Nessun Dorma (None Shall Sleep)
London Irish
By Aidan Preece
October 17 2005
With the clock showing 10 minutes of injury time and the scores level at 23 a piece Bruce Reihana stepped up to secure a most unlikely 4 points for the Saints in another day of drama and tension at Franklins Gardens.
Oh for a straight forward regulation home win in the Premiership, it seems like an age since it happened.
In stark contrast to the conditions for the game against
Keeping warm was not a problem for the record breaking crowd of 13,262 as the Tetley’s stand took on Opera singer Ted Jackson when he led a glamorous rendition of “Oh Wendy”. Too many twiddley bits for my liking.
But whatever prompted Mr Robson to employ the services of Ted it certainly seemed to do the trick for Saints who where out of the blocks first. They must also have received a fillip when the news of Oliver Magne’s absence from the London Irish team filtered through.
With just over 1 minute on the clock a superb line from John Clark split the Irish defence asunder, Taking the tackle he managed to get the ball away to Quinlan who spilled forward with the whitewash in sight.
The signs were good and barely two minutes later Bruce Reihana opened his account for the day with a try in the corner. Defensive pressure on the Irish 10 metre line lead to the ball bobbling free from Ricky Flutey’s hands. Quinlan was on hand to make amends for his early knock on and dropped on it. The ball was recycled almost instantaneously and Reihana made the extra man at the end of the line, diving over in the corner. The conversion followed and Saints looked every bit in charge at 7-0.
But the celebrations were to be short lived as Spencer entered into an aerial battle with Flutey, Catt and Horak. An area of the game in which Saints came up short on more than one occasion. Spencer’s kicks up the middle were meat and drink to Irish who always seemed to be able to return the favour with interest. One such aerial exchange resulted in a penalty from the impressive Flutey who narrowed the lead on 10 minutes.
Congratulations were due at the start of the game to those that had walked the 17 miles or so to the Gardens to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and in keeping with the charitable theme the Saints capably followed suit and donated generously to the Irish cause.
Almost immediately after the Irish penalty, Spencer made a small break from the restart and Flutey gambled on the former All Black trying to pass the ball to the outside as he was tackled, time for Irish to cash in the cheque. Flutey ran in unopposed between the sticks, converting his own try for good measure. 7-10.
Saints continued to put pressure on themselves and Irish began to find their feet with Feau’nati battering up the middle and Catt kicking to Cohen’s corner on a regular basis. One quick throw in from Cohen just inside his own 22 left Reihana with what seemed like three phases of the moon to clear the ball yet inexplicably the kick was charged down. Fortunately for Saints the ball bounced favourably and the danger was averted.
With barely 20 minutes gone the self destruct button was pressed once again. One of the delights with Carlos Spencer is his ability to keep the ball alive in situations where it might appear that the momentum has been lost. Today this aspect of his game both delighted and frustrated in equal measure. Spencer found himself on the wing with Reihana inside, taking the tackle he delayed his pass just a fraction of a second, and Feau’nati stepped inside and gratefully accepted the gift, racing to the line with Budgen, Browne and company trailing in his wake. The try was converted from out wide by Flutey to leave the Saints staring down the barrel of a 10 point deficit.
From the restart Saints pushed up field, the forwards working hard to clear rucks and competing well for the ball against the much vaunted Irish pack. At one such breakdown Robinson who was once again at his sniping best had the ball knocked from his hands illegally. Reihana converted from just outside the 10 metre line. 10-17.
The Spencer bombs continued to reign down on the edge of the Irish 22 but once again Irish returned to the Saints half to secure a further penalty, this time Budgen being penalised for holding on in the tackle. Flutey converted to re-establish the 10 point lead.
Saints recovered from their wobbly spell with a period of sustained pressure, protecting and recycling their possession well. On 30 minutes their patience paid off and Reihana claimed his second try of the day.
2 minutes later and another break from the Saints nearly culminated in another try. Harding who had an excellent game breaking free after the Saints turned over ball on their own 22.
Just before half time
The halftime team talks must have centred on making the first up tackles count and certainly London Irish seemed a tougher nut to crack in the second half. Saints once again pressing well in the first 10 minutes yet coming away with nothing to show for it. One quick throw from Lamont resulted in Cohen going close in the corner, Saints evidently knocking on at the vital moment.
Credit must be paid to both sides who tried to open the game up when the opportunity presented. After absorbing the initial opening pressure in the second half, Irish began to play the percentages well. Catt showed why he was top of the class in his time, indeed his presence would still be a valued asset at
Flutey also had a good game, a kind of perky David Cameron to a Spencer like Ken Clark of the Flyhalf Party. Flutey did however miss the first penalty opportunity of the second half after Saints were penalized for not releasing.
Into the final quarter and neither side had managed to build on their halftime score. Howard came on for Robinson and Thompson replaced the in form Dan Richmond.
Both sides continued to struggle to put any shape on the game and frustrations were vented at a lineout deep in the Irish 22. Irish ventured up field from the resulting penalty and Saints were pinged once more for a lineout offence, Flutey didn’t miss this second opportunity and the gap opened up once again. 18-23.
Curiously at this point and in a manner similar to the Harlequins match last season, Irish players appeared to start playing the clock rather than continuing to play the Saints, how much time this tactic actually added to the proceedings was fervently debated afterwards, but Referee White clearly felt that a 50 minute second half was justifiable.
Lord came on to replace the hardworking Gerard, then without warning Boome collapsed at a lineout. The most innocuous of incidents you are never likely to see again. The absence of Boome, Budgen and Gerard gave the pack a lightweight appearance and Irish began to put the pressure on up front.
Lamont did come up just short of the try line on 65minutes when he was bundled in to touch but desperation was beginning to creep into the Saints game. A string of penalties saw them back down field and resulted in Flutey narrowly missing a drop goal attempt.
Drop goal aside fortune continued to favour London Irish as Saints seemed incapable of breaking the hoodoo that has seen Irish return victorious from the Gardens for the last two seasons.
Chances were snatched at, knock on’s where conceded (Howard and Browne) yet still White marched from play to play. Everyone assuming each opportunity was to be the last.
It really must have been the last bus out of Bottom of the
The afternoon had started with a rousing rendition of Nessun Dorma from Mr Jackson but I suspect that one or two saintly heads should be able to get a more peaceful night thanks to a certain Bruce Reihana.