How are we all feeling about the team? Whilst three draws are very unusual, we were just one kick away from winning two of those matches. The moment Paddy Jackson’s kick hit the post to win the match against Sale was about as dramatic as it gets! A heart stopping moment!

We seem to either pull-off a dramatic comeback to become heroes or blow a decent lead! We need to steady the ship and string a few wins together. The draw away to Sarries was a great result – especially after they had slaughtered Bath – and the cup win at home a few weeks later was even more satisfying.

We are entering Panto season and Sarries really have – largely because of their own actions – become the Premiership’s pantomime villains. They won’t care, they will probably love the title!

But this is rugby not football and whatever feelings one club might have about another; we can all get together for a beer and a laugh at the end of the day.

On that subject, the LISC committee has been leading the way with Bath and Quins in creating a forum with other supporters’ clubs. We now have 12 clubs on board.

The idea is that we share information on facilities for away supporters at grounds, plus recommendations on local pubs, restaurants, traffic advice, etc. We will also be arranging to meet up with other groups.

Whilst the football factions are arranging to meet up for a kick and a punch, we will be meeting up for a pie and a pint!

Last week we held our Supporters club AGM. It was a unique event, combining members attending via Zoom, with others gathered at Hazelwood.

After the official business was completed, we had a fascinating club update from CEO Mark Bensted and Director of rugby Declan Kidney.

Declan explained the difficulties of planning with the constant, inevitable, injuries, and said ‘we can’t rely on certainties, we have to focus on contingencies’.

He felt that the club was making steady progress, and that steady progress made it easier when reaching the higher echelons of the division to stay there, having learnt lessons along the way.

The subject of the matchday programme came up and Declan explained that injuries that occurred late in the week made it impossible to include the team. However, the club is looking at ways of including an insert.

The club also confirmed that, unlike other clubs, it had no intention of ditching the printed programme any time soon!

Enjoy the match!

Jerry Browne, Chairman, London Irish Supporters Club