Moving on
LI v Newcastle
By fletcher2215
February 9 2015
Interest for a game on a cold February Saturday when the chance of progressing to the knock-out stages has gone, may be a little on the low side. The team sheets that you see before you are indicative of the coaches attitude to the competition, one as a hopeful springboard to premiership success the other ravaged by international call ups, injuries and resting rotations that cause a myriad of experimental and enforced line-ups. The enthusiasm for getting off your backside and away from the sofa, fire and TV may have just started to wane.
Couple all of that with the attention and action sparked by the NH World Cup pre party and for London Irish, what is to come in the shape of a European quarter final and the “off the pitch” preparations for next season, the fixture against Newcastle Falcons in the LV Cup is seen by many as very much on the rugby under-card.
We set off from Basingstoke as usual, our little band of 4, blood and marriage relatives with my father-in-law at the helm, he the only not “Not-Not” being born in Ireland and landing in London in the early 60's. The journey consisted of discussions of the previous evening's rugby and today's teams. Nothing much was concluded (other than our alumni out west,had made a good show of themselves). So as I wandered across the carpark looking like a walrus in a hot water tank jacket towards the stadium I started to wonder what the game had in store for us today. The biting north easterly wind made my eyes water, little did I know what a metaphor that was going to be as the afternoon unfolded.
The start was bright from Irish with a couple of quick penalties won and converted by Miles and my spirits lifted. Then things started to go backwards, metaphorically and literally. As with quite a few performances before the festive season we could not seem to get the line-out throws right or tackle in any meaningful sense of the word. OK it seemed that Newcastle were here for business but there were too many times that severe yardage was made before we put the man down. This then led to more effort to regain the ball and desperate attempts to move the ball back up the pitch to a potential scoring chance. The stoic souls around me began to agitate towards the ref and Irish players in equal measure. I found myself inspecting the roof of the east stand far more than usual in fits of derision as missed chance, reffing oversight and mistake colluded to make a very poor show for the reported 4700 that had turned up to witness it.
As the half progressed Newcastle looked more and more menacing with every prod and attack of our line and as night follows day the last line was breached and Newcastle wrapped up the first half with 2 tries in quick succession. Making a 6-0 deficit a 14-6 lead at half time.
The second half started much as the first with Irish looking brighter but as the light faded so did the notion of a close contest. Irish again were creators of their own downfall with an overthrown line-out letting Newcastle in for another Try. A few Irish players were offering some sort of resistance but it wasn’t long before the Newcastle no8 bagged his second try of the afternoon.
“Empty the bench” I muttered and within a minute my wish was granted and re-enforcements made their way onto the pitch. The new and fresh of face seemed to steady the ship and Irish looked better for it, Mulchrone finishing off a sprint up the western touchline. That was as good as it got and Irish were soon on the back foot and with more points against as Newcastle finished off in the ascendency. Final Score 13-31
This was a bad day at the office for Irish and I was hoping that more of the team on display today would make a claim for a regular starting birth but that obviously wasn't to be. It seems we have a lot to look forward to at Irish and in the world of rugby as a whole. I doubt many will be looking back at this game for too long I hope. Moving on...
Come on you Irish!
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
