Raindrops keep falling on my head!
By richfitz November 29 2009
With the Sun shining and a car full of warm clothing we set off for our annual pilgrimage to the Rec. The Journey was nowhere near as bad as we had feared and having parked in the University Park and Ride we caught the bendybus into Bath, the dubious highlight being the door opening and trapping me in the middle.
With the Sun shining and a car full of warm clothing we set off for our annual pilgrimage to the Rec. The Journey was nowhere near as bad as we had feared and having parked in the University Park and Ride we caught the bendybus into Bath, the dubious highlight being the door opening and trapping me in the middle.
Bath was heaving, the Christmas market rammed to the gills so Mr Bacon and I retired to the Slug and Lettuce for liquid refreshment. Vocal chords suitably watered we made our way to the ground to take our seats in the IPL Stand. £30 for a soaking wet seat and no roof, ah well it is only once a year and I will be in Dubai next week for the sevens so let’s hope we win.
From the kick off, Irish look to play the game in the Bath half and put the pressure on Ryan Davis, the Bath fly-half. With the rain now teeming down, both sides look to kick for position before Nick steals a lineout, drives through and Salvi gives away the penalty. Ryan continues his 100% record this season of missing his first kick, donkey noises from the Bath fans standing behind the posts raises a smile.
The donkey noises soon stop when Lamb charges down a pedestrian kick by Abendanon, collects the ball as it obligingly stands up and slides under the posts. With the conversion made we are 7-0 up with less than 15 minutes on the clock, happy days. The 9 Irish fans in Row S in the IPL cheer wildly whilst everyone else tries to keep dry.
Irish continue to keep the pressure on Bath, with Lamb keeping Bath pinned in their own half before a handbags between Kennedy, Hooper and Grewcock leads to a penalty to Irish which Lamb slides wide. Davis is having a mare and a hospital pass to Cuthbert leads to another Irish turnover, unfortunately Lennard’s drop goal goes the way of Lamb’s two penalties and slides wide. However Mr Davis immediately heaps the pressure back on Bath by kicking the 22 drop out straight into touch. From the scrum, Bath stupidly gift another penalty with a late hit on Richards and this time Lamb makes them pay, 10 – 0.
Irish continue to keep the pressure on Bath, helped by the unfortunate Mr Davis who is having a mare. Bath do eventually get into the Irish 22 but the forwards turn it over yet again and the game is pushed back into the Bath half once more. It’s clever rugby by the Irish boys and Bath don’t even get close to scoring. The half finishes at 10-0 as the rain continues to pour, still I will be in Dubai next week.
The 2nd half sees the welcome return of Dodge, although Richards did have a good first half. The start of the second half sees more of the same as Irish continue to keep Bath pinned in their own half by pushing the ball deep and then forcing Bath to come at them. A box kick by Claessens sees the Bath fans wake up but a ponderous lineout leads to a turnover and once more Bath get pushed back into their own half. Abendanon does his best to gift us another try by not touching down and then knocks on as he looks to take the pressure off Davis by playing worse.
Bath inevitably switch Davis for Little and he heralds his arrival by kicking out on the full. From the lineout Bath transgress at the breakdown again and Lamb stretches the lead to 13-0. Bath are seriously poor and I cannot see how they will score.
From a rare lineout mistake Bath are awarded a scrum which Irish steal. A kick by Dodge bounces up for Peter Hewit who goes for the corner, it looks a straightforward run in but Little does fantastically to cut him off and keep him up in air. From the scrum Irish hold on and Bath clear their lines but the pressure is kept on by Irish and Abendanon fluffs his line again. A series of 5 metre scrums sets Lamb up for a drop goal in front of the posts and the scoreboard ticks on to 16-0.
To be fair to Bath they then proceeded to play their best rugby, the shame of it being that there was just 10 minutes to go and a lot of the home support were already leaving. Irish continued to hold out and the game finished at 16-0 with the ground only half full.
So what to make of today. We were good value for the win as we completely controlled it from start to finish. The pack were strong throughout and Lamb pulled the strings, keeping Bath stuck in their own half. It was a controlled performance and with Maps, Tagi and Delon to come back in over the next couple of weeks things are looking very good.
