London Irish v Gloucester
By ascotintheantipodes September 16 2009
A convincing performance and this season’s first bonus point try.
Our short visit to the UK is all-but over and way too soon!
The priority of this trip was to see my father in Scotland so I didn’t have a great deal of time to catch up with many of the London Irish supporters and my apologies to all those I should have met but didn’t.
A convincing performance and this season’s first bonus point try.
Our short visit to the UK is all-but over and way too soon!
The priority of this trip was to see my father in Scotland so I didn’t have a great deal of time to catch up with many of the London Irish supporters and my apologies to all those I should have met but didn’t.
We were of course disappointed that David wasn’t playing but he was recovering from injury and Dani and James Buckland are playing well so why rush things, we’ll see David play on our next visit. So for myself, wife Sarah and daughter Cat., off to the Madstad we go for our first time ever ......
On a fine Sunday afternoon, London Irish were sent into action with a Ryan Lamb kick off and the team immediately stamped their temperament, determination and authority on the game with what, I’ve noted, was a thumping tackle by Chris H.
Ok, in the next two minutes of play, London Irish were involved in some unnecessarily scrappy play, gave away possession and a penalty from 48 metres out was expertly slotted by Nicky Robinson. 0-3 down after less than three minutes. OUCH.
On four minutes, Ryan Lamb was given the opportunity to see if his goal kicking had the same length and accuracy as Robinson but on his first attempt ...........not quite.....be patient, I said.
The next eight minutes saw the first of many magnificent runs by Tagi, the notes read “.....oh so close, and into touch about 10 metres from the Gloucester line” We also saw demonstrations of LI’s straight-line defence clearly orchestrated by Dodge – he should have been a traffic cop with all the arm movements and directions he was giving. The defence did have a nervous moment though when the Gloucester No. 9, Rory Lawson (?) looked to run diagonally at the line and would have been through under the posts had it not been for another great individual tackle which forced a knock-on. Scrum No.1.
The scrum today, I was relieved to see was rock solid and the very next Gloucester line out was spoiled by the LI jumpers. At this point we are only 10 minutes into the game and already some of the Gloucester boys look as though they don’t want to be here. Chris H was running over the opposition from the back of the scrums and another great break came unstuck with what looked like a mix up by our 2nd rowers. The ever-on-the-spot Dodge picked up the loose ball for a clever cross field kick only to see another mix up between Delon and Elvis (?)
On 12 minutes, Ryan Lamb gets his sights zeroed in for the remainder of the game and his 45 metre penalty sails over the bar 3-3.
London Irish continue to dominate albeit with a few mistakes but our style of play takes all incentive away from Gloucester who are forced into some silly and pointless kicks.
The next 10 minutes sees a missed penalty by Robinson which may have kept Gloucester in touch but hard straight running by Steffon, Elvis and Tagi keeps the pressure on (I think Elvis was held back at about his stage and denied a try). This long period of dominance was rewarded by a chase through try to Delon, so on 24 minutes, with the help of a Ryan L conversion, the score is 10-3.
At the 27 minute mark, Robinson misses another kick in from around 45 metres. Not much going right for Gloucester at all but I didn’t think they deserved more than their three points at this stage of the game and the long range penalties show their desperation.
Delon and Elvis now dominate in the air as well. Gloucester’s challenges border on penalties with both players taken out in the air (or so it seems from my distance) but there is no mistaking the power of another Chris H surge – this time backed up by Dermody. Great work but a try was on if there had been a back there.
Ryan Lamb slots another penalty on 33 minutes. Score now 13-3.
From this kick off, Maps shows a burst of speed and then puts boot to ball about halfway.
Too far, I thought, but Dodge comes through like a rocket leading the charge of LI. players. Another turn over, another scrum, another charge by Chris H.
All too much for Gloucester and No. 11, Terry Sharples is the first to be sinbinned.
The ref takes play 30 metres back across field for a LI penalty. At around 35 minutes, we are now 16-3.
LI try to run the ball from inside their own 22. Confidence is sky high. Some unnecessary risks here but then with another break by Maps, the ball flies across the field and Elvis is on his way, passes to Tagi for a try in the corner. It wouldn’t have mattered where the ball was placed, Ryan Lamb is on fire and with another conversion the score is 23-3 on about the 40 minute mark.
In the next couple of minutes of first half injury time there is what looks like scrappy volley ball, a messy lineout by LI (our only real bad one all day(?)), a bit of a dust up and cuddles all round.
Time for half time drinks.
After the re-start, LI welcome Gloucester back with more brilliant running by Tagi and Maps. Ryan Lamb will eventually get the MOTM award but play is directed by General Dodge who, although getting monstered by a couple of Gloucester players, hangs on and wins the penalty for LI. Three minutes after the break, Ryan Lamb slots another three points. Now 26-3.
