Farewell...

By birdbrainz
April 30 2007

We have known for months that the fate of one of our opponents could be in our hands in the last two games of this season, and the fact that it was actually happening was leaving a churning feeling in the pit of my stomach.

The team had taken some criticism for underachieving over the last couple of weeks both from within and without and this had been billed as a game we had no incentive to win. Perhaps that fact itself would motivate the players to prove their commitment.

The morning of the game finally arrived in the Sparrow house – Two weeks is far to long to expect anyone to go without Rugby – but the usual match day excitement had a dull edge, with the anticipation of the withdrawal symptoms we know are coming in the close season. However, today is one of Baby’s rare away game trips, and she has been a lucky talisman in the past. Her first away trip was to Quins two seasons ago, and of course, she was at THAT game at the Causeway.

Departure time is always a hot topic for debate. The boys assured me that it really can take 5 hours to do the hundred or so miles to Northampton, so we compromised and set off at the crack of just after 10.30 to collect the Posties. Needless to say, we arrived at the Bus Station in plenty of time and found the Freeland Two were already comfortably ensconced. Grandad’s gang was complete.

Our last visit to Franklins Gardens saw Chris White adding on 2 years of stoppages and finally brought about the long awaited installation of count-down clocks in all the stadia. No worries today about when the final whistle would blow, but the vision of Ben Cohen lurking on the wing while scrums were set and reset on the opposite side still haunt me. Please, oh please, not today.

The mood of the Saints fans was very subdued; most of those we spoke to had given up any hope of survival. Although we jollied them along with thoughts of the delights of Cornish hospitality, they didn’t seem all that impressed.

On arrival at the ground I discovered that my notebook was covered in Guinness and the pens I had ensured were in the rucksack were nowhere to be seen. Thankfully Baby was able to produce an emergency pen and the Guinness had only soaked halfway through the book. The program sellers were pushing reflink, which I thought would be a useful addition to my tools.

To my dismay, row M of block Q is only marginally below the cloud base and the previously subdued Saints fans were hysterically baying at their team, rendering the weak signal on the reflink virtually useless. However, I cheered up when I realised we were sitting next to the Bisach clan. I knew no Saints fans were going to drown out Bill, so I could use him as my second pair of eyes. Formal introductions were made between Baby and Charles, who acknowledged each other with a grunt as only teenagers can. We were all set for kick off.

From Riki’s kick off Irish are pressuring Saints 22 heavily. Tonga’s absolutely motoring up the field with the ball I had no idea he could move so quick – oops, rewind, it’s Mapusua with a new hairdo. A low clearance from Reihana goes straight to the always fragrant Tagi who lopes up the field, but the movement is ended when Chris White blows for a forward pass to Bish, who’s looking like he’s determined to score a try in his last game. With 5 minutes gone the Saints collect the ball from their scrum but can only move the ball as far as Topsy lurking around the half way mark and he jinks through to bring the ball in under the posts. Nils makes a simple conversion. 0-7. The Hound of the Saints is on his knees in front of us.

A slightly comical double miss from Dodge and the Saints chaser means they both miss the kick-off and tackle each other. Irish clear the ball all the way to the flag at the end of the goal area and CW awards a scrum to Saints from where the kick was taken. Cue Bisach who thought the correct decision should have been a 22 drop.

Saints start to pile on the pressure, but the Irish defence is ferocious – almost back to its best. Their advance to the Irish 22 is immediately wiped out by Topsy’s huge clearance into their 22. It’s becoming obvious that I have no chance of working out what is going on in the rucks from here. They could have been having a tea party for all I can see, so I apologise for the lack of detail.

With 10 minutes gone a promising attack from Saints was cut short by Topsy getting his fingertips to Tupai’s pass. So far not bad. Which is more than I can say for the poor Saints Hound who is being baited by Irish fans before moving back to the comfort of the home fans where he receives applause.

The clock says 23 minutes to go when Spencer makes backhanded pass 15 metres to his left, but the Irish tackles stop the advance until the ball is knocked on and the resulting scrum is awarded to Saints. Spencer passes the ball wide to Reihana and a missed tackle from Bish leaves him clear to touch down in the left hand corner. Reihana converts his own try. Funny monkey noises ensue, but I guess this must be a term of endearment in these parts. 7-7.

The Irish lineout has been looking a bit shaky so far, but the next lineout after the restart looks much more solid. Unfortunately, the good work is wasted when the ball is turned over, giving the ever impressive Mapusua the chance to make a crunching tackle before Bob gets a warning for grabbing a Saints shirt. Reihana converts the 40 metre penalty. 10-7.

Irish are soon on the scoresheet again, despite Paicey overthrowing the lineout. Tagi picks up a Reihana clearance and beautiful passing moves the ball left to right across the field, allowing Mapusua to bring the ball in to the Right hand corner. Nils misses the wide conversion. 10-12 and 17 minutes to go.

The next 17 minutes are an up and down rollercoaster of a ride, featuring mis-handling and turnovers, counterbalanced by some sublime moves, including a Riki run through half the field and a long Cohen clearance. Irish fans break out “The Fields” and with 10 minutes to go the Saints respond with their own chant to while away an injury break. Carlos Spencer is penalised for holding on, but Nils misses the kick. Reihana’s restart looks to be miss-kicked and goes straight to Bish, but Tupai cuts off his run slightly above the Adams apple. Cue Mr White talking to Mr Tupai (first time).