I am not sure what to make of Bath, I have always liked to watch them but they looked terrible today and the nil they scored really flattered them. How much of that was down to us I don’t know but they need to up their game or they are going to be in a dogfight with Leeds.
Finally starting to dry out after all that rain, still, have I mentioned that I will be in Dubai for the 7’s next week.
From the kick off, Irish look to play the game in the Bath half and put the pressure on Ryan Davis, the Bath fly-half. With the rain now teeming down, both sides look to kick for position before Nick steals a lineout, drives through and Salvi gives away the penalty. Ryan continues his 100% record this season of missing his first kick, donkey noises from the Bath fans standing behind the posts raises a smile.
The donkey noises soon stop when Lamb charges down a pedestrian kick by Abendanon, collects the ball as it obligingly stands up and slides under the posts. With the conversion made we are 7-0 up with less than 15 minutes on the clock, happy days. The 9 Irish fans in Row S in the IPL cheer wildly whilst everyone else tries to keep dry.
Irish continue to keep the pressure on Bath, with Lamb keeping Bath pinned in their own half before a handbags between Kennedy, Hooper and Grewcock leads to a penalty to Irish which Lamb slides wide. Davis is having a mare and a hospital pass to Cuthbert leads to another Irish turnover, unfortunately Lennard’s drop goal goes the way of Lamb’s two penalties and slides wide. However Mr Davis immediately heaps the pressure back on Bath by kicking the 22 drop out straight into touch. From the scrum, Bath stupidly gift another penalty with a late hit on Richards and this time Lamb makes them pay, 10 – 0.
Irish continue to keep the pressure on Bath, helped by the unfortunate Mr Davis who is having a mare. Bath do eventually get into the Irish 22 but the forwards turn it over yet again and the game is pushed back into the Bath half once more. It’s clever rugby by the Irish boys and Bath don’t even get close to scoring. The half finishes at 10-0 as the rain continues to pour, still I will be in Dubai next week.
The 2nd half sees the welcome return of Dodge, although Richards did have a good first half. The start of the second half sees more of the same as Irish continue to keep Bath pinned in their own half by pushing the ball deep and then forcing Bath to come at them. A box kick by Claessens sees the Bath fans wake up but a ponderous lineout leads to a turnover and once more Bath get pushed back into their own half. Abendanon does his best to gift us another try by not touching down and then knocks on as he looks to take the pressure off Davis by playing worse.
Bath inevitably switch Davis for Little and he heralds his arrival by kicking out on the full. From the lineout Bath transgress at the breakdown again and Lamb stretches the lead to 13-0. Bath are seriously poor and I cannot see how they will score.
From a rare lineout mistake Bath are awarded a scrum which Irish steal. A kick by Dodge bounces up for Peter Hewit who goes for the corner, it looks a straightforward run in but Little does fantastically to cut him off and keep him up in air. From the scrum Irish hold on and Bath clear their lines but the pressure is kept on by Irish and Abendanon fluffs his line again. A series of 5 metre scrums sets Lamb up for a drop goal in front of the posts and the scoreboard ticks on to 16-0.
To be fair to Bath they then proceeded to play their best rugby, the shame of it being that there was just 10 minutes to go and a lot of the home support were already leaving. Irish continued to hold out and the game finished at 16-0 with the ground only half full.
So what to make of today. We were good value for the win as we completely controlled it from start to finish. The pack were strong throughout and Lamb pulled the strings, keeping Bath stuck in their own half. It was a controlled performance and with Maps, Tagi and Delon to come back in over the next couple of weeks things are looking very good.
I am not sure what to make of Bath, I have always liked to watch them but they looked terrible today and the nil they scored really flattered them. How much of that was down to us I don’t know but they need to up their game or they are going to be in a dogfight with Leeds.
Finally starting to dry out after all that rain, still, have I mentioned that I will be in Dubai for the 7’s next week.
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StumbleuponRaindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 00:19
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Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: CooperMan (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 07:00
Excellent, thanks.
Hope you got a good deal for Dubai, should be some bargains about!
What, though, is a hospital pass?
Never seen it before, now two come along in one weekend.
CooperMan
An son spajé co'l cul c'a bruséva.
Hope you got a good deal for Dubai, should be some bargains about!
What, though, is a hospital pass?
Never seen it before, now two come along in one weekend.
CooperMan
An son spajé co'l cul c'a bruséva.
