That's up there now. Was in a hurry so I recycled the photo from the preview. If anyone has a more up-to-date photo, feel free to add it, preferably one they took themselves as it would add to the "from the terrace" concept (while also avoiding being sued for copyright infringement).

Diom wrote: Great stuff Pinky. I'd say throw it up on the site.

One thing though is that Pat Carr has said he is going to do up reviews for the matches this season, so perhaps concentrate on the fan's views more exclusively and leave the match review type stuff to Pat? Maybe even throw in any non-rugby craic that went on around the grounds as well (like the eagle or which celebrities was spotted in the Clan bar)?

Sound, will do that in future. For away games will hopefully get some input from those that travelled and try and add a bit of that in too.

If Pat is doing reviews that will be great. Between that, your previews, Borders factfiles and the fans reaction, that makes 4 fairly regular articles appearing weekly.

pinky wrote: Right here's a stab at it.
Let me know if any of it sounds moronic or if I've completely missed the point like I usually do ...
If not I'll stick it on the main page.

<strong>Zebre - The View from the Clan Terrace</strong>

Connacht got the season off to a winning start with a 25-16 defeat of Zebre at the Sportsground on Saturday, and while the Clan faithful were generally happy with the victory, the feeling is that there needs to be some improvement before facing stiffer opposition.
Pre-match fears among some of an improved Italian side never really materialised, with Zebre not having made any great strides since last season on the basis of the weekend's performance, and although they caused some jitters by coming within a converted try with 20 minutes to go, in the main this was put down to Connacht's failure to turn the screw when they seemed to have control of the scoreboard.
Many fans saw the three-try victory as a missed bonus point, though most admitted that it's a result they certainly would have taken going into the game. There were concerns over the level of errors off first phase ball, but the scrum was dominant early on and the lineout functioned well, with Naoupu claiming several good takes off the Harris-Wright throw. And while Dan Parks had a poor day off the tee, there is no real cause for panic among the huddled masses on this front.
Robbie Henshaw put in a fine man-of-the-match performance to reassure the crowd that he was no one-season-wonder, Fionn Carr made a try-scoring return and Matt Healy justified the Clan's decision to sponsor him by showing some fine pace and getting on the scoresheet.
But the one who really got the terraces murmuring was young Jake Heenan, whose twenty minute cameo is already being touted as the beginning of something special. The 21-year-old former Baby Black skipper wasn't on long enough for a full evaluation, but there were few in the ground who weren't impressed with what they saw. A stolen lineout, some nice offloading and an assured performance all round. The young Kiwi is definitely one to keep an eye on this season.
So all in all, a satisfying start for the Connacht Clan and a hint of cautious optimism being felt ahead of the trip to Cardiff, where Gavin Duffy is set to return but so, ominously, is Alex Cuthbert. Connacht won this fixture last season and really should have closed out the home fixture against the same team, so while the stripy hat wearing, autograph book wielding denizens of the Clan Terrace feel this one is winnable, they know there'll be no free gifts handed out in the Arms Park on Friday.

Great summary, and very well written. Good stuff!

Great stuff Pinky. I'd say throw it up on the site.

One thing though is that Pat Carr has said he is going to do up reviews for the matches this season, so perhaps concentrate on the fan's views more exclusively and leave the match review type stuff to Pat? Maybe even throw in any non-rugby craic that went on around the grounds as well (like the eagle or which celebrities was spotted in the Clan bar)?

Right here's a stab at it.
Let me know if any of it sounds moronic or if I've completely missed the point like I usually do ...
If not I'll stick it on the main page.

Zebre - The View from the Clan Terrace

Connacht got the season off to a winning start with a 25-16 defeat of Zebre at the Sportsground on Saturday, and while the Clan faithful were generally happy with the victory, the feeling is that there needs to be some improvement before facing stiffer opposition.
Pre-match fears among some of an improved Italian side never really materialised, with Zebre not having made any great strides since last season on the basis of the weekend's performance, and although they caused some jitters by coming within a converted try with 20 minutes to go, in the main this was put down to Connacht's failure to turn the screw when they seemed to have control of the scoreboard.
Many fans saw the three-try victory as a missed bonus point, though most admitted that it's a result they certainly would have taken going into the game. There were concerns over the level of errors off first phase ball, but the scrum was dominant early on and the lineout functioned well, with Naoupu claiming several good takes off the Harris-Wright throw. And while Dan Parks had a poor day off the tee, there is no real cause for panic among the huddled masses on this front.
Robbie Henshaw put in a fine man-of-the-match performance to reassure the crowd that he was no one-season-wonder, Fionn Carr made a try-scoring return and Matt Healy justified the Clan's decision to sponsor him by showing some fine pace and getting on the scoresheet.
But the one who really got the terraces murmuring was young Jake Heenan, whose twenty minute cameo is already being touted as the beginning of something special. The 21-year-old former Baby Black skipper wasn't on long enough for a full evaluation, but there were few in the ground who weren't impressed with what they saw. A stolen lineout, some nice offloading and an assured performance all round. The young Kiwi is definitely one to keep an eye on this season.
So all in all, a satisfying start for the Connacht Clan and a hint of cautious optimism being felt ahead of the trip to Cardiff, where Gavin Duffy is set to return but so, ominously, is Alex Cuthbert. Connacht won this fixture last season and really should have closed out the home fixture against the same team, so while the stripy hat wearing, autograph book wielding denizens of the Clan Terrace feel this one is winnable, they know there'll be no free gifts handed out in the Arms Park on Friday.

