Optimism – Dented or Dashed?

Following last week’s opener against Tigers, there were genuine reasons for optimism and hope, for the coming season.  The new style of play, complete with a good forward display augured well…as long as we could keep the ball in hand!

So... PANS (Props are not Stupid) and his young daughter, decided to share the trip to Exeter with me, to watch the next installment of the transformation. The opposition would be tough, but after last week, surely we’d at least give them a game of it.

We left Leatherhead at lunchtime and 10 minutes into our journey on a packed M25... PANS announces that he’d left his tickets in his car! 30 minutes later we start our journey again, this time across country to the M3, and onwards to Exeter. After experiencing all four seasons and the usual ‘rubber necking queue’ at Stonehenge, we arrive in Exeter Park & Ride at 17:30. ‘Got your tickets PANS?’ I shout as we leave the parked car... ooops He’s left them in the Glovebox... good shout !

17:55 we arrive at the ground, PANS and daughter are up and off the bus like a ‘shot out of a gun’. What’s that I spot on the seat they’ve vacated ?? You guessed it... the two tickets ! At this stage, I’m really beginning to think that ‘divine intervention’ is trying to warn us... ’don’t go in there !! you’ll regret it!!...it’ll be ugly’

However we do... and so to the match... this will be quick.

Exeter were obviously still smarting after their undeserved loss to Bath last week... and it showed. We were played off the park, and after 30 minutes of solid defending we were three tries down (and a fourth dropped, just short) the game was effectively over as a contest. The eagerness and spirit shown against Tigers was missing and replaced with a lethargy, normally associated with an end of season ‘dead rubber’.

The bench was emptied in the second half. Blair made a big difference when he came on, and showed why he was so important to Scotland, when they eventually decided to include him in their squad. Maitland also looked dangerous when he came on. He has pace to burn, that will be welcomed. Shane also looked sharp.

Catch up rugby was the ‘order of the day’ for the second half, and against a good side like Chiefs, mistakes will happen and you’ll get ‘picked off’, and that’s exactly what happened. Final score 38-11 to Chiefs…..and it could have been a lot worse !

Apart from the poor performance, I enjoyed my first visit to Sandy Park…nice ground (we can but dream!), friendly supporters and good grub!

The trip back to Surrey/Sussex via the M5/4 was quicker and uneventful. Dropped PANS and young PANS back to Leatherhead... ’Make sure you’ve got all your stuff from the boot PANS’ I shout, as they leave me. Made it back home by midnight. Was it worth it? I’m still trying to make my mind up.

Optimism dented or dashed ? It certainly took a huge dent. I think Tom Coventry now understands the scale of the task ahead, to get us from where we are today to being a ‘respected’ Premiership side. He’s got to be given time, and I think it will come right. But will he have enough time?? The Premiership is a brutal league with no ‘soft touches’... but fingers crossed! Who knows what an unexpected win in the next few weeks, might bring to hasten the transformation.

Finno

p.s.  

Taking my stuff out of the boot when I get home….what’s there staring at me?? PANS LI baseball cap….it’s a wonder that there’s any drumming at our matches! Must return it to him at the Bath match...... if I remember