Glaws Get Their Pocket Nick-ed
By Steve Jones
November 21 2005
Irish’s recent form of scoring at least two trys per game was brought to a halt this Sunday, but that didn’t stop the boys registering their 5th win in a row, as the pack and Barry’s boot kept a poor Gloucester at bay.
November 21 2005
Irish’s recent form of scoring at least two trys per game was brought to a halt this Sunday, but that didn’t stop the boys registering their 5th win in a row, as the pack and Barry’s boot kept a poor Gloucester at bay.
It wasn’t for lack of effort, but it was a game with few try scoring opportunities. When either team did get in decent position, it seemed either indiscipline or cold hands would bring the move to an end. Certainly the start didn’t seem to indicate this, with a very quick start. Flutey and Delon chased a kick that was narrowly touched down by a Gloucester defender for a 22 dropout.
However, as would happen numerous times, Gloucester’s indiscipline against Irish pressure would prove their undoing as the first of Barry’s five penalties was given for what seemed like hands in the ruck. Gloucester would then lose the first of their players, the influential Jake Boer, to injury after 10 minutes.
It’s at this point in my notes, I notice in bold, ‘Seem to be able to steal lineout at will’. As has been discussed in many reports our lineout work was again fantastic, with Nick, Bob and Kieran Roche causing no end of problems. In the first half alone I counted at least five stolen lineouts, with one disrupted. With this kind of possession putting Gloucester on the back foot time and time again, it wasn’t long before Irish gained another penalty.
Another stolen lineout was kicked by Barry, chased down by Flutey and Delon again (Delon performed all day admirably despite what seemed a heavy knock on his ankle) for an Irish 5m scrum. A penalty for what seemed a deliberate knock on was dutifully knocked over by Barry. 6-0 Irish. After a brief Glaws foray up to our 22, and with their own kick at the posts turned down by an over eager James Forrester, Irish kicked up field only for another Glaws knock on giving Irish possession. A penalty in front of the posts made it 9-0 after 20 minutes.
The remainder of the half was taken by more penalties, Glaws getting on the board for Catt’s hands in the ruck, which Mercier kicked. Barry then missed a penalty in his own half, but got another chance 6 minutes later for another maul dragged down. Barry kicked us into a 12-3 lead. On the 40 minute mark, with Glaws in possession Bob and Nick managed to hack on to a loose ball to the Glaws 22, where a very patient Bob and Nick watched what seemed to be to this reporter a Glaws player diving in off his feet. Another penalty ended the half, with Barry making the score 15-3.
At this point to say Gloucester were dire behind their forwards would be doing a disservice to the word dire. Little imagination, or penetration usually resulted in a kick for touch or Ludovic Mercier placing a bomb or two into near orbit for Flutes or Delon to catch. Something had to change and at half time Peter Richards came on at Scrum Half. While his introduction certainly sped up the ball Gloucester were getting, their lack of breaking the gain line was still quite evident in the second half.
10 Minutes in to the second half, Eustace of Gloucester was sent to the sin bin after a touch judge’s report. Barry would then make it 18 – 3, and it would be fair to say that though there was a lot of huffing and puffing, there continued to be a dearth of chances. A good break by Ben and Kieran Roche was eventually knocked on about 10 metres out. Murphy and Faan left the field with 20 minutes to go, with Skuse and Gustard taking their place. Two minutes later Gloucester scored the first try of the match. As Irish were clearing their lines, Barry took too long to clear and the quick Peter Richards blocked his clearance and touched down, converted by Mercier. All of a sudden it was 18-10 with just under 20 minutes to go. Surely Irish had learned their lesson with other second half collapses this season?
While Gloucester couldn’t come close to breaking our line, with some fantastic tacking by Catt & Co keeping them back, Barry and Mercier took turns to miss kicks. Around this time Paul ‘Dodge’ Hodgson and Robbie Russell came on for Coetzee and Ben Willis. Catt was then replaced by Nils Mordt, just as Irish won another penalty for Gloucester infringing on a rolling maul. Another yellow card, this time to Buxton, left Glaws down to 14 men for the remainder of the contest. Barry mussed another kick, with 3 tense minutes left.
The immense Casey was then replaced by Ryan Strudwick. After a good attack was knocked on 1 metre out, Gloucester’s ensuing defensive scrum was wheeled, Strudwick picked up the loose ball and with Declan Danaher (In another rampaging performance) pushing him on, with 80 minutes gone Irish scored their only try. Converted by Barry, this made for a final score of 25 -10.
It wasn’t pretty, but we have a new found ability this season to adapt our game to take away our opponents Plan ‘A’, and it is working marvellously. While our backs never had much of a chance to run with the ball, we know if given the chance what they can do. Our forwards have come on since the introduction of Faan and Danie, and with the ability now to give Hardwick some deserved time off, we are looking stronger and stronger in the forwards, with able replacements in all positions.
