Gloucester
"Don't panic" says BR after latest Glaws flop
By Cherry Picker
September 20 2010
It looks like being a long, hard winter … two defeats from the first three games and not enough promise in performances to suggest that Gloucester can do a lot better have combined to cast a blanket of doom over the faithful. In the latest setback, 23-16 at London Irish, Glaws gave away too many penalties and were punished by Ryan Lamb.
The former Kingsholm pin-up has always had the ability to punish teams who are caught out infringing the rules, and he did it again this time.
Coach Bryan Redpath rightly points out that Glaws cut their own collective throat by not adjusting to the referee – I wish I had a quid for every time I’ve heard that sort of comment in relation to officials in the last two or three seasons.
Redpath told the Citizen: “We gave away more penalties today then in the previous two matches which is surprising.
"We never got in the game because of that. We got a point, but at half time I thought there was something more for us.
"We can't give away as many soft ones and win the game.
"Some players got a bit excited and some frustration came in but it was not through lack of effort.
"You have to keep faith with it. I look at Bath from last season - they had ten losses on the bounce and finished in the top four.
"There is no point throwing your toys out the pram and getting panicky about not getting the win."
Fair enough, Bryan, don’t panic … but let’s do some worrying shall we?
After all, there’s plenty there to worry about … Glaws have not looked good in three games this season, including the narrow win over Leeds, and there were moments at Reading when Glaws looked like a collection of strangers rather than a team.
Nicky Robinson’s three penalties ensured that the score was only 10-9 early in the second half, despite Irish’s James Buckland try and Lamb’s accuracy.
But two more Lamb penalties and a George Stowers try meant that Lesley Vainikolo’s late try was never going to be more than a point-earning consolation.
The defeat wasn’t as bad as some have been at London Irish in recent seasons … but it wasn’t good either, and Redpath’s desire of a place in the play-offs at the end of this season looks a forlorn hope rather than a realistic possibility.
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20/09/2010 11:56
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A strange game on Sunday, starting with the small crowd (both from ourselves and your travelling support). This was our first "home" game of the season (opening day was at Twickenham for the Double Header which doesn't really feel like a home game). With season ticket prices going up significantly over the summer and the current climate many regulars have felt unable to renew - it really felt it on Sunday (although gates seem to be down across the Premiership?)
I would be interested to know roughly how many Glaws fans made the trip down on Sunday. If people didn't come, was it due to cost or Glaw's tricky start to the season?
On a separate point, one thing which surprised me was the number of penalties in the game. I think the final tally was 19-8 against you guys, and we gave away about 4 in the last 2 minutes. Many of these were for scrum infringements. Were you surprised that Richards did not go for a card at some stage (he didn't seem to give much of a chat to your skipper either, as in "that's your last warning").
Let me be clear I am NOT saying that because it was our opponents I think there should have been a card - if we had given away multiple penalties I would have expected a yellow to come - but so far this season in my experience the refs have not been shy in giving out a yellow and I was surprised nothing happened here.
Good luck for the rest of the season and look forward to the return trip to your place - the Shed is always an experience!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:09:21:14:08:37 by Beep..
