The same racehorses are expected to compete in a Derby trial sprint, and the Grand National. Whereas the Madejski may be closer to an all-weather standard pitch, the going at Kingsholm is at best good-to-soft.

As rain began ten minutes before kick-off on an already wet pitch, the tactics were primarily based on gaining territory by kicking, and fast fluent running and handling were largely ignored.

I ignored note-taking rather than reproduce the unintelligible soggy mess. How many times could one man describe the ball being kicked ahead, and retrieved and hoofed back? It was often like one of the interminable baseline slugging of chick tennis, but without the grunts and frilly knickers.

Renting out the pitch to the MOD for tank manoeuvres can’t be good idea. Unless they’re doing some set-dressing prior to filming a Battle of the Somme re-enactment, I think a rugby pitch looks better with a grass. Still let’s not be churlish just because we lost -lets leave that to the management!

Gloucester won because they played the better rugby, scoring 2 tries wrapped round the kick-in-the-mud sandwich. The first came after around 5 minutes when the standard kick ahead appeared to be knocked on by Lamb in the covering position. Referee Spreadbury indicated to the players that the ball had not touched his hand but rather his chest and upper arm. The ball was flung wide and progress was made on the wing, with the defence rush up a kick was put behind by Simpson-Daniel, and full back Ollie Morgan sped through to score. The conversion was missed, as were 3 subsequent penalties by Gloucester over the course of the next hour.

Irish gained territory by Nick Kennedy having 3 lineout steals, and Justin Bishop was bashed when fielding kick #25 and not allowed to gain his feet. Shane Geraghty kicked our only points of the day for a 5-3 scoreline which remained for an hour, flattering the efforts of both sides. It was the mistakes, the knock-ons, the offsides, lineout steals, which you felt could turn the game, but there was a high degree of skill and discipline shown by both sides. Gloucester tackled, and competed fiercely at the breakdown, and the mauls from both sides were fearsome, but like heavyweight fighers the packs battered each other to a standstill, and the backs played aerial ping-pong.

After an hour of this thrilling, rain-down-your neck stuff, Lamb and then Lawson went off, the rain stopped. Willie Warmer, sorry Walker and the sparky Peter Richards scampered around the tired Irish bodies and broke the deadlock. He may have a clause in his contract which says he mustn’t get his hair wet, but the game picked up a gear. Barry Everitt replaced Shane Geraghty, and we Irish supporters thought “Hmm 5-3, Barry Everitt, 3pts for a penalty or a drop goal, it could just happen”. We gained some good territory, and then Gloucester spoiled the idea by playing some running rugby. Richards, Hazell, and even Jake Boer combined to create a great long distance move which ended with a try with Richards feeding Balshaw inside. It was fitting that the game was decided finally by this one spark, but I was very sad for our players who had played well. Heads didn’t drop, and we charged the conversion from wide out, but Willie Walker was successful and we were 12-3 down.

From then until the end we fought for field position, but Barry could not find gaps for Mapasua to go through, and he must have got tired from the 2 man tackles they put on him. A further penalty took the score out to 15-3, and we needed a try for a bonus point. Mike Horak came straight from appearing in panto as Minnie Mouse and attempted to bamboozle the Gloucester visually. Right at the death the lads looked to have crashed over at the far end. I saw our supporters in the Buildbase up on their feet and assumed a try, but Spreadbury decided it wasn’t and blew for full-time instead.

So I’d got up with a hangover, travelled to Gloucester to stand in the rain, and see my team lose a mud bath. Was I downhearted? Of course. While it’s nice to travel with, meet and mingle with the travelling Irish support, winning is nicer. We congratulated the Gloucester support, almost 12,500 of them, mostly dry one’s I think (thank God we weren’t at Bath such weather) and soon it was just us and the stewards. They kindly advised us that the Lions Den was the place to be, next to the Buildbase stand.

The Lions Den is a giant pidgeon loft with a high wooden ceiling, covered in shirts, caps, and memorabilia of the rugby past of Gloucester, both county and city. All the bar staff were kitted out in cherry and white shirts, and they cheerfully dispensed Guinness at £2.80. The place was warmed by huge heaters suspended from the ceiling, and the flooring was a softened non-slip rubberised matting. All ages were represented, and we few London Irish fans were soon chatting happily to the local fans. It was a good place to be, and after a couple of pints we decided to help them out, musically, as their jukebox seemed to be broken. Some folk were watching Newcastle v Man Utd on channel Kingsholm, but several others showed interest in a Bisach bodhran masterclass. As “The Fields of Athenry” began, a steward came over with a request. “Can you play ‘Far, far, Away’ or ‘Silent Night’“ I think was the gist of it. So the whole place burst in to a “Let ‘em sing, let ‘em sing, let ‘em sing” chant like “Ere we go” and the steward retreated. However the coach was due to leave, and so we departed.
With a twinkle in our eyes, a smile on our lips, and a song in our hearts.
But no points.
Not this time.

Scorers:
Gloucester: Tries: Morgan (3min), Balshaw (75). Conversion: Walker. Penalty goal: Walker (80+2).

London Irish: Penalty goal: Geraghty (27).

Scoring sequence: (Gloucester first): 5-0, 5-3 (half-time), 12-3, 15-3.

Gloucester: O Morgan; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall, A Allen, M Foster (rep: I Balshaw, 66); R Lamb (rep: W Walker, 58), R Lawson (rep: P Richards, 67); C Califano (rep: N Wood, 60), M Davies, C Nieto, M Bortolami, A Brown, P Buxton (rep: J Boer, 62), A Hazell, J Forrester.

London Irish: D Armitage (rep: M Horak, 80); T Ojo, N Mordt, S Mapusua, J Bishop; S Geraghty (rep: B Everitt, 63), P Hogdson; N Hatley (rep: M Collins, 57), D Coetzee (rep: D Piace, 57), F Rautenbach (rep: T Lea’aetoa, 70), N Kennedy, B Casey (rep: J Hudson, 62), K Roche, S Armitage (rep: O Magne, 77), P Murphy.

Referee: A Spreadbury.

Attendance: 12,500.

Pre-Match I went to Gloucester Cathedral. I saw the cloisters where some of Harry Potter was filmed which has stained glass panels of biblical scenes, naturally enough, including the nativity scenes. It was nice to see, in this day and age the number of children being taken there. The treasury was also to be recommended, lots of lovely religious loot. The main attraction is the East Window which is as big as a tennis court. The 42 steps which take you up there give excellent views of the cathedral interior and the window in front of which is a Whispering Gallery. It is amazing and well worth skipping a pint for, some local fans and I exchanged whispered banter from 30 paces which was lots of fun.
There’s a new film out this week about Beatrix Potter, starring Rene Zellweger and Ewan MacGregor, the shop scenes were also filmed in the timeless surroundings of the cathedral. Each to their own, but Gloucester is lucky to have this jewel in walking distance of the ground, and I’d recommend a little detour next time you visit.

The LISC supporters coach from Sunbury and the Swan was joined by Neal Hatley’s parents, and well as Paul Hodgson’s, and good company they proved to be. The only other thing of note was seeing the professional broadcaster Graham McKechnie arriving at the ground, he’s just as charming in real life, although he should stand a little closer to the razor. I wonder if he had rain dripping down his neck while he gave the commentary.

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