Horrible Histories

Due to this being on at the Hexagon in Reading we had a change to our line-up, son swapped for 4 year old daughter, which is always slightly more challenging though she does sit still for longer.  However the thought of "Horrible Histories" brought back memories of the LV  game in Gloucester last year, and the Bourgoin game, and the Leeds game from a couple of years ago, but that’s a thread of its own. 

I feel assured to volunteer to write this report as it’s on Sky, my mates recording it, then he telephones me at 10 to say it’s on the red button no record option available. In modern parlance they say OMG. To the team, great to see Matt Garvey back, and it looks like we’re resting players like Dec by choice, which gives a warm feeling, I think we’re moving forward. On the day one change Topsy not playing, so not one of start back trio playing but Ansboro on the wing.

As we congregate there is the usual rugby chat focussed on the Leicester game and the over riding concern that again there was a lack of on field leadership. Edinburgh kick off and we take safely, we seem to be improving on restarts. Edinburgh have the first lineout which isn’t straight but the referee doesn’t mind.

On 3 minutes Edinburgh are given the first penalty for Irish being offside. Their no 10 misses from 45 metres. Edinburgh showing they are very adept at picking and driving.

On 5 minutes penalty to Irish for Edinburgh holding on and from 47 meters Tom hits it 3-0

Irish seem keen to run everything. After 7 minutes Edinburgh offside again and Tom gets it from 53 metres this time, looks like it had at least another 10 meters spare as well. 6-0

Edinburgh line out at 10 minutes, not straight again but the referee is happy. Edinburgh keep attacking and are camped in Irish half. Good defence by Irish leads to penalty or our 5 metre line for holding on. From a rolling maul we don’t release quick enough and scrum against Irish, which we dominate and earn ourselves a penalty

After 16 minutes Try to Edinburgh, another one on the outside my mate keep repeating..which is converted. 6-7

A great restart from us which Gibson does incredibly to knock back, but we knock on, a theme is starting to develop, but at least we are in the Edinburgh half. Another scrum to Irish after 18 minutes, which we dominate and earn a penalty.

After 19 minutes Edinburgh finally throw a straight line out which we win, only to knock again...

After 20 minutes Edinburgh collapse another scrum for our penalty.

At 22 minutes my turn to go to the bar and Tom scores a penalty, maybe I should stay out there, 9-7

At 25 minutes there is a great kick by Edinburgh to our 5 meter line, we take and Sansom clears to 10 meter line.

Hape makes the tackle of the game on 27 minutes man and ball on Edinburgh’s No6 causing him to knock on. Edinburgh No 6 replaced. Bowden at least talking to the ref at this time.

At next play great work by Thompstone on the left wing staying on his feet and after a couple of phases, Tom is just short but Sansom creeps over for a try, which of course Tom converts 16-7.

Edinburgh using blockers around the rucks, allowing them to gain yardage on the pick and goes and then using some clever chips to keep playing in our half. We keep trying to run.

At 36 scrum turns more than 180- and Edinburgh earn put in. I’m thinking we need to hold on to half time. Anyway Ion drops the bind and Edinburgh get the penalty which is duly slotted over 16-10.

We’re restarting deep again, which I feel is a cop out, we start to exert a little bit of pressure at the end of the half but again are guilty of dropping the ball, Dan this time, but we almost break through. Looks a bit of a spear tackle on Shingler but referee doesn’t agree.

Half Time Resume - Edinburgh dominating possession and territory but we have been more clinical, but certainly not convincing.

Half time restarts and I am at the sweet machine or rather have found my 4 year old there, after complying with her every wish I return for a kicking fest. We seem to playing a dangerous game and even let it bounce, which we just manage to gather.

Evans is almost through on the outside after a couple of minutes but drops it, so we go back for an earlier knock on. Great scrum which then Hape makes a half break then feeds Ansboro (looking good for the future) and we end up with a penalty 15 meters out. Tom scores 19-10.

Back to our rubbish restart again where we knock on, but we actually successfully counter ruck on our 25. Tom clears.

46 minutes Edinburgh make two changes, scrum half and flanker.

At 49 a Bowden pop pass almost makes it, but doesn’t, again we go back for earlier knock on , scrum and consequential penalty to us and we go for line out, as close to West stand on half way line. We are pressing now and Dan throws a forward pass to Adam, shame the same touch wasn’t at the Bath game...

Around 51 Hape tries a quick touch from the 22 and has a mare, knocks it on, though there are a series of Edinburgh infringements, but it was a very bad idea in the first place and then was poorly executed. Why oh why?

Edinburgh pick and drive goes gain, and they almost score, goes to the TMO and try not given, but they get a 5 meter scrum to Edinburgh and we change our props, brave decision Toby? There is always that fine line between bravery and stupidity.

We give away a binding a penalty which Edinburgh fail to convert.

Irish are struggling but to be fair Edinburgh are playing very well, their forwards are driving passed the gain line and they are chipping behind our defence. Thompstone almost through again but we, allegedly, didn’t release the ball, but their man didn’t release our man, but Edinburgh are on a roll.

At 59 minutes our rush defence takes out everyone apart from the man with the ball so now 19-15 and then it’s converted 19-17.

I’m thinking I’ve managed to wangle home passes etc etc to Cardiff and Paris and now I’m worried, what I considered a home banker is slipping away from us. At 61 minutes my worries are eased by two more substitutions Garvey and Gibson. NOT.

So far man of the match for me is between Homer and Gibson and Toby taken Gibson off and Garvey gives you everything, surely a mistake.

Bowden kicks possession away again, it’s actually one of his poorer games for us. Edinburgh steal possession from us but kick it to Tom who takes the Mark, he has been exemplary so far. We’re looking rattled though, nobody is taking a lead.

Maybe Dodge coming on will make a difference, though Sansom had a good game.

Edinburgh continue to dominate though and the TMO for another try is a close one but I think right in that they just spill the ball over the line. However go back to earlier penalty and it’s a Hape yellow, well wouldn’t be an Irish game without at least one yellow would it? And its hit 19-20

Cabbage off, Blaney on, after a series of pick and drivers Max knocks on.

9 minutes remaining 8 with 14 men, we go though the phases and get a penalty awarded Dan goes for the drop, Tom to win it? He misses...

We’re trying hard now Dan gets through but goes to ground and has the pleasure of their prop rolling around on top of him, Ref..Ref, nothing, then on 78 Jebb drops it, on 79 Edinburgh gain possession after an up and under by Sinclair, we’re panicking big time and I’m off to the toilet as instructed by my daughter.

Very deflated after game, no warm feeling now, Edinburgh were the better side and deserved it, out thought and out played us. Reminiscent of that Bourgoin game when a bit of thinking on our side could have changed it. Mind you if we could only hold onto the ball and Ansboro did look good and Tom is getting better offensively every game, but on and off the field leadership is still lacking.

Off to Cardiff on Friday thinking if we play like that again they will get 5 points, not quite so excited now, however Bob maybe back.

To add the final insult, a ‘blonde ‘lady’’ in a black Honda flicked the Vs on the M4 for a car park infringement, always a nice one with your four year old in the back. Class.