Exiles survive late scare
Nottingham 29 London Irish 35
LONDON IRISH survived a late scare to win a high-scoring affair at Nottingham and stay nine points clear at the top of the Championship table.
The Exiles took an early lead in the Friday night fixture through Terrence Hepetema, but the tries swung both ways with Dave Porecki and Matt Rogerson scores for Irish cancelled out by Mike Daniels and David Williams for the hosts.
Leading 21-14 at the break, Irish extended their lead when Stephen Myler crossed the whitewash shortly after the restart, only for Luke Peters to respond in kind.
The game looked to be won when Ollie Hoskins’ converted score opened up a 14-point lead with just 10 minutes to play.
However, a Devante Onojaife try and Shane O’Leary penalty put the game back in the balance, but Irish held firm to win by six points.
“I think both sides will be happy with the entertainment,” said Exiles head coach Les Kiss.
“The pitch was heavy but I think both teams gave a good account of themselves. We’re happy with the win for sure.
“We knew it would be tough with a five-day turnaround. Nottingham tried to stretch us and wear us down and thankfully we were up for it in the end.”
He added: “I thought Ollie (Hoskins) was very good for us. It was essential that type of direct play that he put in, it was something that wore them down.
“We knew that we had to be strong up front.
“I thought Stephen Myler again was imperious with his kicking game and Tom Stephenson was also very strong for us.”
Irish were forced into a reshuffle before the game with Matt Williams dropping out of the team and Topsy Ojo drafted in.
And the visitors got in front on eight minutes when Hepetema found a gap to burst through and score with Myler adding the extras.
But Nottingham have impressed at home this season and they levelled up the contest as prop Daniels shrugged off some weak challenges to score.
A powerful drive allowed Porecki across the line to restore the lead, but that was wiped out in under five minutes when the ball was clipped through for Williams on the wing, who broke beyond Ben Loader to score.
The end-to-end contest continued until half-time, by which time Irish led after Rogerson snuck over from the base of a scrum.
Kidney’s men sealed the try bonus point six minutes after the restart when Ojo picked out Myler to dot down in the corner.
Peters cut the lead down again following a powerful line-out drive and the score remained at 28-19 until the final 10 minutes when Hoskins completed a pick-and-go with Myler converting.
Undeterred by the 13-point deficit, Nottingham responded to score through Onojaife and reduced the arrears to 3529 through an O’Leary penalty.
However, time ran out for the hosts as they looked to mount one final attack with Irish holding on for their bonuspoint win.
Next up for the Exiles is a big clash against third-placed Jersey Reds, who have good recent form against Kidney’s side.
“It’s absolutely massive,” said Hoskins.
“They did us over in Jersey the last two times we’ve been there so we’ve got a bit of a score to settle with them.
“We’ve got a few days off now and we’ll have to prep really hard because they’re a really, really good side. It will take everything we’ve got.”
IRISH: McLean, Ojo, Stephenson, Hepetema (Macken 63), Loader, Myler, Meehan, Reid (Cilliers 75), Porecki (Fainga’a 58), Hoskins, van der Merwe (c), Paulo, Tuisue (McNally 58), Gilsenan (Schatz 50), Rogerson. Reps not used: Brand, Veitokani.
Tries: Hepetema (8), Porecki (20), Rogerson (37), Myler (46), Hoskins (68)
Cons: Myler x5 (9,23,38,48,70)
NOTTINGHAM: Scanlon, Williams, Millett (Lyons 68), Peters, Varndell, O’Leary, Veenendaal
(c) (McConnell 50), Hills (Jack 57), Brownlie (Farnworth 52), Daniels (Walker 31), Onojaife (Cox 80), Lewis, Buckley, Owen (Poullet 56), Coghlan.
Tries: Daniels (13), Williams (26), Peters (51), Onojaife (73)
Cons: O’Leary x3 (14,28,52)
Pen: O’Leary (80)
Attendance: 1,576 Scoring sequence (Irish first): 5-0, 7-0, 7-5, 7-7, 127, 14-7, 14-12, 14-14, 19-14, 21-14, 26-14, 2814, 28-19, 28-21, 33-21, 35-21, 35-26, 35-29.