Fezzed

Those of us who ventured into the ground early were treated to viewing possibly the most intense pre-match warm-up this season. Kieron Dawson in his culottes setting the fashion tone for the day. Conor O’ Shea driving the kicking practice, with barely a miss between Barry and Tofty from all angles and distances. Gary Gold driving the forwards through their paces and a very slimline Dr.Venter goading the backs. A bit of back foot practice drove one wag to comment that we must be good for a win as Daws didn’t step offside once!

The warm-up was very game-focused and was as vigorous as it was long.

In the only major change from the line-out in the programme, Ashley Rowden (International man of Mystery) replaced Roy Maybank. The mystery was in the decisions given.

Anyway, to the game. This was a game of many turnovers and not finding touch with the kicking from hand. Fortunately, Irish only formed half of this deal today.

Barry kicked off and all hell broke loose. Sarries cleared through Little to half way, but Naka, having had a great warm-up, threw it away allowing Little to kick to the corner. 2nd time out Naka threw over the jumpers to Daws (of course he meant to!). Across the park it came and into the waiting hands of Michael Horak, who sprinted from his own 22 to score a trademark try in the corner. The Irish support was off, the awful drummers, the bad bodhran bashers- only Sammy was missing.

Unfortunately, Barry missed the conversion. 3 minutes gone 0-5 on the board.

From the kick off, Daws gathered but ran into trouble, still Irish won the first scrum decision from Austin Rowden. First time down it looked like Irish were in trouble in the scrum, Sheasby had to come off the back offloading to Digby as he went, the attempted grubber kick was charged down, Irish won the first of many turnovers from the ensuing breakdown. The Doc was high tackled, but Sarries were awarded the penalty. Little kicked for the corner, from the resulting lineout, it came off the top to Horan, then Bracken, then Shanklin (later named MOTM, prompting the “Ah bless, the Welsh have won something this season” comment). International man of Mystery then awarded Sarries another penalty; this time for walking like a spider (at least I think that was the signal).

Although it was on the 22 and slightly to the left of the posts, Little opted for the kick to the corner.

Another bit for the clipboard, Irish win the lineout, get the ball to Barry who boots upfield but fails to find anything other than the waiting arms of Castaignede who does find touch on half way. This can be pasted many times throughout this game.

Paul Sackey was notable by his tackle count and Jimmy Cockle was kicking ass, albeit sometimes literally.

The middle 15 minutes could be summed up thus: Sarries have possession, go to ground, Irish turn the ball over; feed it to Barry who doesn’t find touch. This annoys some who doubt!

Now there is production and there is over-production. The theme tune from the A Team greeting the Robot Wars reject carrying the kicking tee falls into the latter category, sort it out, Sarries.

Craig Yandell is obviously a fan of Riverdance, at least the mantra "if it’s green and on the ground it should be danced upon" seems to apply in his world. The Doc did have a view on this as he sat him on his considerably larger arse with a demon tackle.

The Irish lineout was shaky but at least it was being won, albeit luckily at the back for the most part as Naka sent the ball sailing over the jumpers. Irish were awarded a penalty for a high tackle on the Doc just outside the 22 on the right of the posts as Barry looked at them, 3-8 on 18 minutes.

Much as Jimmy Cockle was doing good things, so he does the odd silly thing. On this occasion backing offside into Tim Horan to knock him over as Irish seem to be winning the ball back, giving Sarries a breather but opting for a kick to the corner. Their lineout was a shambles by this stage and the Irish were starting to dominate the scrum. Still, the ball was inside the Irish half for a lot of the first half.

To use a cliché, it was a game of two halves and one end of the pitch. The territory was held by Sarries in the first half in the Irish half and vice versa on the same end of the pitch in the second.

A few panicky moves on both sides, not going anywhere ending with Barry finding touch in the corner despite the hospital pass from Strudders to Cockle to set it up. Naka put it over the top and Castaignede started a run that lasted a long time but only took him back and forth across the pitch and no real gain.

Big hits on both sides and a much hungrier Irish pack were the order of the day. Shanklin and Haughton were making a nuisance of themselves as was the combination of Bracken and Little. It must be said that Little’s contribution can be measured in kicking terms largely.

On 30 minutes, Sarries finally opted to try for the points from one of the many penalties awarded to them. Little made no mistake from the 22. 6-8, game on.

A nice move incorporating Digby, the Doc and Nick Burrows, a forward kick somehow counting as a knock on ended with a scrum to Sarries. The ball, not for the last time, shot straight out the back of the scrum like a missile. Sarries managed to get it to Little who punted it straight to Horak who marked it. Barry failed to find touch from the pass and as ever, TC came running towards the Irish defence.