Brian Smith’s goal this month was for 10 points. We have instead collected 13 so far, with Tiggers on Friday yet to come. I would like to see us go up there and start Flutey at 10, Horak at 15 and if fit, Stan on the wing and really have a go at Leicester. Whether this will happen or not is another thing, but, I have my day off work, my tickets for the game and my voice is slowly returning…roll on Friday!!!
However, as would happen numerous times, Gloucester’s indiscipline against Irish pressure would prove their undoing as the first of Barry’s five penalties was given for what seemed like hands in the ruck. Gloucester would then lose the first of their players, the influential Jake Boer, to injury after 10 minutes.
It’s at this point in my notes, I notice in bold, ‘Seem to be able to steal lineout at will’. As has been discussed in many reports our lineout work was again fantastic, with Nick, Bob and Kieran Roche causing no end of problems. In the first half alone I counted at least five stolen lineouts, with one disrupted. With this kind of possession putting Gloucester on the back foot time and time again, it wasn’t long before Irish gained another penalty.
Another stolen lineout was kicked by Barry, chased down by Flutey and Delon again (Delon performed all day admirably despite what seemed a heavy knock on his ankle) for an Irish 5m scrum. A penalty for what seemed a deliberate knock on was dutifully knocked over by Barry. 6-0 Irish. After a brief Glaws foray up to our 22, and with their own kick at the posts turned down by an over eager James Forrester, Irish kicked up field only for another Glaws knock on giving Irish possession. A penalty in front of the posts made it 9-0 after 20 minutes.
The remainder of the half was taken by more penalties, Glaws getting on the board for Catt’s hands in the ruck, which Mercier kicked. Barry then missed a penalty in his own half, but got another chance 6 minutes later for another maul dragged down. Barry kicked us into a 12-3 lead. On the 40 minute mark, with Glaws in possession Bob and Nick managed to hack on to a loose ball to the Glaws 22, where a very patient Bob and Nick watched what seemed to be to this reporter a Glaws player diving in off his feet. Another penalty ended the half, with Barry making the score 15-3.
At this point to say Gloucester were dire behind their forwards would be doing a disservice to the word dire. Little imagination, or penetration usually resulted in a kick for touch or Ludovic Mercier placing a bomb or two into near orbit for Flutes or Delon to catch. Something had to change and at half time Peter Richards came on at Scrum Half. While his introduction certainly sped up the ball Gloucester were getting, their lack of breaking the gain line was still quite evident in the second half.
10 Minutes in to the second half, Eustace of Gloucester was sent to the sin bin after a touch judge’s report. Barry would then make it 18 – 3, and it would be fair to say that though there was a lot of huffing and puffing, there continued to be a dearth of chances. A good break by Ben and Kieran Roche was eventually knocked on about 10 metres out. Murphy and Faan left the field with 20 minutes to go, with Skuse and Gustard taking their place. Two minutes later Gloucester scored the first try of the match. As Irish were clearing their lines, Barry took too long to clear and the quick Peter Richards blocked his clearance and touched down, converted by Mercier. All of a sudden it was 18-10 with just under 20 minutes to go. Surely Irish had learned their lesson with other second half collapses this season?
While Gloucester couldn’t come close to breaking our line, with some fantastic tacking by Catt & Co keeping them back, Barry and Mercier took turns to miss kicks. Around this time Paul ‘Dodge’ Hodgson and Robbie Russell came on for Coetzee and Ben Willis. Catt was then replaced by Nils Mordt, just as Irish won another penalty for Gloucester infringing on a rolling maul. Another yellow card, this time to Buxton, left Glaws down to 14 men for the remainder of the contest. Barry mussed another kick, with 3 tense minutes left.
The immense Casey was then replaced by Ryan Strudwick. After a good attack was knocked on 1 metre out, Gloucester’s ensuing defensive scrum was wheeled, Strudwick picked up the loose ball and with Declan Danaher (In another rampaging performance) pushing him on, with 80 minutes gone Irish scored their only try. Converted by Barry, this made for a final score of 25 -10.
It wasn’t pretty, but we have a new found ability this season to adapt our game to take away our opponents Plan ‘A’, and it is working marvellously. While our backs never had much of a chance to run with the ball, we know if given the chance what they can do. Our forwards have come on since the introduction of Faan and Danie, and with the ability now to give Hardwick some deserved time off, we are looking stronger and stronger in the forwards, with able replacements in all positions.
Brian Smith’s goal this month was for 10 points. We have instead collected 13 so far, with Tiggers on Friday yet to come. I would like to see us go up there and start Flutey at 10, Horak at 15 and if fit, Stan on the wing and really have a go at Leicester. Whether this will happen or not is another thing, but, I have my day off work, my tickets for the game and my voice is slowly returning…roll on Friday!!!
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