Hodgson Leads Rout But Irish Eyes for Europe Are Squinting
Fans at the Madejski Stadium were treated to host of magnificent tries as London Irish overwhelmed Leeds
As far as end-of-season parties go, this was a little hollow, even with the piped-in craic at the Madejski Stadium. Seven tries, each of them a peach in its own way, were a treat for the fans to mark the final home game of the season but Leeds' resistance was underwhelming and the crowd thinner than usual. Irish may still be basking in their achievement of reaching the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup but must also be wondering what the feat was worth if they are not in the competition to try to go one better next year.
The club want this year to mark the beginning of an advance towards being one of England's leading teams but, unless results elsewhere go their way, they will be out of the Heineken Cup next season and the progress made by the coaches Brian Smith and Toby Booth will be held up.
They are not yet out of contention for qualification. They need Bath to beat Worcester in the European Challenge Cup final, which frees another qualifying place in the Premiership. But they also need to beat Sale on Saturday and hope that Harlequins beat Leicester. It is a long shot and the fact that Irish cannot control their own fate must be infuriating given the talent within their squad. Even with six changes from the side that lost to Toulouse last week there was plenty of dazzle about their line-up.
Leeds took the lead, though, Tom Biggs marking his return from injury with a superb try, cutting past Eoghan Hickey with a deft side-step and jinking to the line. If there was a tiredness about Irish's game it was quickly dispelled by Biggs's score. Biggs, who also set up Leeds' second try, has now overtaken Dan Scarbrough as the club's all time leading try-scorer, a remarkable feat for a 23-year-old.
Faan Rautenbach bullied over from close range to equalise and Irish had added two more tries by half-time, with the outstanding Paul Hodgson instrumental in both. After the break Irish opened up and began to tear holes in the Leeds line. Peter Richards was superb in the center, making one try for Tomas de Vedia with a neat overhead pass and winning a penalty try when he was tripped by Scott Armstrong within reach of the line. After the game Smith confirmed that Irish are going to sign two backs over the summer, and another "big ball-carrying forward" as well as Wasps hooker James Buckland. The pity is that the club are unlikely to have the prospect of Heineken Cup rugby with which to tempt potential signings.
London Irish Ojo; De Vedia (Hewat, 57), Richards, Mapusua, Tagickibau; Hickey (Geraghty, 55), Hodgson; Dermody (Lea'aetoa, 57), Paice (Mackie, 75), Rautenbach, Hudson (Johnson, 68), Casey, Danaher (P Murphy, 63), S Armitage, Thorpe (Fisher 63).
Tries Rautenbach, Ojo, Danaher, De Vedia, Hodgson, penalty try,Geraghty. Cons Hickie 2, Hewat 2.
Leeds Hinton; Holtby, Burrell (Armstrong, 27), Tuilagi, Biggs; Brooks (Greendale, 48), Bedford (Edwards 50); MacDonald, Ma'asi (Parkes, 53), McGee (Hopcroft, 53), Hooper, Myall, Oakley, Fourie, Balding (Paul, 50).
Tries Biggs, Fourie. Cons Hinton, Greendale. Pens Hinton, Greendale.
Referee S Davey (Northumberland). Attendance 7,502.
The club want this year to mark the beginning of an advance towards being one of England's leading teams but, unless results elsewhere go their way, they will be out of the Heineken Cup next season and the progress made by the coaches Brian Smith and Toby Booth will be held up.
They are not yet out of contention for qualification. They need Bath to beat Worcester in the European Challenge Cup final, which frees another qualifying place in the Premiership. But they also need to beat Sale on Saturday and hope that Harlequins beat Leicester. It is a long shot and the fact that Irish cannot control their own fate must be infuriating given the talent within their squad. Even with six changes from the side that lost to Toulouse last week there was plenty of dazzle about their line-up.
Leeds took the lead, though, Tom Biggs marking his return from injury with a superb try, cutting past Eoghan Hickey with a deft side-step and jinking to the line. If there was a tiredness about Irish's game it was quickly dispelled by Biggs's score. Biggs, who also set up Leeds' second try, has now overtaken Dan Scarbrough as the club's all time leading try-scorer, a remarkable feat for a 23-year-old.
Faan Rautenbach bullied over from close range to equalise and Irish had added two more tries by half-time, with the outstanding Paul Hodgson instrumental in both. After the break Irish opened up and began to tear holes in the Leeds line. Peter Richards was superb in the center, making one try for Tomas de Vedia with a neat overhead pass and winning a penalty try when he was tripped by Scott Armstrong within reach of the line. After the game Smith confirmed that Irish are going to sign two backs over the summer, and another "big ball-carrying forward" as well as Wasps hooker James Buckland. The pity is that the club are unlikely to have the prospect of Heineken Cup rugby with which to tempt potential signings.
London Irish Ojo; De Vedia (Hewat, 57), Richards, Mapusua, Tagickibau; Hickey (Geraghty, 55), Hodgson; Dermody (Lea'aetoa, 57), Paice (Mackie, 75), Rautenbach, Hudson (Johnson, 68), Casey, Danaher (P Murphy, 63), S Armitage, Thorpe (Fisher 63).
Tries Rautenbach, Ojo, Danaher, De Vedia, Hodgson, penalty try,Geraghty. Cons Hickie 2, Hewat 2.
Leeds Hinton; Holtby, Burrell (Armstrong, 27), Tuilagi, Biggs; Brooks (Greendale, 48), Bedford (Edwards 50); MacDonald, Ma'asi (Parkes, 53), McGee (Hopcroft, 53), Hooper, Myall, Oakley, Fourie, Balding (Paul, 50).
Tries Biggs, Fourie. Cons Hinton, Greendale. Pens Hinton, Greendale.
Referee S Davey (Northumberland). Attendance 7,502.
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