From the resulting lineout, over the top and it wasn’t one of ours, Daws nicked it then was pinged at the breakdown. Irish took the scrum against the head, the ball came out to Bish whose kick was charged down but Irish had the lineout. It was duly won and Barry did find touch outside the 22.

There was a bit of afters on the far side which resulted in the Sarries hooker, Cairns being binned. Bizarrely, once his time was up, he got mullered in two scrums and swiftly went back to the bench.

Sarries were awarded a penalty for Irish not rolling away from the tackle area right on half time, which Little despatched with ease. 9-8 half time.

Much to the dismay of the Tony Byrne Section of the Lower Rous stand, the props who had been winning mightily were replaced by Beefy and the Cowboy. Not to worry, they carried on where Laa Laa and Worsley had left off. International man of Mystery was on one and it seemed like a never-ending series of penalties against Irish. Strangely, the Sarries supporters echoed the sentiment but reckoned it was the other way round! Lying gits, he was down on us and don’t you forget it!

Immediately after, from a scrum, Barry slotted a drop goal to put Irish 2 clear 9-11. This didn’t even temper the critics, let alone quieten them.

The second half settled into the pattern of the first. Scrapping in the loose, Irish winning the set plays, Barry not finding touch, albeit the ball just would not bounce for him today.

Marsters came on for Storey and Robbie Russell resumed his position as hooker in the 50th. From an Irish viewpoint, this was a hungry performance, the best for a while. Sheasby was catching all before him, making the ground, looking much more at home with Naka to offload to. Naka is back, need I say more?

In the 60th minute, Ben Skirving (from the Bishop Stortford conveyor belt of talent, so says TPL) took the field in place of Ben Russell.

Just after that, the saddest point of the day from an Irish perspective as Justin Bishop caught a high ball and set off down the far wing. He was decked in what was a hard but fair tackle it appeared to me. Sadly, he left the field on a stretcher and departed the ground in an ambulance shortly after. Get well soon, Bish!

I have a note that says 71 minutes gone and IMOM Rowden is determined that the home side should win.

Digby managed to drop a seemingly endless succession of ball forwards when in an attacking position. Were they all real? This coupled with the high penalty count around the flankers was seriously counting against Irish.

I’ve also got a note that is crossed out that simply says, Doc binned. How he wasn’t is a mystery to the Irish faithful, but even moreso to the Sarries support. He caught the ball, set off, dropped the shoulder, then came into contact with elbow leading and facing upwards. When pinged, he followed IMOM Rowden across the park arguing the point. Strudders was called for and the Tony Byrne Section feared the worst. However, IMOM Rowden was lenient on this occasion, much to the Sarries supporters disgust as our surprise.

In the 77th minute of normal time (there would be quite a bit of injury time due to the time taken over Justin) Declan Danaher replaced Jimmy Cockle. On 80, Irish were penalised for pulling down a maul, Little slotted it to put Sarries one ahead 12-11.

Irish hearts were in Irish mouths and make no mistake, it WAS in doubt. We were in to injury time. In the 4th minute of said injury time, Sarries replaced Tim Horan with Andy Goode. An exchange of drop goal attempts between Little and Barry produced nought.

Then, a breaking ball fell to Sheas who, when tackled, was awarded a penalty just inside the Irish half. A bit of lip and ball chucking from the Sarries replacement Robbie Russell and IMOM Rowden moved it forward 10M to just inside the Sarries half. Barry opted to kick.

If any Irish supporter says that they watched the kick straight on and not through their fingers, they’re lying.

Barry stood, looked, stood, looked, then stood, then looked some more, then stirred the pot, then looked some more, then stirred, then he kicked the thing, high, long, and straight between the blimmin posts. Go on, you beauty!

Ecstasy for the large group of Irish supporters was short lived as nobody wanted to kick the ball dead from the restart. Sackey tried to go on a try-scoring run, then TC was having some of it going the other way. Thank goodness for Mike Horak who booted the thing high into the far stand.

Game over and lots of "never in doubts" abounding! How good was it to see Bob Casey finally able to come over shaking the triumphant fist at last? Fair play, Bob, you always come to thank us.

Thanks to the rest of the players too, it’s just that we see Bob fronting the losses a lot more.

To summarise:

A scrappy encounter, somewhat spoiled by the referee.

Sarries never looked to pose a real threat on the try-scoring front.

Irish looked the better team in all areas, set pieces and loose play.

Scrums and lineouts won against the put-in.

Kicking from hand for touch not accurate, therefore not effective.

The returnees from injury made a real difference, Strudders doing the quiet man thing so well, Naka making yards, Horak doing his full back thing so well.

The largest group of travelling supporters outside the Kassam game. Long may this continue.

Dr. Venter now hoping to do a roaring trade prescribing beta-blockers to the supporters!

Let’s hope we keep the hunger for the rest of the season.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon