LV= over for this year
Moorsman
By Moorsman
February 7 2011
It's a hell of a long trip to see the Chiefs bow out of the LV= cup at Falcons.
Newcastle Falcons 17 Exeter Chiefs 3
My initial reaction to this match as posted on The Tribe message board was "a very, very poor performance". I've since reflected on this and am prepared to revoe the 'very, very" but I'll put my first thoughts into some sort of perspective.
Not being able to get to the Premiership match on Friday 18th and being able to get Monday off I decided to take the chance to visit Kingston Park for the first time (and very welcoming I found it). However this came at some considerable inconvenience as this timeline will show:-
- 3:30am - Alarm sounds. How quickly time passes at this time of the morning! I find myself pushed for time to meet the coach and add extra pressure by leaving my keys in the door only remebering this a few hundred yards down the road. A speedy return and equally speedy journey to Exeter to meet the coach departure time of 5am.
- 5:00am - Coach leaves with 2 drivers and 6 intrepid travellers, yours truly, John, Andy, Phil, Paul and Bob. There's no traffic on the road and we make excellant time. An enjoyable trip as the conversation roams through many aspects of Chiefs and other rugby matters interspersed with 'power naps'.
- 8:00am - Full English breakfast at Tamworth serices (M42) before resuming the journey North. The former Exeter players among us reliving memories of past exploits as we pass towns visited in pre-league and Prem days.
- 11:00am - Coffee at Scotch Corner, you can see how rapid our progress was, before the short trip to Kingston Park. John gets a call to say the Club (exeter) will have tickets ready for our arrival so things are looking up.
- 12:30 - arrive at Kingston Park in drizzle to see loads of young rugby players in uniform brown, soaking wet kit from the mornings juniors tournament. This sparks talk of past games and the joys of cotton kit and leather balls with a sponge-like ability to absorb water.
- 3:00pm - kick off and the game gets under way. There are about 20? Chiefs supporters huddled around the Oggyman's drum and we get the usual mix of reaction to the 'Chop' and assorted encouragement for the lads.
The second half isn't much better with the Chiefs camped in the Falcons 22 without managing to conjour a way over the whitewash. So, lots of huff and puff until the last 5 minutes when the Chiefs implode and ship 2 converted tries.
There was a universal sence of disappointment expressed by Chiefs supporters at the end of the game. This was undoubtedly added to by the miserable weather but it felt like a very un-Chief-like performance, lacking cohesion and pace. This may be a little harsh given the side put together for this game including Nemani Nedolo's first appearance. I'm sure he'd prefer to be running on the surface and not through it but we're into the 'heavy' pitch time of year and once Paddy has worked a few pounds off him he's bound to improve.
01:10am - arrive home 'cream crackered'!!
Well, that's the cup competitions out of the way and full focus will be on gaining ground in the Prem to secure next season's place. Next week we host Quins before returning to Kingston Park where I suggest few of Saturday's squad will figure.
LV= over for this year
Posted by: thechiefstribe.com (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2011 19:08
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Re: LV= over for this year
Posted by: chiefswatcher (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2011 19:38
excellent post. this is the sort of review i like. good balance between the game and the whole day experience.
thanks, surprised you are able to stay awake, let alone type that!
and finally, well done the club for honouring their promise to put on a coach to every away game no matter the size of the uptake. one driver for every three passengers sounds a good ratio to me!
thanks, surprised you are able to stay awake, let alone type that!
and finally, well done the club for honouring their promise to put on a coach to every away game no matter the size of the uptake. one driver for every three passengers sounds a good ratio to me!
Re: LV= over for this year
Posted by: shoutsloudlyinmoonlight (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2011 19:54
i do have to take my hat off to the chiefs on a good performance in the cup and hopefuly when we go up to newcastle in 2 weeks time we will hold our heads up high and stuff them good and proper
Re: LV= over for this year
Posted by: fatheralice (IP Logged)
Date: 07/02/2011 19:59
Good and interesting write up. Hats off to those that attended.
Just a shame for such a poor end to the game. That said a 3-0 win wouldn't have been much better I guess!
I wonder how many will travel up on the 18th?
Just a shame for such a poor end to the game. That said a 3-0 win wouldn't have been much better I guess!
I wonder how many will travel up on the 18th?
Re: LV= over for this year
Posted by: OAP (Over a pint) (IP Logged)
Date: 08/02/2011 09:03
This is just the sort of report I enjoy as it explains just what "The rugby experience" is about. Leave the coaching and the players to get on with the game because they will do a better job than we.
As to the weather and the pitches, had I been there then there would have been little surprise as I played all my rugby in the north and have little memories of grass on a pitch once September had passed us by; even Adrian would have aproblem keeping the pitch green. Newcastle (Gosforth as was), believe it or not, was one of the better pitches in those days but then they used to be out on the Great North Road on the other side of the city.
It brought back great memories but as I look out onto my garden which is now coming back to life again, I remember why I moved south as I would have had to wait another couple of months to see the same up north.
As to the weather and the pitches, had I been there then there would have been little surprise as I played all my rugby in the north and have little memories of grass on a pitch once September had passed us by; even Adrian would have aproblem keeping the pitch green. Newcastle (Gosforth as was), believe it or not, was one of the better pitches in those days but then they used to be out on the Great North Road on the other side of the city.
It brought back great memories but as I look out onto my garden which is now coming back to life again, I remember why I moved south as I would have had to wait another couple of months to see the same up north.
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