Mark Mapletoft had an early miss then kicked 7 penalties of increasing difficulty to give us 21 points. While Saracens scored 2 great tries their fly half Glen ‘da’ Jackson missed 5 attempts at goal, a far from Oscar winning performance. While we never deserved to lose, his kicking certainly lessened the pressure on us. It must be remembered that rugby is a 15 man game, and that hookers, wingers, handling, running, passing, lineout, scrum, ruck and maul are all parts of the game. While he had a shocker with the boot, give him till Easter before you crucify him.

I’d say that the turning point came on the hour mark. The score was 18-10 to us and Saracens was attacking in earnest, keeping the ball in hand amongst the forwards. A series of short mauls got them from the half way to the 22 where they were collapsed, illegally by us, referee Davey awarded a penalty. While captain Ryan Strudwick was given advice on how to spoil ball a little better, Mapletoft limped around theatrically while Jackson shaped his place kick from just to the left of the posts. The crowd fell silent, I mean we stopped singing ‘The Fields’ briefly, and he missed ! Barry could have back-heeled that one over, maybe it was the pressure of the moment due to the huge crowd of 7,400 but it was a surprising miss nonetheless. To cap it off, Mapletoft made a miraculous recovery to slot over a far more difficult penalty 2 minutes later to make the score 21-10.

The other major factor in the win was the resilient Irish defence.  In injury time as wave after wave of battering Saracen hordes attacked, each was repulsed With the score locked at 15-21 the heathen Saracens needed a converted try to win, which meant a try under the post most probably. As my watch hands seemed to swim through treacle, the crowd urging on every effort for attack or defence, 10 minutes of pressure was resisted, tackle after tackle, mauls rolled and finally the whistle blew.  We waved flags, applauded the players as they applauded us, commiserated with the opposition fans and took in the majesty of the situation. Semi finalists ! Proud to hold our heads up among the exalted company of Leeds, Gloucester, and Bath. No Wasps, No Leicester, No Sale or Newcastle. Who will the draw give us, and at which venue ? That’s for the future, lets savour the win first.

Pre-match preparations meant that my group of 3 had arrived with a designated driver, a large Irish tricolour flag on a pole and plenty of our own food and drink. Saracens being desert wallahs we were taking no chances. As it turned out we found the hospital car park full and the Red Lion rammed 3 deep at the bar. The carnival atmosphere was everywhere, not just our usual green wigged and boa-ed brigades but the Fez people, the camel jockeys, the Sons of the Sand were the main attraction. If we have rivals for being the least po-faced rugby supporters it is from these marvellous people.

 

I hope the picture can capture the moment of the drums, accordions, and Bernie Clifton style camel jockey backing up the Fez head dancers. If they don’t cheer you up then check yourself for a pulse, or check to see if your sense of humour hasn’t fallen behind the couch. Going to the Madejski regularly makes me treat Sunday as a giant party with a rugby game in the middle, and this made for a close second.

Our tickets were on the 22m line in the Lower Rous, and it gives a good view of the pitch, and a close view of the giant screen which showed the match action in real time with replays of the tries and kicks. After running through the teams, the major surprise was Tofty starting instead of Barry, due to a hamstring I was later informed, that and Bracken for Morgan Williams at 9 for Saracens meant the program had it ok.

I was also pleased to see that the Saracens had laid on some dancers, as an appetiser. Wish I’d laid on them myself, Oi ! Being an aficionado of the terpsichorean muse especially when practiced by young girls with shiny flesh coloured tights fake tan and big warm smiles. At at the time of life where I appreciate these things, I admit it – I’m an old letch. I’ve said this before but forgive the repetition, my personal view is that the Madejski experience would be enhanced by such a pre-match display. Apologies to our Dunlop dancers, these girls were more pneumatic.

