By LKR
April 18 2011

This was a new venture for Sale and the North West but a game that would turn out to be something very familiar for the travelling LI supporters.

We arrived at the Reebok far too early (even for us) but fortunately within a couple of minutes of the stadium there are plenty of places to get a meal – by a meal I mean more than a burger and chips – and an out of town shopping area. When a game gets tense I often say ‘I want to go shopping’ in order to avoid the stress, but strangely enough when I had the opportunity later that day to do just that I stayed to watch the game. When we got into the Reebok, it was very like the Madejski even down to many blue seats and at kick off was not full. For the stewards there, it was obviously very new. One approached Sam and I and asked ‘so why are you called London Irish?’ I was all set to say that Sale play in Stockport and they don’t have many sea creatures in their squad, but SamR43 gave the historical answer which was what the steward wanted.

Tom started the game and Irish were playing well. The first penalty is awarded to Sale but surprisingly Charlie Hodgson misses – perhaps it is going to be a good day for Irish. It was still 0-0 with nearly quarter of an hour gone with Tom also missing a long range penalty but not a worry for Irish. From a Sale line out- they passed along the line – to Topsy, who took the ball for a great intercept try under the posts, just like he was doing at the start of the season and it was 0-7 to Irish.

Play continued and Sale were awarded another penalty for Irish not rolling away, just inside our half, but again Charlie Hodgson missed. Two of Sale’s youngsters – Will Addison and Henry Thomas - made good breaks but Irish held firm until Charlie Hodgson was third time lucky and nailed a penalty for a scrum offence by Iris with 25 minutes gone. This narrowing of the gap did not last long however, as after a good break from Steffon, Sale were penalised for going off their feet and Tom had no difficulty in making the score 3 -10.

Tom, Maps and Topsy all made good distance for Irish and as Dan chipped through Sale had to take the ball over the try line resulting in a 5m scrum to Irish. After a period of passing about 10m from the try line, the forwards took over and after continued pressure on the Sale line, David went over for the try – as he counted on his fingers at the time, his third in as many games. Tom’s conversion made the score 3 -17.

It was to get better still, as with about one minute to half time, Dan danced through the Sale defence, Super 15 style, to score. Tom converted and Irish went in at half time with the score 24-3. I did at the time comment that we had been here before with this sort of lead only to see it eroded but I won’t take any blame for what Sale were to do for part of the second half as I am the person in the Prediction League who always predicts a loss!

At half-time, there was another of those giant hamster ball (zorb) races. SamR43 who was on the second leg of the relay for Irish came from behind to win and when asked by the announcer afterwards if he was enjoying the day, said he was as long as the boys brought the win home – did he know that it was going to be about as tricky as steering a zorb?

Sale seemed to come out more fired up for the second half and it was only about a minute before they had got three points from a Charlie Hodgson penalty. Before I had had too much chance to say ‘I told you they would come back’, Tom slotted a great penalty from long range (55m from watching it again on TV), keeping Irish 21 points ahead. The exchange of penalty awards went on but Sale then got two penalties in a row, going for the line out each time. Irish defended well, with a couple of knock ons from Sale helping out. With about 12 minutes gone, Clarke and Gary come on for Alex and Bob. Sale continued to apply the pressure and Sisa Koyamaibole thought he had scored. Sir goes upstairs to the TMO and Sale went back for the restart, only having to come all the way back when, after an age, the ‘No Try’ sign was flashed on the screen. Irish cleared for a few minutes and Darren came on for Dodge but it was not long before play was back at the wrong end of the pitch (both form where we were sitting and from Irish’s point of view in general). Irish’s defence continued to be strong and more fresh legs were brought on (Faan for Paulica and James for David). However, with 16 minutes left, Sale’s forwards’ pressure finally paid off for them and Sean Cox scored with Charlie Hodgson adding the extras to make it 13-27.

Sale put on the pressure again from the restart and a couple of minutes later they passed down the line and unfortunately there was no intercept and Wame Lewaravu scored in the corner. Charlie Hodgson had found his kicking boots and again got the conversion, as Richard came on for George, making it 20-27 with about ten minutes to go.

Play did then largely come back to the right half of the pitch and it was much more like the first half but this time with the added tension that Irish could throw away the win. Irish were awarded a penalty for a high tackle on Dan but Tom kept our stress levels high but not making it three points. Toby was down on the touchline to keep a closer eye on things – I was wanting not to look at all! Irish did continue to have most of the play but did concede a penalty near their line and then a kick out of hand for touch by Dan just rolled too far and play was brought back to half way for a scrum with three minutes left on the clock and JJ was brought on for Elvis.

After a minute or so Irish won a penalty on half way and Dan kicked to the corner with no mistake and then from the lineout Irish won another penalty. There was less than a minute left on the clock - if the team went for the 3 time could be used up and the win pretty much guaranteed but no bonus point, but if they went for the bonus point and it went wrong, Sale could get a breakaway try and the result would probably be a draw. It brought back memories of the home game against Sale where Irish could have lost by carrying on playing but instead won with a bonus point from an interception try by JJ. The support was divided but the team went for a kick to the corner. Irish won the lineout and the forwards drove towards the line and landed in a pile in the corner. Dan ran over and advised Sir to go upstairs, confident himself that Steffon had scored. Fortunately sir did just that and we and supporters and team alike watched the big screen go yellow and then come up with TRY! Everyone from Irish was celebrating – Toby, the team, the supporters and amidst the rejoicing, Tom calmly stepped up and nailed the conversion. The team came over to acknowledge the supporters and then the stewards hurried us out of the ground.

I hope the new venture had worked for Sale but it had worked in very familiar ways in all respects for Irish and we all headed back south to prepare for a real home game next week.