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The Challenge cup
was over and our happy, no very happy band of travellers were back in the
country in one piece. I do believe we had 100% returned to their loved ones.
I did hear a story of one poor soul attempting to join the foreign legion to
escape it all. But was told his commentary was not "that" bad. So it was now back to league action. The last game had seen one of the best ever rugby performances by a Warriors team, at home against Gloucester. Could the drive, the passion the commitment be reproduced away from home?? |
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With supporters turning up at Sixways for the trip down to Reading, along came the hiatus of which coach had been allocated. Could I ask all travelling supporters to tell the ticket office whether they want to return early or late. Late being 19:00? Wattie was there working overtime moving people as best he could between coaches to help all the supporters. Off we set down the M5 in great spirits, expectation was high. Reminiscent of the trip to Otley last year. We had the away bus raffle of Belgian Chocolates, how is they always go first?? Consensus is we use the funds to subsidise an away weekend when we play at Newcastle. |
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Well the scene was
set as the players emerged from the tunnel. Warriors had to wait a full 3
minutes before the LI side appeared?? The stadium then stood in respect of the lives lost the previous evening in the awful train crash just west of Reading. |
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The side had been
depleted even further from the published team. It was going to be a
difficult game! Irish got the game underway with a high kick deep into the visitors 22. The ball was taken neatly by Dale Rasmussen who threw the first dummy of the game and cut back into his forwards. This kept the Irish loose forwards outside and almost punched a hole in the chasing Irish forwards. the ball was eventually released to Tommy Hayes, playing his first game in 8 weeks after recovering from injury. he made a fine touch on the Irish 10m |
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Now was the test
that would set the standard for the rest of the game. The Warriors were
without Craig Gillies, but Phil Murphy had shown fine form against Brive
over the last two games. The ball came in and Irish took it uncontested. there was no attempt to pressure the jumper. the defence was going to come in as he touched the ground. However the ball was instantly fed out taking away all opportunity to create a maul situation. The ball was fed down the line at pace with the Warriors midfield comfortably covering the play |
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The ball was held
up in the tackle and Irish were there in numbers. But oh my, where were Worcester, still on the coach that had arrive just 2 hours before kick-off. They were not at the party. Arriving far to late had them under pressure, forcing them to give away a silly penalty. Up stepped Mark Mapletoff and from just inside the Warriors half hit a beauty which soared through the posts to give Irish an immediate 3 point lead. This should have given the Warriors something to think about, give penalties away anywhere in your own half and he will crucify you |
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Did they learn? No, they did not!! They continued to concede penalties all over the field and not when under intense defensive pressure. It did not matter where on the field if a ruck or maul was set, then every time there was the likelihood of conceding a penalty. This total indiscipline would eventually cost Worcester the game. the captain on the field must control his troops. It is not good enough to just run around playing your part no matter how well you do it, if you do not control and lead your players 2 Quick penalties took the score to: Irish 6 : 0 Warriors |
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Another example of being up for the game, or in this case not being up for the game, was personified in the chase for the ball at the restarts. Irish took the ball virtually unopposed from a very high ball giving plenty of time for the players to get there! |
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The game was
drifting away as mistake after mistake constantly gave the possession back
to The Irish. Who it has to say were faster, stronger and a damn site more
determined to win then their visitors. Poor old Tommy Hayes was put under the spotlight again as he knocked on a dreadful pass from Powell in the Warriors 22. The Irish midfield and backrow were onto the ball in a shot and managed a little bit by luck to get the ball over the line and dive on it. A try gifted rather than crafted and would be the last time Irish would threaten the Warriors line in the game London Irish 13 : 0 Warriors |
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Up front the Warriors pack were fighting back, quite literally in some case, but they were coming back. Slowly they started to get their game together and show in a small way just what they are really capable of. They were now attacking with pace and finding some holes, but once again the backrow were sluggish at getting to the breakdown. many times the break was there but we just weren't in enough numbers to capitalise. BUT it showed we could do it, maybe time would help. However we were now putting Irish under some intense pressure, forcing them to concede their second only penalty of the half. Tommy had missed the first attempt, this one was in a better field location. If he had converted the first it would have been 6:3 and who knows? |
However it was not. Now he was converting the penalty to try and get Worcester back into the game. Tommy duly applied taking the score to Irish 13 : 3 Warriors. Another silly penalty conceded took the half time score to: Irish 16 : 3 Warriors |
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