By Nick4219
April 23 2021

Fair amount of trepidation before this game. Reading the Saints supporters board they think they have some important players back. Irish forced to make changes to injury and we are missing some important players which make us appear a little lighter than we are normally. We still have our back 3 threat though. Spying on the Saints board and all but one I think have a win for Saints predicted.

It’s the 150th appearance though for our totemic Captain so maybe he will inspire another special performance.

An early penalty sees Saints apply pressure but Albert manages to snaffle a ball from a Saints ruck and makes some metres with the ball in one hand setting up a prolonged Irish counter attack but after a few phases Irish try and punt through for the ball to be dotted down in goal by Saints.

Both teams clearly trying to go through the hands and keep the game pace high.

Irish win a good scrum in Saints territory and Hepetema nearly breaches the Saints gain line and Irish apply lots of pressure as Saints get pinged for a no arms tackle. Irish keep the ball and after a short delay, Phipps manages to cut back inside the Saints line throwing them off balance and runs in the first score of the game. Paddy converts and its 0-7 after 10 minutes.

Saints hit back with a try within a few phases as they manage to offload as the Irish defence take the bait leaving a huge gap for Biggar to exploit and put Dingwall in under the posts. 7-7.

A bit of to and fro and Irish penalised for offside, Biggar takes the 3. 10-7, 18 mins gone.

Saints are strong at the breakdown and have won a few turnovers but get penalised for taking Stokes in the air whilst he was receiving a high ball. Jackson punts it deep in to Saints territory for a line out. Irish try and get the shove on but don’t get any momentum, Phipps distributes in to the centre and OHC runs a powerful line to blast through the Saints line under the posts. 10-14, 21 mins.

Saints win a scrum from the restart and move the ball well enticing Irish in to an offside position, they almost make the final pass but it goes forward. Saints go for scrum penalty and again lots of phases, Irish nearly intercept but lose possession and allow Mitchell to break through and scramble for a try under the posts. 17-14, 25 mins.

Irish restart and Loader is adjudged to have tackled Isiekwe in the air and goes to the bin for 10 minutes. Ref gets in the way so play restarts with a Saints scrum. Mitchell picks up from the base and heads down the blind side knowing there’s an overlap due to being a man down and runs it in from the Irish 10 metre line. 22-14 as Biggar fails to convert out wide.

Dell wins a turnover from a Saints ruck and is tackled high. Jackson goes deep but Irish lose the line out allowing Saints to run the ball again. They knock on though and commit a couple of penalties. Jackson gets a shot at goal from 46 metres out and to the right of the posts, he misses but the Loader sin bin is up and we are back to 15 a side.

OHC gets a nice run up the left wing after some good interplay with Stokes but outruns the support and is forced to chuck the ball back which Saints gather. Saints almost get through again but can’t get the ball to hand, Parton gathers and looks to go from his own 5 metre line but is brought down and the TMO intervenes as Cowan is judged to have played a man off the ball. Biggar takes the penalty and it’s 25-14 at half time.

Fairly fast and open rugby which suits both teams, Saints are taking their opportunities better than Irish and deserve the lead. Everything crossed that Irish get the first score when we restart.

Irish defend from the restart and win a line out which they lose allowing Saints to get some momentum and chip down to the Irish 5 for a defensive line out. It’s secured and after a phase it’s cleared to just outside the 22. Saints set up a driving maul but Cowan and Albert combine as Saints break and get the hands on it and win an important penalty. Jackson gets us to halfway. Line out is safe again and Irish look to go wide with Parton, he’s tackled but Saints not releasing so Jackson gets a punt in to Saints territory for a line out which is taken quickly and shipped out to Stokes who cuts a great line through the the centre, he’s stopped just short and Phipps arrives quickly to feed Donnell who is made to work hard, the ensuing bundle sees Albert get the ball down. 25-19 Jackson misses a fairly easy looking conversion.

Saints ring the changes in the front row for a scrum on the Irish 22. Saints go off the base and have numbers right, Biggar sends the decisive pass in to touch and Irish try to go again with Motu but lose it forward, Saints rumble on and win a kickable penalty but Biggar puts it to touch on the Irish 5 metre line. Saints go off the top and Ribbans tries to bash over the line but is held up. It looks like Ribbans took a knock during that collision and we have a stoppage as he gets treatment. He’s back up and ready for the attacking scrum. Saints batter the Irish line which is defended well for a few phases, eventually the go quickly out to the right and score the bonus point try on 52 minutes. 30-19 and it feels like Irish need to bring in the reinforcements to shore things up. Irish go short and win a scrum for a knock on and we have a new front row of Elrington, Cornish and Hoskins. Irish get the free kick for an early shove but mess up the advantage and hold on in the tackle allowing Saints to kick deep. Irish commit another penalty and Saints go for the corner for what could be a killer blow. The catch and drive and Irish in at the side but Saints keep the ball alive. It goes back outside eventually and Francis goes around Loader for their 5th try of the night. It’s converted and now 37-19 and Irish with a mountain to climb.

Saints are ferocious at the breakdown and with 20 minutes still to go, Irish are feeling the heat. Mistakes being made on both sides as Parton gets a run after some lose play. Saints win another penalty and are let off out of their 22 with another Biggar kick for touch. Ribbans off for Saints and Stokes off injured for Irish. Rogerson on for Donnell and Cokanasiga on for Stokes.

Play is really loosening up now with the ball being spread about, Irish coming off second best off every contact but win a line out from Saints. The clearance kick stays in and Irish continue to allow Saints to repeatedly attack. Both teams continue to turn the ball over to each other and eventually OHC makes a break up to the Saints 22. Numerous phases of Irish forcing it and they cough it up for Saints to clear. Cokanasiga tries to bash up the right wing but it’s ripped in to touch for an Irish line out. Phipps makes way for Meehan.

Saints go in too hard at the subsequent breakdown and penalty for not rolling away. Jackson gets Irish ball down to about 10’metres out. Another poor line out sees Saints win it off the back of the line and win a penalty. Really frustrating last 10 minutes of play from Irish and still 10 minutes to hold on and maybe push for a bonus point. Saints still looking for tries though and Sleightholme gets on the end of a grubber kick for a try wide right. The game is well done so it’s for Irish to try and salvage a TBP and to try and maintain the league position if we can.

Irish in a rare moment of cohesion for the second half sees OHC make ground, Nott running a great support line feeds Loader to score an easy one under the posts. 44-26.

Homer on for Parton and Irish keeping hold of the ball from their own 22. OHC looking really dangerous off the inside ball from Jackson and eventually Irish are rewarded with a penalty for Saints offside. Jackson kicks deep and Irish go again from the line out a poor pass from Meehan sees Irish knock on as a promising attacking phase fizzles out. Irish look to go forward with a chip over and Biggar sees hello for a deliberate knock on preventing Blair from gathering. Jackson kicks for touch and Irish win the line out. Another penalty and touch again. Cornish goes for it but drops it over the line and the game over. Full time 44-26.

Saints deserved winners with one of their best performances of the season which is tantamount to how far Irish have come. Irish looked dangerous when the ball got to OHC but we were missing our heavyweight players and it showed with the gap in the scoreline at the end.

Irish man of the match was clearly OHC who just gets better and better. Hopefully we will see the return of some of our starters next week for Quins.