Pressure oscillates from side to side, and with 2 minutes to go the Saints fans start streaming to the bar. A Nils Mordt clearance brings the half time whistle. 10-12.

I’m frantically trying to find out the scores from the other games, but Vodafone’s link to Skysports only gives the Super 14 matches - again. Eventually someone finds out that Worcester are beating Sarries – Er how?? And the cricket’s currently delayed by rain – should have played it here then, eh! Cool Dude Barry Everitt strolls past surveying his new home – what will be his fate?

The second half sees Michael Collins on for Tonga. The Saints kick off looks to be charged down by Nick Kennedy, but Saints win a scrum from the resulting ruck. Mordt’s break into their half and chip over the top results in a 22 drop when Cohen beats Topsy to the ball; but close, oh so close.

Army veteran Budgen comes on as replacement and a period of Saints pressure on the Irish 22 ensues. Tagi needs a haircut. Cortese impedes the Irish defensive line, but the ball is passed the opposite way, so makes no difference. However, Lamont collects the ball on its return across the pitch and breaks Tagi’s tackle to score. Topsy screams off the goal line to challenge Reihana’s conversion, but it sails between the posts. 35 Minutes to go – 17-12.

Irish are now giving the Saints backs too much room. Overlaps are appearing on a regular basis, but the Irish scrambled defence is helped by Saints’ naivety. 25 metres from the posts CW awards a penalty to Saints for 4&2 being offside. Predictably, Reihana converts to make the score 20-12. If Saints survive they can put it down to one man – 15 points out of 20, and I’m sure this is not unusual. Remind me, why do they want Barry?

With 13 minutes to go Irish win their own lineout and Riki takes the ball into contact. Irish are penalised for holding on at the next ruck, but meanwhile, 15 metres away, handbags are being exchanged. The touch judge confirms Tupai has hit his opponent on the floor. Mr White speaks to Mr Tupai (second time). Penalty Irish.

By now both teams are tending towards lateral movement and with less than 15 minutes remaining Irish finally make it to the Saints 22 where we are awarded a penalty for not rolling away. Nils converts the penalty 20-15.

The news from Sixways is not good for Saints. If Worcester beat Sarries they have no control over their own destiny. Whether they are aware or not, the Saints players are displaying their frustrations. Tackles are high. The ball’s slammed into the ground in disgust when a scrum is pinged. A Topsy break is cut short with a forward pass and Saints take the opportunity to change their forwards.

We’re back to play moving up and down the field until Magne gets pinged for accidental offside. Spencer’s dummy pass following the scrum puts Robinson through and Topsy’s missed tackle leaves the scrum half to touch down with 17 minutes to go. Once again, Mr Reliable converts the 15 metre kick. 27-15. Irish are looking jaded and Saints are pumped. Delon and Jimmy Hudson replace Topsy and Nick the Ball.

With 10 minutes left another brawl breaks out – Mapusua is desperately trying to separate Tupai and Riki. Mr White comments that he has had to speak to Mr Tupai three times – obviously not enough to award a yellow, but severely trying his patience, I suppose. Perhaps CW’s ‘done a Wavey’. Riki’s looking tired by now and it seems he has been targeted by Saints.

Irish replacements are brought on with 7 minutes to go and Hats receives a well deserved standing ovation from our corner of the Stand. Fresh legs seem to add impetus to the Irish attack but handling errors make them fruitless. The pressure’s obviously getting to Bish who’s told to calm down by Mr White. Worcester 22-7.

The fat lady has just taken the mic and Saints fans are leaving in droves – loyal supporters! But for Irish it’s not quite last rites. Mapusua runs onto a chip from Riki and slides under the posts. Fittingly, Bish is handed the ball and converts with great composure, despite the cacophony of sound now being created by both the Saints fans and the Irish contingent. 27-22. Game over. Baby’s away record is in tatters.

I pity the messenger left to break the relegation news to the Saints team. Reihana’s emotional speech is obviously painful for him, but the supporters are exiting the ground in droves, so is it falling on deaf ears? Many of the players are close to tears, but the supporters seem strangely cold. There are no Harlequins/Bristolesque displays of distress, so maybe the fans have been resigned to their fate for some time.

Hats and Bish are suitably lauded by their adoring fans and the rest of the team are clapped till hands are sore. Anyone would think we had won. Whilst the game was scrappy in places, there were some bright sparks – perhaps an indication of our lack of a settled team this season. Grandad’s gang sets off for a sleepover with the Freeland Two.

So the final whistle blew on our 2006-07 season. It’s been a funny old mix-up of a season. We started off at Twickenham with a win against Quins and an expectation that our form of the previous season would carry on, but soon lost momentum, only to pick up again after Christmas. But it has been a positive year. Irish players feature in all of the top ten opta lists. Only Sarries and Gloucs have beaten us home and away; Wasps, Leicester and Sale all beaten in the same season, which is unprecedented; and it’s only the third time we’ve finished in the top half of the table in the past 10 years. Bearing in mind the injury list this season and the loss of key players like Faan, Catt and Geraghty at various points, I’m pleased with that. It may not have been pretty at times, and on occasions the rugby has been woeful, but the objective this season was a Heineken Cup spot, and that’s where we ended. How’s that underachieving?

As for next season – With losses to an already slim squad, there’s a desperate need for more players, but I am sure the management have that in hand. Presumably eyes are on improving on 6th place this time next year. And there are rumours of a new strip for next season – no doubt still featuring that red stripe across the front. Mr Llanera, we’ve worn your colours for the last 2 years, now let’s see the colour of the money you’ve promised.