Express & Echo (City & East Devon Edition)
Chiefs were short of their A Game after Euro exit
MAKE no mistake, you read it first in the Express & Echo last week when I wrote – ‘legendary Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly said, ‘You do well to score a draw in the league match following a European Cup fixture.’
Shankly certainly had a point. It was not that Chiefs played badly in our 2-14 reversal against Bath, but we were just short of our ‘A Game’ when anything less in the Premiership is just not good enough.
Following that Battle in Toulouse, Chiefs had a flight home in a -day turnaround before Saturday’s big Bath fixture. Conversely Bath had two full weeks to prepare for their return to Sandy Park.
Even without injured millionpound midfield superstar Finn Russell, Bath were sharp, incisive and precise.
They took their chances, defended well, and prevented Chiefs hitting our straps. They generally outplayed us on the day.
It is tough at the top where the pressure is unrelenting and the difference between winning and losing is wafer thin. Depth of squad, injuries, match schedules, the rub of the green and lady luck all have a bearing.
This is the turf of elite level sport where excuses count for nothing. To the victors the spoils and to the vanquished lessons to learn and work to do.
Following on from last week’s column, I report that South Molton’s Papa John’s Cup run came to an end with a tough loss in Bristol to Old
Elizabethans last Saturday.
My daughter was in raptures supporting England Women in their 88-10 victory over Ireland at Twickenham in front of a crowd of 48,778.
The Red Rose’s travel to Bordeaux on Saturday for a Six Nations decider against Les Bleues – France. Beatrice can only wish she was there!
On the local front I’m sure readers will join me in wishing Tony Yapp’s Taunton Titans good luck in their crucial game away to Blackheath on Saturday.
A month ago, Titans looked doomed to relegation firmly stuck in the league basement, but a dramatic change of form saw them win three in a row: 22-20 v Darlington, 27-40 Sale, and 37-31 v Cinderford.
It’s a big ask for the Taunton men, but a win in London could yet see their great escape from the drop.
In the Premiership, Chiefs go again against the Cherry and Whites at the warm and welcoming Kingsholm on Sunday.
Gloucester are out of the race for a top-four spot and have nothing to lose in this one, but in front of their passionate partisan home fans they will be peddle to the metal to put one over Chiefs.
Nothing short of three wins from our remaining games, plus bonus points will be enough to see us in a top-four semi-final, but to the Chiefs Class of 2024 allow me to say, “It not over till it’s over!”
Liverpool FCs ‘Miracle in Istanbul’ just might serve as a motivation to Chiefs. For the record Liverpool were trailing Milan 3-0 at half time in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Cup Final. With normal time running out a dramatic -minute spell saw Liverpool score 3 goals to level the game 3-3 at the end of 90 minutes.
With no further goals in a hot exhausting extra time a penalty showdown followed. Liverpool Goalkeeper Jerze Dudek saved Milan’s Andriy Shevchenko’s penalty to secure Liverpool an historic win writing their name forever in soccer legend.
I grew up on the Wirral and know well the passion of Merseyside soccer fans. There are no half measures, even family members are divided in their support of either the Reds or Blues.
Despite my references to Liverpool FC let there be no mistake, I was raised a ‘Toffee’ by my Everton supporting grandad. It’s been a tough one in recent years – but once a Blue, always a Blue!
There was a time when 15-a-side rugby came to a sudden stop at the end of April giving way to seven-a -side tournaments. That was then and this is now.
Not yet time to dig out the suntan oil and buy the summer shades. Yes, it is a big ask for Chiefs, but with three to play the chips are still on the table and all to play for.
Come on you Chiefs! Don’t you just love this club?
Until next time, enjoy your rugby and stay safe.
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