I Cavalieri Prato v London Irish - Match Report

So I agreed to do the match report for the away trip to Prato and what happens. I end up spending most of the game posting updates directly to the craic so here goes with a report of sorts based on those posts made to the various threads on the day. Given that I didn’t actually take notes!!

Re: On-line broadcast today?
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 13:32

KO just happened, pitch a swamp!

This post shows how good the pre match meals and entertainment were, we are usually in position well before the start of the game and have checked the squad is looking the same as announced (It was) but on this occasion the Transport (Thanks Marie and Marco) and Pre match meal (Thanks Mr and Mrs Monk (and Mr Crossan for the extra drinks (Although Dan did say could the money not be better used to keep Marland!)) were excellent so this part of the traveling support (I would guess over 100) was rather late in position.

The weather conditions for the game were awful with puddles everywhere the ref had a good look at the pitch pre-game and the possibility of a cancelation must have been there.


Re: On-line broadcast today?
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 13:34

7- 0 Matt Parr after 1:30 move from Fenby to Lewington then ruck Shane to Parr 2 mins

The perfect start: Irish took the kick off worked the ball back down the field ,Andy Fenby broke a tackle and fed the ball inside to Alex who was brought down just short. A quick recycle from Shane allowed Matt Parr to cross the line, the risk of getting off to a slow starts seemed reduced


Re: On-line broadcast today?
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 13:52

Try number 2 Dec Nice break by the backs, chip from Fenby goes loose, Dec picks up in air as crossing the line!

0 -14

What I remember of this try was Dec flying through the air and taking the ball as he crossed the line to touch down following the chip through that was not gathered by Prato


Re: On-line broadcast today?
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 13:54

Number 3: loose kick Prato to Guy,

Andy picks up and slips one tackle, under the posts

0 – 21

This one happened quick hence the posting times. KO put Prato under pressure, the clearance kick was collected by Guy on half way, one pass to Andy who slid through under the posts, Shane lands conversion number 3 (Between him and Myles all 7 are converted)


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 14:15

BP secure now, getting difficult to tell who’s who, Great take Leo at back of line out. Blair crosses

0 - 28 so shame about the last Stade try away!

Half time

To be fair this should have read shame about Stade’s 3 last minute tries as without any one of these (Prato home and away and Irish at Home) This would have been the point at which we qualified for the quarter finals. Unfortunately the rules are as they are and the head to head records meant we were eliminated on the Thursday before the game when Stade beat Prato


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 14:16

Tom’s the only one with a clean shirt so hope they have 2 with them

Most of the team came out with clean shirt for the start of the second half but that didin’t last for long


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 14:22

Rain started again!

The pitch just seemed to be getting worse by the minute


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 14:30

Front row and half backs switched

Brian follows the same strategy as the home game of building up a lead in the first half and then giving Ed and Myles the whole of the second half, Ed’s delivery is quick - maybe he hasn’t learned that he is supposed to take a couple of sideways steps before releasing the ball!


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 14:36

Try pack no idea who. Myles conversion

Commentator says Blair again

35 – 0

This one came off a maul from the back of a line out, the stadium announcer gave it to Blair but then again according to him Shane kicked all of the conversions despite not coming back after half time/


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 14:42

Prato down to 14

Tom H taken out and down under high ball and walked off.

Topsy and Jebb on for Tom and Blair

One of those unfortunate yellow cards looked like the Prato player was looking at the ball the whole way while he was chasing it but Tom jumped higher and was turned in the air, he landed on his upper back so that card wasn’t a big surprise although to some degree unfortunate



Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged) Date: 18 January, 2014 14:53

Ed from base half break from Myles, offload to Eamonn try

0 – 42

Again Ed moved the ball quickly from the base of a ruck and went forward with a simple offload Eamonn crossed for the 6th try


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 15:13

Ruck far side kick from Myles, Alex scores,

According to Dan 40 tries in six games so one every 12 mins

0 – 49

So a try every 12 minutes and we fail to qualify, the debate about the rules for qualification this year has been had (and I don’t remember us complaining in previous years). You have to wonder if the competitions we are involved in will be very different next year, for sure trips to Lisbon, Paris and Florence do sound more interesting than 4 trips to Wales so from that point of view we have to hope that the sides in the current dispute can get together and come up with a system that will keep us involved in some sort of European Competition.


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: Jon_r43 (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 15:14

Full time


Re: Scores Update
Posted by: HMRH (IP Logged)
Date: 18 January, 2014 15:38

Thanks for keeping us up.to date sounds.a good win


It was a very good win, on reflection almost the perfect performance,

OK Prato are no Stade or Sarries but they were well organised and in very tricky conditions I really can’t think of any silly mistakes, the kicking and handling was excellent and the defence solid. All very promising from some of the more fringe players in the squad for next year.

So back to the clubhouse and then axis back to town. The next day we did trips to Florence (In beautiful sunshine) and Pisa (In a thunder storm) before flying back to the UK a great weekend and a good result,