Galway Bay
By Darraghgirl
October 13 2013
(with apologies to Arthur Colahan).
If you ever go across the sea to Ireland,
Then maybe at the closing of your day
You will sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh,
And see the sun go down on Galway Bay.
So Sarries went across the sea to Connacht
The first opponents they were due to play
And they hoped that their dreams of European rugby
Would not sink with the tide in Galway Bay.
The sun shone til the moon rose over Claddagh
And we gathered at The Huntsman on our way
Then we wandered to the quaint old Irish Sportsground
As the sun set in the West in Galway Bay.
The sea eagle flew across the stadium
The evening remained fine and dry
And barely 5 minutes after kickoff
Chris Wyles scored Sarries opening try.
Despite a careless penalty conceded
Saracens were looking for some more
An attack involving most of Sarries back line
Saw Ashton touch down for a second score.
14 - 3 after only 8 minutes,
This was gonna be a walk in the park!
Bonus point by half time surely ?
Until the Irish stepped up to the mark.
It all started with a rather lazy high ball
A tactic Connacht used with great success
Maimon scored the first try for the Irish
And Parks added the 2 as you would guess.
We shouldn't have just stood there and watched it
Someone should have claimed it but instead
We gave them hope, belief, and inspiration
That they could win this game and leave us dead.
Farrell gave a little bit of comfort
With 3 points from a better Sarries scrum
But we kept kicking possession straight back
And inevitably there was more to come.
A long attack from Connacht was defended
The crowd sang out 'The fields of Athenry'
And finally winger Danie Poolman
Went over for a second Connacht try.
Parks' conversion brought the Irish level
Fraser left the field with injury
And only an unusual miss from Parks again
Allowed Sarries to reach half time parity.
Apparently punching is now legal!
Apparently the TMOs agree
That if there is a bit of provocation
It's ok to swing an arm quite legally!
So Sarries came out with all their guns blazing
And camped out in the Connacht twenty two.
Thrice the TMO was called on for decisions
And thrice the answer sadly was a 'noo',
At last and after 20 minutes pressure
Sarries won themselves a penalty
It says masses for the Connacht defenders
That they seemed delighted to take the 3.
The only tactic Connacht seemed to offer
Was kicking balls high up into the sky
But we just kept giving them the ball back
Or kicking it straight out, why o why?
Fifteen minutes left and we're reduced to
A hopeless Farrell try at a drop goal
Then finally with 10 minutes remaining
We replace our labouring front row.
At once a super maul brings us a penalty
And now we squeak into a 6 point lead
But this is much more tight than we expected
And not the sort of tension that we need.
So Sarries win a line out in their twenty two
Shouldn't be a problem now to clear
But time wasting is clearly not acceptable
And Connacht get a kick from M. Gauziere.
So we spend the final minutes on our goal line
With Connacht throwing everything they can
Wyles makes a try saving tackle
Then Taylor isolates a Connacht man.
Time is done, and the ball goes into touch
What a relief! Somehow we have won!
Fair play to the Irishmen from Galway
They gave us quite a shock when all is done.
So Sarries went across the sea to Ireland
And made sure at the closing of the day
As they stood and saw the moon rise over Claddagh
Their ship was still afloat in Galway Bay.
Connacht
Duffy, Carr (O’Halloran), Henshaw, Ronaldson (So’oialo), Poolman, Parks, Marmion (O’Donoghue), Wilkinson (Cooney), Henry (Harris-Wright), Ah-You (Cooney), Swift (Muldowney), Clarke, Muldoon (Browne), Heenan, Naoupu
Saracens
Goode, Ashton, Tomkins (Taylor), Wyles, Strettle, Farrell, De Kock (Wigglesworth), M Vunipola (Gill) Brits (George) Stevens (Johnston) Borthwick, Kruis (Hargreaves), Brown, Fraser (Joubert), B Vunipola
Scorers:-
Connacht: Tries – Marmion, Poolman, Conv – Parks (2) Pen: Parks
Saracens: Tries – Wyles, Ashton, Conv – Farrell (2) Pen: Farrell (3)
Referee: Pascal Gauziere
Att 7,546
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:27:18:09:26 by Darraghgirl.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
Thank you so much!
Sure, you've missed your way, so you have.
Burning the Boards London Style
[images.google.co.uk]
Quote:oxonsarrie
Thanks DG for such a good report. I think a vote of thanks should also go the fantastic Connacht supporters we met at the game. Despite being miffed that we had tickets for the Clan Terrace and we were able to gather on the half way line in front of the player entrance we were greeted with a good deal of friendly banter and were able to engage in some good rugby debates. Galway was an impressive rugby town to visit and we will be forever thankful we were greeted with good weather which is somewhat unusual in these parts. We look forward to hosting Connacht supporters for the return leg.
Agreed Oxon although my Galway buddies loved tapping me on the head when they scored and taking the pee out of the positive vibes lol
Burning the Boards London Style
[images.google.co.uk]
THANK YOU!