I was thinking of starting to pull together an article for the news page after each game, just based on the opinions expressed by everyone in the match thread.
A kind of "View from the Terrace" kind of job.
I'll give it a lash for Zebre and see if it looks any good and if it's worth the effort.

It wasn't so much that they were outplayed, they just didn't play. Zebre never really threatened our line and the first 20mins of the 2nd half was dire rugby from both teams.

what about Sean Henry for his first display, half an hour? Hooker is the spot I'm worried about 'cause JHW won't make every starting lineups that's obvious...

From the radio it sounded like Connacht were outplayed much of the second half. They were more likely to concede a losing bonus point to Zebre up until Carr's try so any talk of a try bonus is wishful thinking. For me this week will be a clue as to how successful Lam will be here for as well as some of the lads played most of them will need to improve if Connacht are to come away from Cardiff with anything. Can Lam get that improvement or make the necessary change?

Bit of an over reaction taking the kicking away from Dan I would have thought. It would be nice to have someone for the long range efforts though, as Dans range isn't the best.

you're forgetting So'oialo can do the Kicking when he eventually arrives.

I don't know how nathan white knew that the Hooker was going to throw to his Outhalf, he must be a mind reader.

few points from my view of the game.

first of, win out of the way. if parks got his early kicks, we would of gone for the 4 trys, but due to them being missed we had to make sure the game was won first.

whites try! the more i see it, the harder i find to believe it, its as if it was planned. well done tho, got himself in the right spot.

george managed another 1 handed catch, highlight of the match, oh and eddie also managed his first catch after trying all last season.
first time i seen any player kick the ball over the roof of the main stand, was it the zebre full back, he got some very big hits, well done henshaw in the first 5mins.

POD was unlucky not to score, broke the line, didnt have enough gas but as he was about to kick the ball he was tackled. 1 second later and it would of been a yellow for late tackle and stopping a try.

i think we might have found our two wingers, carr back again

great hands for carrs try, twas just a case of throw the ball around and see what happens and space did open and had about 5 line breaks in the last 10mins.

was nice meeting up with 2 other posters for the first time, shelflife68 and his son and robbo. cant forget the regulars in the clan bar diom and connolly.

on a side note, seen eric elwood and tara around town, ive never seen a happier man! i was worried he was in a hurry or didnt want to be bothered but he kept the conversation going. i asked him would he be back one way or the other, tara quickly said no he laughed but said no. i asked him would he be interested in having some role with us here as part of the connacht clan, i think he was thinking about it, might be worth asking him!?
keep an eye out for him in parma for the heineken cup game!

to a more serious note, he was disappointed how zebre scored there try at the end.
i put it to him, what about another back kicking instead of parks, he said there wasnt anyone really. i put it to him, could duffy or carr etc spend 45mins after training kicking practice and see what happens, said it wasnt that easy,told him to get his boots

The IMF wrote: Lads, I have to be honest, I'm a bit disappointed, I know we won but first game back and nobody has given out about the ref yet!!!

In fairness we're quick enough to give out when we get a crap one we should praise them when they have a good game and this lad did. Welsh was he? Decent ref, let the game flow, only one contentious penalty that I saw when JHW was pinged for picking up a ball that looked like it was out of the ruck but I wasn't close enough to be sure. He wasn't too keen on applying the offside rule but we benefited from that as much as they did. And it was the Assistant Ref on the Clan Side who called the yellow card incident. Well done all round.

The IMF wrote: Lads, I have to be honest, I'm a bit disappointed, I know we won but first game back and nobody has given out about the ref yet!!!

Sounds like a solid effort with some rustiness thrown in for good measure. The only thing I'd say about Swifty is that he didn't get much game time in pre season so was always going to struggle a small bit. Great to hear Heenan has impressed a lot of people. Again would love for certain journalists to draw the dots together and acknowledge the fact EOS would never have been able bring these players in.

Never mind bringing players in, how many of our better ones would have extended and not jumped ship....

yes, agreed. Booing the ref should be outlawed after the match. Sounds terrible