The Lower Rous features a members bar which is as it says, for members only. I did my Jedi mind trick on the commissionaire “We are not the fans you’re looking for” and we hit the front of the queue for grog. From Alec Guinness to Arthur Guinness in a few short strides, and we were suitably refreshed inside 5 minutes, in spite a change of barrel. These were regular trained professional bar people. Saracens regulars are blessed by such a place.

I can’t really add much to the official London Irish site match report which seems comprehensive, I’ll just give brief scores and then a unique detailed analysis of the lineouts. I’m indebted to Andy our designated driver for it, as he knows lineouts and we thought this was going to be the key area of the match.

====The match itself===

Kick-off, lineout, penalty against Irish, Staniforth spoken to by Mr Davey, Jackson missed penalty from 30m out, 10m in from right, pushed out to the left across the posts after 3minutes. 0-0

Nice jinking break by 13 Castegneide but then balances this a couple of minutes later by being adjudged offside at a ruck. Mapletoft misses the penalty, either being a metre too wide or failing to reach after 6 minutes. 0-0

Irish are showing ambition in these early attacks, it’s refreshing to see the intent and invention. Captain Ryan Strudwick sells an outrageous dummy instead of throwing it out to the wing and cuts inside making 10 metres, Delon Armitage is taken out off the ball. It happened right in front of me, but like many people my eyes were on Strudders, so Delon could well be guilty of attacking some poor Sarasods forearm with his throat. From 35m out, 5m in from left touch Mapletoft makes a difficult kick look easy this time after 12 minutes. 0-3

Good break by Saracens Mark Bartholemeusz gets them into the Irish 22 on a dangerous looking attack only for the ball to be knocked forward. The No15 had a good game, but this was not the only time the handling of his colleagues let them down. The resulting scrum was turned but later cleared up by Irish.

Mapletoft has a clever kick over the top but the bounce defeats his attempt to regather. Irish still make yards and get a scrum on the Saracens 22. Taine Randell No6 is spoken to for stamping on Murphy No8, penalty bang in front. 22 minutes 0-9

We all know the drill, you tackle the man, can’t hold on to him, roll away from the tackle area and don’t try to slow down or interfere with the ball if you’re on the wrong side of the ruck. If Murphy is close to the ball, a little encouragement from the shoe to retrieve the ball is allowed. The referee thought it was a bit more robust than that from Taine Randall, that he was too enthusiastic in his attempt to get the ball. It was never a bad tempered game, it was hard fought and physical but the referee controlled it – without resort to cards. 

Saracens roar back and Irish are offside at ruck, Jackson puts them on the board, 25 minutes. 3-9

Delon comes on to the ball at speed but is tackled, not enough weight to burst through. Tofty directing our attack well, another penalty awarded after 30 minutes. 3-12

Scrum on halfway line, comes up and is reset. Hooker comes up again and is penalised. Tofty takes the kick from the halfway line and its either just to the right or short. 35 minutes, 3-12

Ball dropped on restart leads to Saracen attacking lineout. Quick ball and hooker Cairns steps inside from his diagonal run and heads to the posts. Too much strength and momentum to be stopped. Some query the grounding, but that’s what all good fans do. There does seem to be a bit of a consultation between the lino the ref but they could be checking how the lineout was, or how close to half time we are. 40 minutes.8-12

Jackson converts from straight on, nervous moments, huge roar as he converts. 10-12

Its 10-12 at half time and I’m a bit worried that we’ve had the pressure, taken the points and yet we’re only 2 points ahead, it should be a lot more. Decent half time facilities as the stand is neatly sectioned and has a good rake / angle. Another fine display of the terpsichorean arts, another Jedi mind trick, a quick slurp and we’re back for the second half. Looking forward to it.

