Tough in the mud

London Irish travelled up to Kingsholm to take on a Gloucester side who have found form this season.  The weather was dire, the rain pouring down from the morning to minutes before kick off, leading to a muddy and soaked Kingsholm pitch.  I thought (upon viewing the pitch) that the ref may   call the game off.  Of course referee Thomas Foley thought differently.

Gloucester started the better of the two sides as they won a penalty, kicked to touch and tried to maul the ball over.  Irish held resilient in defence and prevented Gloucester from achieving a 5 point lead, however, a penalty was conceded.  Hook stepped up and slotted over, an easy kick for the Welsh international. 

Irish came straight back into the game.  They put Gloucester under pressure on half way and won a penalty, Noakes attempted a kick to touch.  Noakes kick sailed, but not into touch, instead straight into dead ball territory.  Only Chris Noakes will be able to tell you whether the wind or himself were at fault for "that" kick.  Gloucester supporters launched into their traditional "eeeehooorrrrrr"s after the kick went awry.  They continued to cheer as the linesman went back to were Noakes had been standing, Gloucester prepared for their line out, suddenly the ref blew and awarded a free to Irish.  The cheering and donkey noises stopped.  It could only be for time wasting at line out time.  After the scrum McKibbin chipped to touch, Gloucester getting a touch to give us the line out on the 5 metre line.  Irish won the line out, set up a maul and then moved the ball into the centres, Hearn broke a weak Billy Meakes tackle and ran under the posts to score.  Noakes added the extras.  

Gloucester launched an attack on Irish straight from the restart and won a penalty just inside Irish's half.  With Hook on their side Gloucester trusted him to cut the lead to one point with a penalty.  He delivered on their trust.  Hook had a terrific game and admitted at the end to not having kicked sticks for Gloucester for a while.  A 10 in the ilk of Hook is what Irish desperately need, a man who can kick penalties and conversions from all over the pitch with ease. Irish need to punish more sides from the tee. 

For 20 minutes the sides kicked back and forth, both looking for territory in the mud.  Irish away travellers were delighted when Irish added another try before half time.  Granted they could have had more points on the board.  Irish moved the ball wide from various rucks in the Gloucester 22 and Noakes opted for a little chip over the top for Lewington, he timed his kick perfectly and Lewington timed his jump perfectly, beating the Gloucester winger in the air and dotting down for the score.  Noakes had a difficult conversion but he cooly added the extras.

Half Time:  Gloucester Rugby 6-14 London Irish

Irish had to weather some Gloucester attacks before half time but nothing overly threatening.  They contained Gloucester in their own half and saw out the first half.  Irish were more clinical, and could have been even more, and were well deserving of their lead at half time.  However, your editor was left lamenting some opportunities that went astray.  I was convinced, with the quality of Gloucester that an eight point lead wouldn't be enough, Irish needed to be more clinical and get even more points on the board.

Within the first minute of the second half James Hook kicked a penalty to put Gloucester on the board for the second half and narrowed the gap to 5 points.  Irish's lead looked much much narrower now.  Irish countered the Gloucester charge and strung together phases in the Gloucester half, but nothing materialised and Gloucester cleared. 

Gloucester started to show their top six credentials with a rolling maul off a 5 metre line out and crashed over the line.  The TMO confirmed that the ball hadn't been grounded and Lewington, who came in from the side and held the ball up, was sent to the bin for 10 minutes.  Gloucester went again and moved it wide, Hook launched the ball in the air, attacking Tiko's wing.  Tiko made a mess of the kick and the Gloucester player scrambled it over.  Again, the TMO was called, still no Gloucester try. Foley went back for an earlier penalty and Hook converted it.  The lead was now down to two points. 

Changes were made by both sides and Irish again threatened the Gloucester try line, more phases strung together but nothing on the score board.  The table had turned, now Irish weren't being clinical enough.  The space out wide was constantly ignored and the forwards picked and went, leading to nothing.  However, with the rain and mud maybe it was best to trust the forwards with the ball rather than the backs.  A highlight of this game, a major positive, was that the ball was quickly recycled and off the ground.

Gloucester defended and prevented Irish any points.  They went back into Irish's half and Hook got another kick at goal and slotted it home.  Irish had now lost the lead, were on the back foot and still had 20 minutes to play.  Gloucester settled into the game and caused Irish lots of trouble in tough conditions.  Kvesic rumbled over from a maul and extended the lead, Hook added some extras.  Minutes later Billy Burns also crossed, Laidlaw move the ball wide and Twelvetrees handed off and moved the ball wide, an offload back inside to Burns gave him a simply and short run in. 

Final Score:  Gloucester Rugby 27-14 London Irish

It was a game of two halves as tables turned and Gloucester became more clinical in the second half, taking over from Irish in the first half.  The score board does flatter the hosts, but Irish need to make the most of their territorial advantage during the game.  The most disappointing aspect of the game was that when replacements came on, they added nothing and the side got worse.  Clearly Tom Coventry needs to investigate who he feels should make the bench, because the guys that came on weakened the team.  To continue to compete Irish will need to make sure that the guys they bring on are of a standard, close if not equal to those starting.  It emphasises the need for another big signing drive this year.  

The Exiles face Newcastle next Sunday, a match which could be crucial in determining who ends up being relegated.  Newcastle are two points ahead of Irish, following a win and a draw against Bath and Sale respectively.  Newcastle have so far had an easier ride than Irish, but Irish now have a run of games against sides around them, Irish need to be beating Newcastle, Worcester and Sale.  That's no disrespect to them, it's simply crucial to our season.  It'll be a tough and important few weeks for Irish and now wins need to come, but there are positives from yesterdays game.  

COYI!