London Irish
More Than 80 Minutes
By Nu-Mi-Ju
December 5 2011
I have attended the occasional match at The Madejski over the years and had quite a good time but always felt there should be a bit more to the match day experience, enter Schumey and B.Q.F.M. This season I found myself alongside them in Y22 and suddenly things were louder, livelier and much more fun.
Firstly things do not start at kick off, it is good to be there to see “The Boys” arrive and I gather this is even more important at away matches. You MUST go to Digger’s pound and get your face painted and look out if you are not wearing anything green! Then on the way to the entrance there are loads of people you HAVE to say hello to including some rather strange characters dressed in an array of unusual outfits.
The match happens, there is much shouting, singing and cheering for Tom and a variety of traditional gestures which have to take place at the appropriate moment. Just when you think it is all over you are dragged pitch side to wave at “The Boys” and shout even louder to and wave at “Steward 33”. Then if you are really lucky you get to meet the delight that is Terry the kit man. Just to round off the day you might get to see one or two players on the way to the car park and Tom’s mum might give you a bit of chocolate cake.
On the way to the car park.
Thus enthused I decided to go for The Away experience!
Before the match – We head off to The Swan where we meet up with several of the strangely dressed people. B.Q.F.M explains the delights of Vicarage road; she tells me lots of people don’t like it there including some Sarries fans but that it is one of her fave away grounds. Sarries are her second fave team and she is particularly fond of Sarrie supporters. This time we have decided to sit in the North Stand where we can huddle together with other LI supporters for warmth. B.Q.F.M usually prefers the South with the lovely 1876 Fez and Tom but the tickets are £10 more down that end and we all have to make economies at present! We get to the ground just in time to see The Boys arrive (thank goodness) we are greeted by the lovely steward 165, what fine ambassador for Sarries that man is! He tells us the best place to stand and really looks after us while we wait for the coach. The equally nice 210 and one or two others then join him, we wonder why they have a ROPE but it appears that we must be herded like cattle behind THE ROPE for H+S reasons!
After seeing the boys into the ground we have a brief chat with John the coach driver and then head off to the shop where we try to get a good deal on the nice pink rugby balls, Michael does his best but two for £20 is not the deal we are after, apparently last week they were half price (£7.50) we will have to speak to Edward G about that one!
165 and THE ROPE
John the Human Coffee Machine!
Warm up - I am still at the stage in my rugby-supporting career when the warm up is a great delight to me (LKR is still a huge fan of this after many years but I think she may view it differently from me!). A quick run down of how I see it:
Tom is doing strange things with an elastic band; Max is looking smooth and well groomed as ever! Dan displays some very nice hip action; Topsy looks cute in his little green hat (two more years please). Then Tom starts to kick balls at us, most are going over the posts so we have to look out. There is much embracing amongst the boys then Justin, The Legend, does some sort of HAKA or is he just showing his “Moves Like Jagger” which just happens to be on the sound system!
The Match - The view from behind the posts is very different than from Y22 and I am concerned that I will not be able to see what is going on for the report. Therefore I decide to follow the MOLLY KIRBY School of match reporting:
At 40 the boys come on the pitch in their lovely crisp white shirts,
I pity whoever has to wash that lot.
Tom requests a ball and kicks off.
Line out at the other end.
Mr Heffalump looks very imposing; good to see him back on the pitch let’s hope he is a good boy from now on, we really are a different team without him. Sadly he gets driven into touch and John Smit throws it in, nice to see such a class act in action even if he plays for the other side.
Go Dan.
Lots of hanging around while a Sarries player gets treatment it seems to be Joe Maddock, formerly of Bath, as we are informed by a helpful Sarrie supporter.
We get a penalty and Tom, “Ice, Ice Baby” takes a kick 0-3 to Irish.
Joe, formerly of Bath, goes off and is replaced by David Strettle.
Line out and then a drop goal attempt by Baby Farrell followed by penalty taken by Baby Farrell who gets it despite traditional gestures. 3-3
A line out down other end followed by a wonderful break by MAGNIFICENT MATT.
Sin bin for bad, bad John, not sure what he did from where I am sitting but I expect everyone who saw it on TV will know.
Traditional gestures do not work and Tom misses penalty kick. Never mind he can’t be perfect all the time and we have the feeling all is not well with him today. As excellent kick to touch by Baby Farrell, credit where it is due that boy is looking good.