The halftime talk from the Diamond geezer must have been “Don’t worry about discipline, score tries” because Mapletoft soon gets another penalty chance. 10-15

Russell goes down to the ground and Saracens No1 prop Kevin Yates is spoken to by Mr Davey. 10-18

We then get the series of short mauls I spoke of earlier which led to another Jackson penalty miss and shortly afterwards a successful one from Lazarus Mapletoft. 10-21

Enormous pressure from Saracens now to get themselves back in the game, finally for another great Saracens try. A couple of darting moves from wing and full back gives a short inside ball to a thundering Kris Chesney who has the pace and momentum to burst through the tackles. Unstoppable, and for a moment I forgot who I’m cheering for. I am a rugby fan first and foremost, and the drama of the cup is a joy. That was a nice feature, amongst the Irish and Saracen fans were many neutrals Bristol and Bedford among those around us. 72 minutes. 15-21

The conversion is from out wide, and it’s a creditable attempt but the combined will power of the Irish fans pulls it wide and the touch judges flags stay down. But the heathen hordes are shouting now. What they need is a good chant or a song, but as the announcer says they’re only a converted score behind. He says it slightly muffled as though he’s got a mouthful of pizza and he’s probably thinking one try under the sticks, or 2 out wide.

This fact is not lost on the tactically aware Irish as they execute Play #1 in the Irish playbook. Some might unkindly say that it’s the only page some of the Irish squad have learned – get down field and set up for a drop goal. So having resisted Saracens line outs and Delon has hacked through and chased a loose pass we arrive at that moment. Unfortunately the ball hit the posts and falls after a bounce which evades Staniforth in to the defence. The posts continue to wobble but the Irish defend for the next ten minutes until the full time whistle.

Full Time Saracens 15 London Irish 21

Fair play to Mr Davey, he had a decent game and didn’t card anyone in spite of provocation. Mapletoft would be a favourite for Man of the Match but it was built on a team performance and our superior handling. We threw the ball about, and we caught it better than they did. We kicked, they missed, we conquered.

========================================================

There now follows a Party Political Broadcast for the Lineout Party. This is for the statistically minded and fans of Ryan Strudwick. It is just every lineout, in sequence, for both sides. Its an important feature of any game, I’ve just separated it from the rest of the action.

1st Half

Irish. 1min. Thrown to back, caught by I4 Strudwick.
Saracen. 9min. Thrown short, caught by S8 Skirving.
Saracen. 11min. 3 man reduced line-out, caught by S4 Fullarton but knocked forward to Irish by S9, Bracken.
Irish. 16min. Thrown long, caught by I4 Strudwick.
Saracen. 21min. Thrown short, caught by S4 and knocked down quickly to S9.
Saracen. 23min. Thrown to middle, caught by S5
Irish. 25m. Thrown too long, bounces retrieved by I10 Mapletoft.
Saracen. 26m. Thrown long, spoilt by Strudwick, but regained by Saracens.
Saracen. 29m. Middle, knocked down by S5 to S9
Saracen. 35m. Middle, caught by S4
 

2nd Half
Irish. 40min. Middle, knocked down by I5 Casey, caught by I9 Edwards
Saracen. 49m. Short, clean catch by S8 Skirving
Saracen. 50m. Short, clean catch by S8 Skirving. Déjà vu
Saracen. 55m. Middle, caught by S4
Irish. 58m Quick throw by I10 to I8 Murphy
Saracen. 61min. Middle knocked down by S4 to S9
Saracen. 62min. Middle, I4 Strudwick hits S4 Fullarton in the air, Davey gives penalty to Saracens.
Saracen. 64min. Middle, caught by S4. Unhindered.
Saracen. 66min. Thrown long and caught by Saracen sub 18 Kris Chesney.
Irish. 74min. Short throw, caught by Casey.
Irish. 78min. Thrown to middle, stolen by Saracen sub 16
Irish. 79min.  Thrown long, picked up by Saracen 10 Jackson.
Saracen. 80min. Quick throw from S14 Ryvita Vapona to S15
Saracen. 80min. Long throw picked up by S5
Saracen. 80min. Long throw caught by S6.

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