Booth frustrated by cup defeat

Sportsdesk • Published 8 Feb 2010 12:00 0 Comments

Worcester Warriors 19, London Irish 9

LONDON Irish head coach Toby Booth apologised to the travelling Exiles supporters after his side bowed out of the LV= Cup with a 'disappointing' loss at Worcester on Saturday.

The Reading-based side went into the final Anglo-Welsh group game with just a slim chance of advancing to the last four. But Mike Ruddock's side inflcited their third defeat in four games in the competition to leave them with just the Guinness Premiership to play for this season.

Willie Walker was once again the Warriors main threat, kicking 15 of the hosts points in a 19-9 win.

Booth admitted afterwards: "It was a frustrating afternoon. We struggled at the set piece, where normally we don't.

"Credit to the opposition, but there was also the referee's interpretations and that put us behind the 8-ball a little bit.

"There was a fairly high penalty count and stoppage rate and it was difficult for both sides to get into the game.

"It became a bitty affair which I think was disappointing for everyone. We are talking about consistency from us and the referee.

"Unfortunately there was not a lot of that consistency so I am disappointed for the people who have travelled from our end to watch that and braved a bitterly cold afternoon."

The Exiles started the afternoon knowing they needed to register a bonus-point win if they were to have any chance at all of winning Pool Two.

However, despite winger Marcel Garvey making an impressive start to his first team debut, Irish fell behind after only four minutes.

Dale Rasmussen broke through before feeding winger Chris Pennell who crossed for the opening try.

Walker added the extras for his first points of the afternoon to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.

That was to prove the only try of the game as the goal-kickers took centre stage for the remaining 76 minutes.

Ryan Lamb got Irish on the scoreboard after 17 minutes with his first penalty of the game, only for Walker to follow suit 10 minutes later.

Lamb again reduced the arrears with his second kick to take the score to 10-6 as half-time approached.

But the hosts dominated the closing period of the half and Walker's second successful penalty restored their seven-point advantage.

The reliable Kiwi fly half then added two more penalties early in the second period to extend his side's lead to 19-6.

Lamb was sent to the bin for abusive language towards referee David Bodilly and, in his absence, Peter Hewat took over the kicking responsibilities to move the Exiles back within 10.

This gave Irish hope, but they never really threatened to go on to win the match, let alone score the four tries needed to secure the bonus-point.

Following January's heart-breaking Heineken Cup exit, the Exiles' only chance of picking up silverware this season is now the Premiership where Booth's side will be looking to go one step further than last May's final defeat against Leicester.

A 24-22 defeat against Northampton in their last league game saw the Exiles drop to fourth in the league.

On Sunday they take on suprise-strugglers Bath at the Madejski Stadium knowing a bonus-point win could potentially be enough to put them top of the pile.

Irish won 16-0 at the Rec when the sides met in November.

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