Irish line out, bad scrummy bit. Baby Farrell kicks to touch and then another penalty for Sarries and Baby Farrell goes for posts 9-3.
Topsy looks yummy with or without the hat.
Bad John back from sin bin.
Scrummy bit other end but looking a bit more promising, Dan very vocal.
Lots and lots of scummy bits, Heffalump looking even more imposing and some excitement amongst Irish Supporters. They get it and kick to touch.
Yet more scrummy bits, a bit of running rugby might be nice!
Holding on, kick to us and Dan puts it on the roof.
Things are a bit slow, not the most gripping of matches, B.Q.F.M is wondering if she should have stayed at home in bed with her Lemsip, Tissues and Jonny Wilkinson (biog for her birthday, not the real thing) and I am finding that I am increasingly looking at thighs rather than the ball.
Bit of action this end, scrummy bit and Dan kicks ball on the roof again.
Dan rolling about on the floor. Rolling? Writhing? Must have been rolling as he gets up writhing usually results in carrying off.
Another good kick by Baby Farrell very bad bit this end. TMO – no try, phew.
HALF TIME
At 40 boys back on pitch. Some very pretty skipping from Alex Goode.
No TOM, Guy on, Topsy fullback? Dan Fullback?
Nice little chip from Dan, Irish spring into life and a good run by Guy.
Penalty to Irish, Dan is the man, appropriate traditional gestures and it goes through. 9-6
Time for some changes Bryn, David and Darren on, Nick, Dodge and James off.
Another Sarries penalty and Baby Farrell’s accuracy is getting somewhat boring. 12-6
Alex and Paulica off, Fann and Clarke on.
Big Bad John off and Jamie George on, info supplied by friendly Sarrie supporter.
A good run by Adam then a very bad bit other end, lots of chatting but no try.
Good run by Topsy but lots of booing by Sarrie supporters.
Better bit, well done Jamie Gibson, more talking, bags coming out and water bottles carried by orange men (not orange like Gavin though).
Scrummy bit Sarries looking dangerous again.
Action this end, then other end but it really does not look like anyone is going to score a try.
More scrums, bit of a boring match, too many scrummy bits and not enough running bits.
Another penalty for Sarries and predictably Baby Farrell lands it. 15-6
Heffalump off, Ofisa on.
Darren adds a bit of speed, great run Dan, come on Adam. Bad bit then final push, come on boys, come on. TMO, yes, yes yes!!!
Well-done David. 15-11
Jon R43 tells us it is 285 minutes since LI last scored a try.
Dan misses conversion, few more boring bits, the end.
After the match – The Boys all make a special effort to come to our end of the pitch and applaud the supporters; this is nice to see and it seems to be getting more regular now. Dan comes over and we ask for a comment for the match report but he has to admit to being speechless, as he was speechless with a smile that is fine. From this moment I decide he is small but perfectly formed and that he will be my fave player. We head round to the coach and are escorted back into the ground by steward 165 to wait and see the boys. B.Q.F.M is over the moon as she gets chance to chat with Dr Venter about Michael Horak and the good old days. I am over the moon as Mr Catt finds time to have a photo with me and my new fave player is also willing to pose for a snap.
We hear that Tom has been unwell all week, thought something was not quite right, hope you feel better soon Tom.
Have to say Baby Farrell is turning into a class act and promise next report we will drop the “Baby” bit.
Our man of the match just has to be Matt Garvey, a great player and a charming, lovely young man we are lucky to have him and must look after him well.
What a great day out, what lovely people I have met and what a great game rugby is even when you don’t win, much, much more than 80 minutes.
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Discussion started by The Craic www.londonirish.org , 05/12/2011 23:44
The Craic www.londonirish.org
05/12/2011 23:44
05/12/2011 23:44
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:06:14:17:12 by Jester.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:06:14:17:12 by Jester.
On a dark day in Watford.
Havent got any hair
Rancid smell of old burgers
Rising up through the air
One of the all time boring games of rugby enlivened by playing it against the team of the nicest bunch of supporters this side of the M25.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
Lovely paced, gentle and funny report. Many thanks.
NevTheSarrieman
Havent got any hair
Rancid smell of old burgers
Rising up through the air
One of the all time boring games of rugby enlivened by playing it against the team of the nicest bunch of supporters this side of the M25.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
Lovely paced, gentle and funny report. Many thanks.
NevTheSarrieman
Nice one Julie - you must have been very abstemious on the coach which I'm sure was hard work as the rest of the gang drank your share!
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