I remember when Guinness was good for you

Guinness Premiership Round 18

London Irish v Northampton Saints

Sunday 22nd March, KO 2:30 pm Madejski Stadium

KO 2:30pm

Score LI 32 Saints 27

Fantastic I thought, the London Irish squad will be out celebrating with their countrymen late into the evening and would be a little worse for wear when facing the Saints in this latest premiership encounter.

And to be sure the party would continue as the supporters mount their annual St Patrick's day celebrations with a bumper crowd and a host of entertainment. Not being one for national stereotypes nor clichés I stayed at home. I pinned on my four leaf clover, donned my green wig, rubbed the leprechaun's tummy, lined up the bottles of Guinness and prepared for the match. To add to the atmosphere I prepared some fiddle music on the surround sound and taped my arms to my sides, donning my hob nail boots I was then ready to do a jig every time saints scored a try. The stage was set.

For the first time in a while we had a "proper" referee in charge of proceedings, the sun was shining and the Sky team were there ready to add their own unique brand of pointless hyperbole, Both team had targeted a win and both played with ambition and pace. It is a shame therefore that the referee was so influential throughout and most of the main talking points after the game will probably centre upon his decisions rather than the players performance. I will not do that here as I thoroughly enjoyed the rugby and there were players in the black green and gold who showed how they have matured this season in many ways. There was a lot for a saints supporter to be happy with.

So as I prepared to celebrate each try with a pint of Guinness a blast of load fiddle music and an Irish jig the match kicked off. On 1 minute 33 seconds Bruce Bruce Bruce scores following a fantastic flowing move with all three front row players having been involved at some stage. The crowd are silenced , Barry converts 7-0 Saints.

Dee Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Dee......CLUMP , CLUMP, CLUMP. SLURP!

Things are going well.

Then on 5 mins Courtney receives a harsh yellow card and the dynamics change. The Irish scrum dominates in his absence winning one against the head and Irish press for the equalizing score which eventually comes around ten minutes in with O'Thompstone powering through Foden's attempted tackle to score in the corner. Oh well a try is a try

Dee Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Dee......CLUMP , CLUMP, CLUMP. SLURP!

The dominance in the scrum in Courtney's absence then results in a pen for standing up and Irish take the lead 10-7

Once Lawes returns things even up a bit with both teams still keen to play with adventure and pace and Saints make it 10 a piece after a turnover leads to another penalty. But straight from the kick off Irish are given a penalty under the post as Foden gathers the ball and goes to ground. Even the TV commentators couldn't explain why though. 13-10 Irish.

The match continues to ebb and flow and on 30 mins Wilson scores following probing runs by Dixon and a miss pass from Reihana.

Dee Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Dee......CLUMP , CLUMP, CLUMP. SLURP! CRASH.

Taping my arms to my sides had seemed a good idea at the time but it does make it difficult to drink Guinness. This is solved by gripping the edge of the glass with my teeth and tipping my head back. Problem is this makes it hard to balance when doing an Irish jig. I have not thought this through.

Barry misses the conversion 13-15

Then on 34 mins hands in the ruck leads to another Irish pen. Baffled by Davey's chat stating he would have binned the player if he had seen him I then realise that the decision has been called by Woy Maybank , the @rse ref from about 40 metres away. The Irish supporters were to get a bit disgruntled at seemingly similar instances in the second half. O'Homer kicks 16-15

Almost immediately afterwards the tit for tat pens resume as Irish are given offside but Barry hits the upright and it bounces out so the score remains 16-15 at half time. I find that going for the half time relief is also hampered by taped arms and begin to realise just how tough it is being Irish.


The second half starts with both sides continuing their first half performance again playing with ambition and running the ball whenever they can.

Mr Davey continues his first half performance and gives a penalty to Saints a minute in. But this one is not kickable. On 45 mins however Saints are given another pen 47 metres out. O'Armitage is binned now again very harshly in my opinion. Bruce steps up. At the time I thought this may have been because it was outside Barry's range but I think it may have been because he was carrying a knock as he was replaced by Myler about ten minutes later. Bruce scores !!!

Dee Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Dee......CLUMP , CLUMP, CLUMP. SLURP!

Ok I know it wasn't a try but Bruce kicking one from 47 metres was worth the celebration. 16-18

The game continues to ebb and flow and on 53 mins another pen for hands in the ruck. This time Bruce from 48 metres !!!!!!!  16-21

 Dee Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Diddley Dee......CLUMP , CLUMP, CLUMP. SLURP! CRASH.

Bejeesus I've fallen down again. This time I decide to stay there for a bit as O'Armitage rejoins the fray and Myler replaces Everitt. Its quite comfortable on the floor but I wonder how I am going to explain the carpet burns.

On 58 mins some great counter rucking by Saints gives Bruce another pen opportunity which he takes with the help of the posts 16-24

Things are looking good for Saints but Irish have other ideas. Mike Catt , the oldest player on the pitch at 87 is now using the boot from hand very well. He is still a master. It denies Saints counter attack opportunities and they are looking nervous with the lead as Irish now start to control more possession. 61 mins sees an Irish penalty for not rolling away, 65 mins a pen for obstruction on O'Mapasua as he kicks through and 67 mins  a high tackle. With young O'Homer having a great day with the boot (surely he will play for Ireland for years to come) Irish re-take the lead 25-24

All the restarts do however give Courtney the chance to show just how fast and strong he is as he crashes catcher after catcher to the ground. Irish are an experienced team however and they continue to control most of the ball. On 71 mins Sky sadly refuse to show the female streaker that obviously impressed Neil Best. Then on 74 mins the penalty try from a scrum that I refuse to talk about or dance a jig to. 32-24. The issue with it being a penalty try of course is that the conversion is under the posts , so an easy kick for O'Homer puts Saints outside bonus point range.

Thankfully though Saints press back and as Richards is sin binned for taking a player out off the ball Bruce sticks over the penalty to make the final score 32-27 and at least a deserved bonus point.

This puts Irish 3rd I believe although as I type this report with my nose, still stuck on the floor with my arms taped to my sides there are other results to come in. (I hope Bristol beat Wasps).

Strangely I am not despondent as I believe Saints stepped up a notch today. Irish were missing some influential players but so were we, not least Nacho who may have steadied the ship when we had a healthy lead. They may not be London, they may not be Irish and today was not St Patrick's day (who incidentally wasn't Irish either) but what they are is a very good rugby team who play a good brand of rugby. I am happy that Saints pushed them so hard on their own patch and proud of the performance in front of the cameras. I hope Irish stay in the top four and change the old order. Their regular supporters are a wonderful bunch (I still remember being squashed in a car with Mulled Wine Marie on an SWH walk) who know how to celebrate victory and defeat in equal measure and I hope they do well for the remainder of the season. But I also hope we can continue to improve and turn them over in the re match at Franklins Gardens, and, if we meet in the final of the ECC saints can sneak a win in an equally entertaining game.



 



 

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