November 22nd 2003. That's a date
that no one will ever forget as England won a World Cup for the
first time ever in Rugby and for the first time as a nation since
1966.
I'm not the biggest rugby fan in the world but have really enjoyed
the tournament this year and the final yesterday morning has to
be one of the best sporting occasions I have seen in years. Two
teams full of passion and commitment working their hearts out
to win the game and what a way to win it with a drop goal 30 seconds
from the end.
I'm sure their will be lots of debate
about which was the better achievement, the football and Rugby
world cup success but in my opinion this rugby win has to be one
of the greatest English sporting success of all time. To win a
World Cup is fantastic enough but to win it against the holders
in their own stadium is pretty special and I hope the team gets
the recognition in this country that they richly deserve. It's
sad that over paid footballers involved in rapes, violence and
binge drinking get more headlines than this truly great sporting
team but I hope that changes over the next few months.
So after watching that thrilling game we set off to Swindon in
the pouring rain. We arrived at the ground pretty early so we
could get our tickets then go for a few drinks and something to
eat. Unfortunately the covered seats had all been sold so we prepared
ourselves to get wet. Still it was £6 cheaper than then dry seats
which was a bargain.
We soon found that finding a pub was a nightmare in Swindon. Carly
used to live in the area before we moved in together and it was
a long walk to find Yates and the Litten Tree, but neither of
these were letting in people with rugby and football shirts on.
Only in this country could fans of a world cup winning team be
turned away from a pub to celebrate.
We managed to get into Yates thanks to Carly leading the way as
bouncers never expect girls to be football fans but we soon found
they had a 40 minute wait for food so it was back towards the
ground to find a pub after a quick burger. We got more than we
expected though as we had the greatest cheese and bacon baguette
in the history of bacon and cheese baguettes. A small tram outside
Next made them fresh and I'm having to wipe the drool off my keyboard
as I think about it now.
Pubs were few and far between though in Swindon and we ended up
queuing outside the nearest one to the ground and managed to see
the last 3 minutes of Man Utd beating Blackburn. We did think
about going straight to the ground but the thought of standing
in the driving rain for any longer than we had to was not the
most attractive idea.
It was a pleasant surprise though
when we got to the ground and it wasn't raining. Ok the seats
were wet but it was better than we had expected. After all the
excitement of the morning we were ready for stage two of the sporting
day with QPR against Swindon. Still though rugby was dominating
with both Swindon and QPR fans singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot
and several Johnny Wilkinson songs as the two teams came out to
a muted reception.
As ever with an open terrace whether it is seating or standing
the atmosphere is always rubbish and the view was terrible as
we sat down and realised we were right behind the cross bar and
couldn't see the far end of the pitch. With most of the action
happening at the other end we joined any other Rangers fans in
just standing up to watch it which at least gave us a chance to
see what was happening.
As the game kicked off we were attacking towards the away end
in the first half with a change in the team that went top last
week. Kevin McLeod was out injured so Eric Sabin was back to face
his former cub. Would he rise to the occasion like Rowlands and
Thorpe have done or would he prove the chants of "You're so shit
it's unbelievable" true. Sadly it was to be the latter.
Rangers started brightly on a very wet pitch as Gallen fired a
shot over the bar but after that it was all Swindon. They used
the conditions as an advantage getting the ball wide and running
at our full backs and on such a wet pitch tackles were being miss
timed and they were getting several free kicks and corners. As
ever Sam Parkin was the main danger man whilst Tommy Mooney was
also a threat and we struggled to deal with them.
They were getting the ball behind our defence far too often and
we just weren't in the game early on. Duke and Mooney both should
have scored but Day did well to narrow the angle both times. Mooney
then found himself clean through after poor defending but rivalled
Johnny Wilkinson with a high shot into the Swindon fans. Swindon
had obviously been watching the rugby as several free kicks at
the half way line were hoofed high out for throw ins. perhaps
they were looking for the line out but this was a different sport
so as it turned out they were just giving away possession.
The better chances were all coming for the home side who were
looking the best team we've played this season backed by a noisy
home crowd. Gino was made to look a little silly as he slid in
for a tackle but missed but a mile, Rowlands then slid in and
also missed as their wide player was being made to look like Maradonna
but Gino had a second try at slide tackling him in the rain and
ended up taking him roughly from behind and he went into the referees
book and gave them a free kick in a dangerous position. We cleared
our lines though but soon had another player in the book as Sabin
was carded for a late tackle which was more poorly timed than
malicious but the ref didn't seem to be taking the conditions
into account.
Despite being outplayed at this stage we had the best chance so
far to take the lead. Good work by Gallen saw Thorpe put clean
through. He looked certain to score but telegraphed his intention
to side foot into the corner on his right foot and former Rangers
keeper Rhys Evans read it and made a good save at Thorpe's feet.
We really should have scored though and judging by the look on
Thorpe's face he knew it.
That was only a temporary moment for us though as the play soon
went back up the other end as they continued to dominate. Mooney
was on a mission to score as twice he saw headers beat Day but
cannon off the crossbar. Another header at the far post beat Day
and Hewlett followed up to fire wide. Day then made an excellent
save from Mooney before Padula cleared Mooney's header off the
line from the corner. The pressure was intense and we were going
to have to be very lucky to go in level at half time.