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 07:18
Great report
That was the game we were at!!
In terms of Dubai make sure you take the rain gear as well
If you don't think you will need it take a look at the 2006 final here!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:11:29:07:18:26 by Jon_r43.
That was the game we were at!!
In terms of Dubai make sure you take the rain gear as well
If you don't think you will need it take a look at the 2006 final here!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:11:29:07:18:26 by Jon_r43.
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: Sore Doc (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 08:57
Quote:CooperMan
Excellent, thanks.
Hope you got a good deal for Dubai, should be some bargains about!
What, though, is a hospital pass?
Never seen it before, now two come along in one weekend.
Coops, A "hospital pass" is one which is ill advised and puts the receiver under pressure or in some difficulty. Possibly the reason why you hadn't heard of it is because it is an import from football and has been in the venacular for years (it must have been, because as long ago as when I was playing footy I heard the expression many time, mostly directe d at me!).
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: Ken E (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 09:36
"A "hospital pass" is one which is ill advised and puts the receiver under pressure or in some difficulty" That's rather understated!
It is quite simply a pass that once taken is likely to mean you end up in hospital. You get the ball at the same time as someone like Steff is about to tackle you! You have no opportunity to take evading action or protect yourself.
Great report RichFitz, thanks.
It is quite simply a pass that once taken is likely to mean you end up in hospital. You get the ball at the same time as someone like Steff is about to tackle you! You have no opportunity to take evading action or protect yourself.
Great report RichFitz, thanks.
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: JamesC (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 09:39
Some hospital passes come with the ward name attached. Bath was pretty clueless and we never looked like losing or conceding a point.
Most pleasing aspect of last night was that we had clearly learned from the Newcastle game experience.
Great match report - have a rain free time in Dubai
Most pleasing aspect of last night was that we had clearly learned from the Newcastle game experience.
Great match report - have a rain free time in Dubai
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: mackemII (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 09:43
Or the one that Shane Geraghty floated to Topsy last season against Tigers with Tuilagi coming in at full pelt.
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: Props are not stupid (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 10:27
What a great report! Thanks very much for this and enjoy Dubai.
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: Eek_the_Weeble (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 10:42
Ta for report - much needed as away from all comms over weekend and was desperate to know how it went - enjoy Dubai
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: mulledwinemarie (IP Logged)
Date: 29/11/2009 10:47
Thanks Richfitz..........however good Graham and Paddy are to listen to on the internet - the actual game reports from one of our supporters fills out the bones of the game - andhaving been to Bath many times and got wet!! I MAY FEEL happier to not to have been there this time...........
who am I kidding?
may I ask which shirt(s) you will be wearing in Dubai............? so we can spot you in the crowd - maybe you should take ne of our big flags too!!!
MWM
GLORY GLORY London Irish - and loving it -
who am I kidding?
may I ask which shirt(s) you will be wearing in Dubai............? so we can spot you in the crowd - maybe you should take ne of our big flags too!!!
MWM
GLORY GLORY London Irish - and loving it -
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: Foggy-Balla (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2009 10:16
Quote:mulledwinemarie
maybe you should take ne of our big flags too!!!
Having been there in 2006 I suggest the same. No one will get to see the flag as it'll be wrspped round you to keep you warm. Those awnings over the stand are porous & to keep the sun off!
As they say the rain in Spain stays mostly on the plain, but the rain in Dubai stays mainly down the back of my bleddy neck.
Faugh-a-Ballagh!
"Our prayer is 'God save Ireland' and pour blessings on her name!"
Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: Chris P. Bacon (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2009 11:13
Great report Mr Fitz.
I'll keep quiet about how you managed to keep your very detaled notes from getting soggy. (As long as you buy me a pint).
You around next week?
I'll keep quiet about how you managed to keep your very detaled notes from getting soggy. (As long as you buy me a pint).
You around next week?
Re: Raindrops keep falling on my head!
Posted by: Kuwait Exile (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2009 20:05
Played in Dubai 2006 and I have rarely been so wet - it's up there with Connaught last year and now the Rec - so don't gloat just yet.
Have a great time and don't complain to us when you have to carry your wet weather gear around all weekend in 30 degree sunshine.
Have a great time and don't complain to us when you have to carry your wet weather gear around all weekend in 30 degree sunshine.
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