GOODE NIGHT NEW YORK
By Darraghgirl
March 13 2016
London Irish v Saracens Sat 12th March Red Bull Arena, New Jersey
Start spreading the news, we’re playing today.
Come on and be a part of it, New York, New York.
We aren’t gonna lose, we’re longing to play
Right in the very heart of it, New York, New York.
We wanna wake up, in a city that doesn't sleep.
When we’re still king of the hill, top of the heap.
Those Northampton blues, are melting away.
We'll make a brand new start of it, in old New York.
If we can make it there, we'll make it anywhere.
It's up to you, New York, New York.
Apparently rugby is the fastest growing game in America. Apparently Pro rugby launches there next month with 6 professional teams (although I can only find 5). Apparently this game was supposed to heighten interest in the Big Apple. Apparently it was a good idea.
For both teams I suspect the prospect of a week away in an unseasonably warm New York City was appealing. Sarries are well known for their team bonding sessions and probably this came just at the right time for our rag tag band of heroes. Thank goodness Eddie Jones didn’t select Alex Goode because without him this might have been a very different game.
There is class, and there is everything else.
I remember something similar last year when Goodey came on as a sub, I think in an Anglo-welsh game, and grabbed the match by the scruff of its neck and completely turned it around. We saw the same thing in New Jersey except that Goode was on the field for the whole 80 minutes. He had one of those “Midas” days – when everything he touched turned to gold. He could do no wrong. Tries- Score one! Difficult conversions – never in doubt! Penalty kicks from half way – no problem! Full back, fly half, scrum half, centre – was there really only one Alex Goode on the pitch because he seemed to be everywhere. It wouldn’t have surprised me to find him popping up in the front row!
But back to the beginning. Watching on TV I was surprised at the size of the crowd. It was said to be 14,000 – but maybe all the Irish season ticket holders were automatically included (they wouldn’t do that would they?) Whoever set the pricing structure (allegedly $200 a ticket) got this very wrong! Most of the crowd seemed to be supporting Irish despite the fact that Sarries were fielding 3 USA Eagles – Former Captain America, Chris Wyles, Titi Lamositele and Hayden Smith. TV commentary was the usual BT guys but the camera work clearly wasn’t. Maybe aerial shots work for gridiron – but not for union! Following the ball proved a challenge and referee Luke Pearce and the TMO struggled on gamely without much recourse to replays.
Irish entered into the spirit of the occasion by playing Tom Cruise at hooker …… oops sorry it wasn’t THAT Tom Cruise! We also heard that there was a bug going round the team which led to the late withdrawal of Bosch from the starting line-up.
The game started with a lot of aerial stuff and a missed penalty to touch from the usually reliable Spencer. Alex Lewington, who seems to save his best for Saracens, seemed to have gone over in the corner but an acrobatic challenge from Ellery just forced him to put a toe in touch. Mr Pearce went back for an Irish Penalty which Tonks scored. Almost at once Spencer had the opportunity to level things with what looked like a simple kick (BT helpfully told us his percentage was 100%) so there was only ever going to be one outcome –the kick went wide! Sarries managed a decent period of possession and a nice late pass from Mordt found Goode running on to the ball. Neat footwork took him past 3 Irish defenders and under the posts. Spencer kicked the conversion and Sarries took a short-lived 7-3 lead. From the restart Irish made mincemeat of the famed Wolf Pack and Tonks and Steele put Lewington (who else) through. No one laid a hand on him and he scored. Tonks converted and Irish were back in the lead 10-7.
It was all Irish now. An interception by Ellery saved a certain try. Lewington (he again) almost scored in the corner when Tonks kicked the ball across to him in a free play but he just knocked the ball on. Tonks made no mistake with the penalty though for 13-7. Sarries won another penalty in front of the posts and again Spencer put the ball wide. The half ended with Irish in the ascendency and seemingly only Goode and Ellery standing in their way.
Into the 2nd half and Goode collected his own chip ahead in the Irish 22. The move broke down but Sarries had a penalty. This time Goodey took charge, picked up the ball and never looked like missing. 13-10. Just 5 minutes into the 2nd half and Spencer, Burger & Hamilton were replaced by De Kock, Brown and Hargreaves. (Suggestions that the departing trio were still affected by “the bug”). The newcomers instantly stiffened the defence. Another Sarries penalty for an armless tackle and again Goode was on the money. The scores were now level 13-13. Irish had a long period of possession but the Wolf Pack, marshalled by Kelly Brown, was back in business and eventually Sarries won a penalty & cleared. Another penalty, this one further out, but Goode was never going to miss to put Sarries back in the lead. Irish looked dangerous again and Mordt put in a decent tackle on Maitland but Irish won a penalty and once again Tonks levelled the scores.
Irish continued to look dangerous and maybe the pivotal moment came where Narraway broke clear but opted to keep going rather than pass outside where there was a 3 on 1. The move ended in a Sarries’ penalty and the danger was cleared. Mordt went off with an injury and Goode officially became the “10” (although in truth he had been playing there most of the match anyway). Sarries seemed happy to allow Irish the ball but not the territory. It paid off when they won another penalty almost on half way. The immortal Goode stepped up and the ball sailed over the cross bar for 16-19.
As the game entered its final 10 minutes, the Irish players were noticeably paying for their earlier adventurism. Another free play and Tonks again lobbed the ball towards the corner for Lewington but he over ran the ball and it bobbled into touch. This time Tonks missed with a tricky penalty kick.
There was a long pause while we waited to look at some foul play noted by the TMO but it was beyond the production company to replay the incident and Mr Pearce wisely decided to press on with the game. With just a few minutes left, Sarries seemed happy to allow Irish the ball but pushed them further and further back. Finally Tompkins charged down an attempted kick from the weary Scott Steele. It ricocheted off a couple of feet then into Tompkins arms and he scored in the corner. The TV company managed to replay the incident and Mr Pearce was happy so the try stood. Goodey then kicked a superb touchline conversion. And that was that.
So McCall’s ever decreasing little band of war-torn soldiers march on to their final battle at Welford Road where they just need to hang on until the cavalry come galloping over the hill.
We took Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island too,
Those Irish, watched our boys in blue.
We played some rugby, some of it ugly,
But we came out on top you know
We came and said “hello”
And put our game on show
It may grow.
And tell me where could
You see such manhood
In this town?
We’re victors in tonight’s showdown!
This great big city’s the real McCoy
For each little girl and boy!
We turned Manhattan into an isle of Joy
IRISH
Maitland, Lewington, Hearn, Williams (Mulchrone), Ojo, Tonks, Steele, Smallbone (court), Cruse (Ellis), Aulika (Halavatua), Symonds, Stooke (Lloyd), Narraway, Cowan (Trayfoot), McCusker
SARACENS
Goode, Ellery, Tompkins, Barritt, Wyles (Earle), Mordt (Ransom), Spencer (De Kock), Barrington (Lamositele), Saunders (Porecki), Figallo (Du Plessis), Smith, Hamilton (Hargreaves), Rhodes, Burger (Brown), Wray
Scorers:
Irish (16)
Try: Lewington; Conv: Tonks; Pen: Tonks (3)
Saracens (26)
Tries: Goode, Tompkins; Conv: Spencer, Goode; Pens: Goode (4)
Attendance 14,011
Referee: Luke Pearce
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:03:27:12:16:58 by Darraghgirl.
The on-the-spot reporter was last traced to DC. But it is only 10:12 in the morning there!
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!