Wig-Wam Bam
By Big-Al
October 25 2010
I'm sure we do not all agree on the rights and wrongs of how promotion from the Championship to the Premiership is decided. Without wanting to be in the least bit disrespectful to Bristol (I've always enjoyed trips to Bristol and their wonderful pasties), I was cheering for Exeter in last season's play-off finals and have been looking forward to my first trip to Sandy Park for some time.
So on to the first of the important questions of day - how good are the pasties?
The answer is, I don't know, I had the hog roast – which was pretty good (I know, if I was more dedicated to the task in hand, I would have tried all the food on offer in order to provide a full report).
Pre-Match Thoughts:
This is one of those matches that we are more than capable of winning and one that we should win if we are to be serious contenders this season. However if it also the sort of match we have a habit of slipping up in. So if we are not fully up for it, we could be in for a surprise - Exeter have already shown that they are more than capable of holding their own against established premiership teams.
I don't see this game as being on of the season defining matches, however, it is one of those matches that could tell us how well we have learnt the lessons from past slip ups.
The Match:
Ok – this will not go down in history as a premiership classic, but that doesn't make it a bad game, there was an intensity to the match along with a great atmosphere, which made for a great evening. This match could have gone either way and it was only the last 15 minutes or so when we looked to be in control.
No surprises in our line up – Delon returns after his EPS enforced rest and there are a couple of rotational changes in the front row.
We start the first half – Ryan kicks long into the Exeter 22 and they return the ball deep into our half. And we return it back into their 22 for the first line out of the day – the Chiefs line out is secure and the ball is cleared for our first line out, which is equally as secure but the attempted maul is forced into touch.
In the early exchanges, Exeter are looking the more dangerous, a chip through gets them well into our half but the move is ended by a knock on, and a break from a line out results in a penalty – but we are lucky that it is a rare miss from Steenson.
Our first scoring opportunity comes on 15 minutes, and penalty for offside and Ryan is on target – so the score is 0-3, against the run of play.
Exeter continue to have the better of things and our scrum appears to be under a fair amount of pressure. It is a penalty from a scrum that allows Steenson to level the scores at 3-3 after 21 minutes.
We are starting to have a bit more of the ball and going through a number of phases but without making much progress – Exeter’s defence is looking strong and well organised and some intelligent kicking puts us back on the defensive.
Another penalty against us in the scrum leads to an Exeter lineout on our 22, we then give away a penalty for brining the maul down and Steenson gives Exeter a 6-3 lead just a couple of minutes from half time. Exeter claim the restart and after a kicking exchange a good kick from Ryan, Nick steals the ball from Exeter’s lineout on their 5m line and we win a penalty (offside?) – Ryan converts to make it 6-6 at half time.
I think we are a little fortunate to be level at half time, Exeter have looked the better in many areas of the game – time for Toby to sort things out for a better second half.
Exeter start the second half – the kick-off is claimed and cleared and a fumble by one of the Exeter backs gives us a lineout deep into their half. We just about keep possession from the line out and go across field but Ryan is intercepted and Exeter break and kick forward into our 22 – fortunately we are able to get back quickly enough to repel the danger.
46 minutes – Delon is yellow carded for a high tackle, from my angle this looked a bit harsh as I thought the Exeter players had ducked into the challenged – but having since viewed it on Sky, I think it was a correct decision. However we survive the next 10 minutes without too much concern.
The first replacements are on 53 minutes – James Buckland for David Paice and Faan for Alex.
Delon returns on 57 minutes. Exeter make the first of their replacements. For about 3 minutes we keep the ball, going through the phases, but the Exeter defence is solid and there is no way through. Steenson has taken a knock and is replaced. Matt Garvey is on for Big Bob.
62 minutes – and the change at 10 for Exeter has an immediate positive effect for them as Davis slots over a drop goal – Exeter lead 9-6.
We are having most of the possession and there is a half break here and a quarter break there, but Exeter continue to hold firm. We have a series of plays around the Exeter 5m line – but the move breaks down when the forwards let the backs have a go. Following Exeter being penalised at the scrum, we have a 5m lineout but managed to mess it up and Exeter clear.
Our scrum is doing better since the replacements and we gain a penalty on 70 minutes – Ryan levels the scores at 9-9.
We are now dominating play – and gain another penalty on 75 minutes and Ryan remains at 100%, the score is now 9-12.
Kieran Low is on for Chris H.
Exeter have possession for a couple of minutes but we keep them in their own half, we claim the ball back with 2 minutes on the clock and retain possession to close out a hard fought victory – full time, Exeter Chiefs 9, London Irish 12.
I'm not sure we deserved it, maybe a draw would have been fair, but it was significant that it was the last quarter that we dominated – in the end it was our greater premiership experience that was the difference between the sides
Post-Match Thoughts:
Well a win is a win and this was the sort of game that we have often lost in the past (be honest – how many of us expected us to lose possession in the last couple of minutes). We are now known for our adventurous back play – running the ball from our own 22 and always looking to create something. Our opponents will be doing their best to prevent us from playing our natural game, so either we need a few new tricks up our sleeves to break down the well organised defences we will come up against, or we could find ourselves trying to squeeze out a few more results like this in the weeks to come.
I really enjoyed my first visit to Sandy Park and I hope there will be many more opportunities to visit over the coming seasons. The Exeter supporters are some of the friendliest I have met on my many rugby travels. If Exeter can maintain their current form (I don't see any visiting team having an easy time at Sandy Park and I'm sure the Chiefs will take a few more scalps), they should be able to retain their place in the premiership.
So I would recommend to all traveling Exiles – if you can only do one away trip next season – make it Exeter.
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Glory, Glory London Irish, Glory, Glory London Irish
thanks Al for the craicing report - has the coach got back yet?? and I don't mean Boothy!!!!
MWM
LONDON IRISH - and loving it......
LET'S GO IRISH....LET'S GO IRISH
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