The inevitable goal came after a series of free kicks and long
throws that we never really dealt with. We only half cleared the
danger and they kept the pressure on. Duke was in acres of space
on the right with no one near him and his excellent cross saw
Parkin totally unmarked (although he did look offside). Day came
out but miss timed his punch and Parking beat him to the ball
to head into an empty net. It was a deserved goal though and we
had Day to thank to keep the score down as he made another good
save from Duke.
We did have one chance on the break
as Rowlands fired wide but at half time the joy felt a few hours
before had virtually gone after desperately disappointing first
half. The changes that needed to be made seemed obvious and Holloway
made exactly the right ones (although you have to wonder why Sabin
was head of Ainsworth to begin with).
Shittu was on for the second half to try and cut out the threat
of Mooney, Edghill went off with Forbes at right back. Ainsworth
was on the right wing in place of Sabin who was a bit disappointment
against his old club.
We begun the second half much brighter
though and both teams seemed desperate to make sure all the actionm
was at the other end of the pitch so we struggled to see what
was going on.
We looked far more like the QPR that went top last week as we
won the ball back quickly and began to win headers out wide and
kept possession. Bean had our first chance of the half as Thorpe
ran though and Evans pushed it away leaving Bean outside the box
but his shot was blocked as it appeared to be going in. It was
much better from Rangers and the front two were beginning to get
in the game and cause problems.
Thorpe was a real threat for us with his movement off the ball
and he reacted quickest to a poor clearance from Evans and ran
through but his shot cannoned off the post when a goal seemed
certain. The rebound came to Ainsworth but Evans did well to recover
and save at his feet. Gallen was now getting much more involved
and did well out wide to beat his man and get a good cross in
for Thorpe. The in form striker headed goal wards but Evans made
a good save to deny what looked as certain goal. The chances kept
coming with Gallen and Thorpe both going close again and Rowlands
fired one just over the bar.
We continued to have players booked though and Bircham was next.
Mooney knocked the ball between him and Carlisle and Bircham was
booked for hacking him down with a reckless tackle and he almost
found himself sent off as he refused to accept it and kept moaning
at the ref. Thankfully Gallen came over and calmed the midfielder
down and I thought it would have been wise to take him off at
this stage, Bircham was also clearly struggling with his groin
injury.
Bean was next in the book although no idea why as I thought it
was a 50/50 tackle and if anything Bean was the one fouled.
With ten minutes left we got our reward for a good second half
display. Thorpe did well to put Rowlands in behind the defence
and the midfield made no mistake firing past Evans to send the
away end into jubilant celebrations.
It was a deserved goal for Rowlands
who had been involved in all our best stuff in the second half.
Holloway then made a change with Palmer on for Bean but we were
not playing for the draw as Holloway urged the team forward and
urged the fans to make more noise.
Several corners brought hope as Shittu and Carlisle went forward
but we couldn't get that second goal and at the end a draw was
a very fair result. The saying a game of two halves was never
more appropriate than in this game as Swindon dominated the first
and we dominated the second.
So all in all a very good day to be a QPR and England supporter.
Rangers stay top of the league with two home games coming up and
England win a World cup for the first time in my lifetime. Yes
I think I've had worst days than this one.
Man of the Match: Martin Rowlands
Players Ratings:
1. Chris Day: Kept us in the game in the first half but was uncertain
on crosses and his kicking wasn't as good as it can be. 7/10
23. Richard Edghill: Given no help from Sabin and was outnumbered
far too often. Unlucky to be taken off but not his best game for
Rangers 6/10
3. Gino Padula: He really struggled in the first half but improved
after the break with some good defending and some excellent passing
and crossing from the left. 7/10
5. Clarke Carlisle: Not his best game but defended well against
a very good Swindon attack. 7/10
2. Terrell Forbes: I thought he struggled against Mooney as he
doesn't quite have the experience to know how to deal with old
fashioned forwards like Mooney But he got better when he went
to right back.
12. Eric Sabin: As I'm in a good mood I'll try and be kind and
just say he wasn't at his best. 5/10
8. Marc Bircham: Seemed to be struggling with his groin injury
in the second half and gave away the ball on far too many occasions.
I think he'll be pleased to have a few weeks off to get himself
fit again. 6/10
17. Marcus Bean: Probably the best of the two central midfield
players and played well in the second half. 7/10
14. Martin Rowlands: Was at th heart of everything good about
us in the second half. he passed the ball well and created chances
for others before taking his goal very well to become the joint
top scorer this season. 8/10
9. Tony Thorpe: Could and should have scored a hat trick but I
expect Swindon fans are saying the same about Mooney. He worked
hard and whilst he is getting himself into positions to score
that has to be encouraging as he is good enough to score more
than he misses. 7/10
10. Kevin Gallen: Not his best game but he still created plenty
up front and improved as the game wore on. 7/10
Subs
11. Gareth Ainsworth: Changed the game when he came on and back
to his early season form on this showing. 8/10
6. Danny Shittu. Still looks very rusty which is understandable
but kept Parkin and Mooney quiet when he came on. 7/10
4. Steve Palmer: Did well when he came on and took a few good
long throws which almost led to goals. 7/10