Dani gets caught at the bottom of a ruck and gets up limping badly.
Just before LI enter a 10 to 15 minute period of doldrums there is some breathtaking acceleration by Elvis, Tagi and Steff all in quick succession.
During the next 10 to 15 minutes the LI players as a cohesive group lose some direction and the cross field play is pointless and goes nowhere.
Adam T is looking safe on the wing but some clumsy play sees a collision between Maps and Delon who stays down with a knee injury. Some knee trouble with Declan as well........this 10 minutes has me worried with possible injuries and we sustain the most pressure and grunt shown by Gloucester all game. Chris H is binned for collapsing a maul, I think.
Great tackles by Maps and a try saver by Nick takes most of the wind and inspiration out of Gloucester but I’ve noted that with LI going cross field we are still getting nowhere and looking ordinary. With runners coming through we look great - where have they gone?
15 minutes into the second half, Elvis salutes the crowd and is replaced by Peter Richards. This “ordinary” period lasts through until about the 20 minute mark and with two LI players on the group Sharples steps through a tackle of Dodge to score and with the conversion, the score now goes to 26-10.
Delon is taken off with a dislocated shoulder – a total of three replacements are made by LI at this stage.
A last burst of pressure from Gloucester and they now see the chance to run the ball rather than kick it aimlessly.
Are things going down the gurgler now?
Tagi has what looks like cramp and Andy Perry comes on for Bob but LI start making their presence felt again and for several minutes we have all our players within 35 metres of the Gloucester line. Gloucester’s No. 20 now sinbinned.
Gloucester try to run from their 22, struggle and boot the ball well into our half only to see it returned with the best break of the day by Declan (?).
Another Gloucester player (a prop(?)) is sinbinned and they are down to 13 players for a few minutes but it only takes seconds for a penalty try to be awarded.
At 38 minutes we are now 33-10 and the crowd is announced as at 12,309.
The restart sees easy running by LI and an equally easy try to Tagi.
A bonus point and the score is now 40-10.
With minutes remaining ‘THE’ fight breaks out but I’ll let you make up your about mind about this. I didn’t see what happened at all – except the aftermath but as you will not see this report until at least Wednesday there is no point in me guessing.
Overall a great day out and a commanding performance by London Irish, but to be truthful, they weren’t seriously tested all day.
My thoughts for the remainder of the season.......More of the same please.
On a fine Sunday afternoon, London Irish were sent into action with a Ryan Lamb kick off and the team immediately stamped their temperament, determination and authority on the game with what, I’ve noted, was a thumping tackle by Chris H.
Ok, in the next two minutes of play, London Irish were involved in some unnecessarily scrappy play, gave away possession and a penalty from 48 metres out was expertly slotted by Nicky Robinson. 0-3 down after less than three minutes. OUCH.
On four minutes, Ryan Lamb was given the opportunity to see if his goal kicking had the same length and accuracy as Robinson but on his first attempt ...........not quite.....be patient, I said.
The next eight minutes saw the first of many magnificent runs by Tagi, the notes read “.....oh so close, and into touch about 10 metres from the Gloucester line” We also saw demonstrations of LI’s straight-line defence clearly orchestrated by Dodge – he should have been a traffic cop with all the arm movements and directions he was giving. The defence did have a nervous moment though when the Gloucester No. 9, Rory Lawson (?) looked to run diagonally at the line and would have been through under the posts had it not been for another great individual tackle which forced a knock-on. Scrum No.1.
The scrum today, I was relieved to see was rock solid and the very next Gloucester line out was spoiled by the LI jumpers. At this point we are only 10 minutes into the game and already some of the Gloucester boys look as though they don’t want to be here. Chris H was running over the opposition from the back of the scrums and another great break came unstuck with what looked like a mix up by our 2nd rowers. The ever-on-the-spot Dodge picked up the loose ball for a clever cross field kick only to see another mix up between Delon and Elvis (?)
On 12 minutes, Ryan Lamb gets his sights zeroed in for the remainder of the game and his 45 metre penalty sails over the bar 3-3.
London Irish continue to dominate albeit with a few mistakes but our style of play takes all incentive away from Gloucester who are forced into some silly and pointless kicks.
The next 10 minutes sees a missed penalty by Robinson which may have kept Gloucester in touch but hard straight running by Steffon, Elvis and Tagi keeps the pressure on (I think Elvis was held back at about his stage and denied a try). This long period of dominance was rewarded by a chase through try to Delon, so on 24 minutes, with the help of a Ryan L conversion, the score is 10-3.
At the 27 minute mark, Robinson misses another kick in from around 45 metres. Not much going right for Gloucester at all but I didn’t think they deserved more than their three points at this stage of the game and the long range penalties show their desperation.
