RT's London Irish Away

When Warriors’ Eyes are Smiling………

Imagine the scene…….

A home game.

The season has started well with a new coach and a clutch of silky backs.  The first game, last week, has produced 5 points away from home;  today, the opposition is not noted for a running game.  Hopes are high for another 5-pointer.

The match starts well.  Things are going to plan. The backs scorch their way down the field.  The opposition seems error-ridden and gifts two tries. Surely, it’s in the bag!

Wait a moment.  The tide is turning.  The grunters won’t give up.  Despite their butter fingers, they keep coming forward.  After aeons of injury time camped on the opposition line, the winning score refuses to come.

Final score:       London Irish 15 – Worcester 20

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How would we feel if we had been beaten like that at Sixways?  Angry? Resentful?

Those feelings must have been washing about after the game, but taking them out on the opposing fans is not the London Irish way.  Their fans were as friendly to us after the game as they had been before it.  (Though there were a few little moans as well.)

When we first arrived at the ground, Irish supporters in the bar had commended our forwards for their performance against Gloucester.  After the match, one LI fan shook us both by the hand and congratulated us:  “We won the first half, but you won the second.  Your pack is magnificent”.  When we expressed envy for Rod Penney, he waved it aside. “He won’t be playing much longer.  We’ve two Southern Hemisphere stars in the offing – a centre and an outside half.”

The Warriors might have been guilty of a few errors on the pitch, but the day’s “Foot in Mouth” award must go to the Irish.  Opening their excellent programme at the “To-day’s Visitors” page, we were interested to learn that our first “Player to Watch” was Emilio Bergamaschi.  More interesting still, the full page colour photograph of a Warrior in action was a shot of Ben Daly!  During the game, the PA announcer reminded the fans that the next home game would take place on the 24^th August and then joyfully proclaimed a try that wasn’t given.  We wondered if he was still recovering from last weekend’s festival at Twickenham.  The supporters we met had not got home from the double header until 4am.

If the LI fans were gracious in defeat, the Worcester fans were ecstatic in victory. Before the game, the mood on the coaches had varied from cautious to anxious. After the match, there was a sense of excitement that our boys could win even when not at their best.  The strength of character and “never say die” commitment that pulled us through last season is clearly still there in abundance.

On the return coach, there was much discussion about the game’s “Champagne Moment” (re-named the Guinness Moment at £3.20 a pint).  Shine’s second drop goal was a strong contender but, on balance, the Man of the Moment (but hardly of the match) was thought to be Tim Collier for his 15 minute cameo performance.

In the dying moments of normal time, the Irish pack was about to defend a Worcester scrum on the 5 yard line.  We saw their faces drop. (They must already have been in a state of confusion from facing Chris Fortey and Mike Macdonald instead of Ben Daly and Emilio B.)  The last straw from their perspective must have been the sight of 21stone Tim Collier rumbling into the fray.

Even without the joyful result, the London Irish experience is a good day out.  The Madejski Hotel must be the smartest clubhouse in the land. (Closed, we’re told, to football supporters.)  The stadium itself is an impressive venue, though rather too large for the 7,000 crowd.  Despite this, the razzamatazz of the Irish creates a party atmosphere: Digger the Wolfhound (+ L-plated puppy); the dancing display at half-time from the children; the live music under the North stand and the welcome from the fans.

As we returned to Sixways through the gathering gloom, we reflected on a successful day: an excellent and rather unexpected result on the pitch for the Warriors, the craic amongst the supporters and England poised (hopefully) to take the Ashes!  It was a day, in fact, when the Worcester Warriors and their loyal fans might be said to have found :

A crock of gold buried in the Fields of Athenry!

Next week: A New Crusade

Worcester Warriors v Saracens

Be There!