Poor Start Undermines Exiles

Poor Start Undermines Exiles

Three points down after one minute, eight points in arrears after four, London Irish faced an uphill task against Bristol this afternoon before the crowd had settled into their seats.

The Memorial Stadium on a fine Autumn afternoon is not a place to fall behind so quickly. Bristol are formidable opposition at home at any time, but having lost their two opening fixtures they were more determined than ever to secure a vital win. Their determination showed from the kick-off.

A hanging, testing kick-off by David Hill was followed-up aggressively, Irish conceded a penalty which the former New Zealand fly half slotted between the posts for the opening score. Irish found themselves under the kosh from the re-start as the home team's forwards and backs combined to drive through midfield, they followed that with quick recycling to the right where winger Tom Arscott had the pace to beat a stretched Irish defence before touching down in the right corner. Hill missed with the touchline conversion. 8-0, and only four minutes of match time elapsed.

Nick Kennedy saved potential further embarrassment for Irish with a crucial lineout steal in the eight minute as Bristol continued to press in the Irish half. Jeremy Staunton cleared with a long touch kick but appeared to damage a muscle in the process.

Irish finally brought play into the Bristol half and forced a penalty which Delon Armitage sent between the uprights from 40 metres despite the efforts of the home crowd to put him off.

The score brought temporary relief as the Wes country team resorted to the game plan that had worked so effectively for them last season. A combination of their strong centres and back row players repeatedly drove through midfield trying to punch holes in the Irish defence. This tactic succeeded in forcing Irish to put numbers into the centre to defend thus leaving light cover on the wings. The home scrum-half, Brian O'Riordan flashed the ball away from the breakdown to his wings Arscott and Lemi, who constantly threatened.

Shane Geraghty and Nils Mordt, who had replaced the injured Staunton in the 14th minute, showed courage and commitment in the tackle. Irish also were indebted to Declan Danaher and Richard Thorpe whose efforts to harass an impressive Bristol back row in which Joe El Abd and Dan Ward-Smith featured prominently, were unrelenting.

Hill extended his team's lead with his second penalty in the 23rd minute. Irish responded with their first passage of sustained possession at the end of which Armitage was unlucky to see a penalty drift narrowly wide in the 26th minute. He was to fare better six minutes later when he kicked a penalty after the home side were pulled up for offside.

As the opening period drew to a close, the Exiles' efforts to build sustained pressure were frustrated by a well marshalled blitz defence in which Rob Higgitt and Joe El Abd were outstanding. The half ended with Irish trailing 11-6.

Steffon Armitage replaced Phil Murphy for Irish after the half-time interval and had an immediate impact from the re-start. Tigerish at the breakdown and always winning the hard metres when carrying the ball, he contributed to a much improved opening to the second period by Irish.

Prompted by Geraghty Irish began to secure better field position but found the home team's blitz defence impossible to crack. On one of the rare occasions that it did Topsy Ojo was called back for a foot in touch when he attempted to score in the left corner.

Bristol scored the first points of the second half when Hill kicked his third penalty ' awarded after Irish were penalised for offside, in the 58th minute.

As the game entered its final quarter Irish were camped inside the Bristol 22. A concerted pick-and-go sequence by the pack had the home side under pressure. Three scrums and three penalties to Irish eventually took their toll and Steffon Armitage forced his way over for a try to the right of the posts. Unfortunately his brother's conversion attempt drifted wide for a score of 14-11.

The scene was set for an exciting finale as both teams realised that there was everything to play for. Irish were first to press but the combination of well organised defence and Hill's kicking kept the visitors at bay.

As the game drew to a close it was the home team's turn to attack. They drove into the Irish 22 where a combination of rolling maul and pick-and-go moves ensured that possession was retained until referee Debney blew his whistle for full time.

The Exiles will be concerned at a turnover count against them of 18, a number that is unacceptably high at this level of the game and something that will have to be reduced before Friday night's meeting at Madejski Stadium with a Bath team that has made a good start to the season.

Scorers: Bristol: Tries: Arscott (4). Penalty goals: Hill 3 (1, 28, 58). London Irish: Tries: Armitage, S (66). Penalty goals: Armitage, D 2 (11, 32).

Scoring sequence (Bristol first): 3-0, 8-0, 8-3, 11-3, 11-6 (half-time) 14-6, 14-11.

Bristol Rugby: J Taumalolo, T Arscott, R Higgitt, S Cox, D Lemi, D Hill, B O'Riordan, D Hilton (rep: J Hobson, 70), S Linklater, D Crompton, R Winters, N Budgett (rep: M Sambucetti, 58), M Salter (captain), J El Abd, D Ward-Smith.

London Irish: D Armitage, T Ojo, M Ireland, J Staunton (rep: N Mordt, 14), S Tagicakibau, S Geraghty, P Hodgson, D Murphy (rep: T Lea'aetoa, 45), D Paice (rep: S Mackie, 72), F Rautenbach (rep: T Warren, 69), N Kennedy, B Casey (captain) (rep: K Roche, 45), D Danaher, R Thorpe, P Murphy (rep: S Armitage, 40).

Referee: Mr Rob Debney (RFU)

Match Statistics

11		14
T C P DG Player         Dan Murphy         David Paice         Faan Rautenbach         Nick Kennedy         Bob Casey         Declan Danaher         Richard Thorpe         Phil Murphy         Paul Hodgson         Shane Geraghty         Sailosi Tagicakibau         Jeremy Staunton         Mark Ireland         Topsy Ojo   2     Delon Armitage         Tom Warren         Stuart Mackie         Tonga Lea'aetoa         Kieran Roche 1       Steffon Armitage         Warren Fury         Nils Mordt	Position 1. L/Prop 2. Hooker 3. T/Prop 4. Lock 5. Lock 6. B/Flanker 7. O/Flanker 8. No 8 9. Scrum-half 10. Fly-half 11. Wing 12. Centre 13. Centre 14. Wing 15. Fullback 16. Sub 17. Sub 18. Sub 19. Sub 20. Sub 21. Sub 22. Sub	Player T C P DG Dave Hilton         Scott Linklater         Darren Crompton         Roy Winters         Nathan Budgett         Matt Salter         Joe El Abd         Dan Ward-Smith         Brian O'Riordan         David Hill   3     David Lemi         Sam Cox         Rob Higgitt         Tom Arscott 1       Josh Taumalolo         Ryan Prosser         Jason Hobson         Mariano Sambucetti         James Phillips         Graeme Beveridge         Jason Strange         Neil Brew