Delon and Elvis now dominate in the air as well. Gloucester’s challenges border on penalties with both players taken out in the air (or so it seems from my distance) but there is no mistaking the power of another Chris H surge – this time backed up by Dermody. Great work but a try was on if there had been a back there.
Ryan Lamb slots another penalty on 33 minutes. Score now 13-3.
From this kick off, Maps shows a burst of speed and then puts boot to ball about halfway.
Too far, I thought, but Dodge comes through like a rocket leading the charge of LI. players. Another turn over, another scrum, another charge by Chris H.
All too much for Gloucester and No. 11, Terry Sharples is the first to be sinbinned.
The ref takes play 30 metres back across field for a LI penalty. At around 35 minutes, we are now 16-3.
LI try to run the ball from inside their own 22. Confidence is sky high. Some unnecessary risks here but then with another break by Maps, the ball flies across the field and Elvis is on his way, passes to Tagi for a try in the corner. It wouldn’t have mattered where the ball was placed, Ryan Lamb is on fire and with another conversion the score is 23-3 on about the 40 minute mark.
In the next couple of minutes of first half injury time there is what looks like scrappy volley ball, a messy lineout by LI (our only real bad one all day(?)), a bit of a dust up and cuddles all round.
Time for half time drinks.
After the re-start, LI welcome Gloucester back with more brilliant running by Tagi and Maps. Ryan Lamb will eventually get the MOTM award but play is directed by General Dodge who, although getting monstered by a couple of Gloucester players, hangs on and wins the penalty for LI. Three minutes after the break, Ryan Lamb slots another three points. Now 26-3.
Dani gets caught at the bottom of a ruck and gets up limping badly.
Just before LI enter a 10 to 15 minute period of doldrums there is some breathtaking acceleration by Elvis, Tagi and Steff all in quick succession.
During the next 10 to 15 minutes the LI players as a cohesive group lose some direction and the cross field play is pointless and goes nowhere.
Adam T is looking safe on the wing but some clumsy play sees a collision between Maps and Delon who stays down with a knee injury. Some knee trouble with Declan as well........this 10 minutes has me worried with possible injuries and we sustain the most pressure and grunt shown by Gloucester all game. Chris H is binned for collapsing a maul, I think.
Great tackles by Maps and a try saver by Nick takes most of the wind and inspiration out of Gloucester but I’ve noted that with LI going cross field we are still getting nowhere and looking ordinary. With runners coming through we look great - where have they gone?
15 minutes into the second half, Elvis salutes the crowd and is replaced by Peter Richards. This “ordinary” period lasts through until about the 20 minute mark and with two LI players on the group Sharples steps through a tackle of Dodge to score and with the conversion, the score now goes to 26-10.
Delon is taken off with a dislocated shoulder – a total of three replacements are made by LI at this stage.
A last burst of pressure from Gloucester and they now see the chance to run the ball rather than kick it aimlessly.
Are things going down the gurgler now?
Tagi has what looks like cramp and Andy Perry comes on for Bob but LI start making their presence felt again and for several minutes we have all our players within 35 metres of the Gloucester line. Gloucester’s No. 20 now sinbinned.
Gloucester try to run from their 22, struggle and boot the ball well into our half only to see it returned with the best break of the day by Declan (?).
Another Gloucester player (a prop(?)) is sinbinned and they are down to 13 players for a few minutes but it only takes seconds for a penalty try to be awarded.
At 38 minutes we are now 33-10 and the crowd is announced as at 12,309.
The restart sees easy running by LI and an equally easy try to Tagi.
A bonus point and the score is now 40-10.
With minutes remaining ‘THE’ fight breaks out but I’ll let you make up your about mind about this. I didn’t see what happened at all – except the aftermath but as you will not see this report until at least Wednesday there is no point in me guessing.
Overall a great day out and a commanding performance by London Irish, but to be truthful, they weren’t seriously tested all day.
My thoughts for the remainder of the season.......More of the same please.
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Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 16/09/2009 09:14
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Re: London Irish v Gloucester
Posted by: mulledwinemarie (IP Logged)
Date: 16/09/2009 11:43
Thank you MR Paice - great report and nice to see not one-eyed - and great to say hello - and glad your return to Aussie was safe..........see you next visit.
MWM
GLORY GLORY London Irish - and loving it -
MWM
GLORY GLORY London Irish - and loving it -
Re: London Irish v Gloucester
Posted by: Classy Bird (IP Logged)
Date: 16/09/2009 11:58
Fantastic Report and lovely to meet you all 
Re: London Irish v Gloucester
Posted by: JamesC (IP Logged)
Date: 16/09/2009 17:04
Great report - thanks.
All I need to do is get a copy of the match tape to watch again but I think that this is no longer possible
All I need to do is get a copy of the match tape to watch again but I think that this is no longer possible
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