH
14/09/2018 07:15
Could barely move around the ground at Ealing is was so full of Londoners watching a Irish

Paul_D
14/09/2018 08:13
Quote:
waltham
Didn't go post match as only one of us is a "Member" this season.

All members are allowed to take a guest winking smiley

Fursa
14/09/2018 11:26
Brentford should be completed October 2019 and be up and running by December2019
.Brentford FC will not be moving mid season. they plan to move in time for season 2020/21 However there is no reason why Lon I cannot move in December2019. Wasps moved to Coventry mid season

waltham
16/09/2018 09:13
Quote:
Paul_D
Quote:
waltham
Didn't go post match as only one of us is a "Member" this season.

All members are allowed to take a guest winking smiley

Fair point but there were 3 of us anyway..

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