Slow Progesss

  Sitting down to write my match report the morning after the game I have given to give myself time to try and make sense of things and put up an honest assessment of what unfolded last night. I will let you dear reader make up your minds on whether I have managed this and if you were there it matches your conclusions.

London Irish v Harlequins – The Cunningham Duncombe Series 2nd Leg - 2nd October 2015, The Stoop, Twickenham

On reflection I must thank the highways agency for tempering my excitement. I was really looking forward to my first sniff of live rugby this season. The chance to have a first look at the new intake and reacquaint myself with old favourites but the 50mph procession up the M3 to Twickenham from Basingstoke soon knocked that edge off and i was glad to be in my seat ready for kick off just in time.

Please remind me to send note to highways agency Re M3 “Smart Motorway, if it takes you 26 months to deliver a smart motorway - how long would it take for a truly intelligent one?

Everything was new…(it was my first visit to The Stoop) The haircuts were new, some body shapes were new, the line-ups were new, the kits were new - i do like our new home strip now they have a bit more going on with them than just the green and the away kit looks smart too. Quins looked resplendent in white although i was reminded that i needed to put a few tins of value baked beans in this week’s shopping!

Both teams including the replacements were extensive. It looked like someone had raided the local gardens for patio furniture so that they could all be accommodated on “the bench” the Irish participants numbering 30 all told!

The game started lively enough with a few probing runs from both sides. scoring started early and I was hopeful of an open and entertaining game. This early season exuberance was soon was lost to a scrum class by sir with multiple re-sets and penalties (mostly on Quins it seemed). The scrum was solid from both sides and evenly matched. it seemed both teams wanted to get an early “shove” on.

Having watched much rugby over the last few weeks via the TV it was great and strange in equal measure to be part of the action, in the moment and not have the pleasure and pain of instant replay from every angle - although I was missing it a bit for some things over the other side of the pitch.

After the opening 15 mins Quins started to get the upper hand in both breaking over the gain line and turnover ball, both contested and “given away” it seemed. Their number 8 was proving very hard to stop and when they didn’t have the ball their defence was up fast to snub out any creativity our back-line was to put together. Skivington went off injured (dislocated shoulder was the opinion from where we were sitting) heralding the entrance of 1 Matt Symons a very useful looking addition to the club and a natural at leading the pack and team. The highest praise i can give is there was no break in service as Skivington departed.

The rest of the half was all Quins, either creating a few phases of play and scoring or breaking up an Irish move denying us the score. The penalty count was mercifully small in the first half, ref seemed to be trying to let things go after making a point about the scrums early on. Half time Irish 8 Quins 20.

After a swift half time break (it seemed) the teams returned. Unfortunately it looked like we were going to get more of the same and that came true with Quins scoring early on in the half. A multitude of subs from both side littered the flow of the early part of the second half the introduction of Shane Geraghty, Gerard Ellis and Scott Steele steadying the ship and started a bit of a rally in Irish fortunes. The only trouble being that as soon as it looked like we were getting back to level pegging Quins pulled away with another score. Irish ran in 5 tries Leo Halavatau with 2, Topsy Ojo 1 & Lewington providing the best value with a excellent brace. Final Score Irish 29 Quins 37.

MOTM for me was Lewington with honourable mentions to all those in this report. In summing up I would like to say all things are going well and we are looking good for a barnstorming season in the premiership but as i probably suspected (maybe a friendly is not the best place to judge) the team’s progression this season will be like that of us on the M3 - slow progress but progress none the less….