Fans Forum End of Season Poll 2012-13 - Part 4
By Japie
July 31 2013
End of Season 2012-13 Awards - Part Four Miscellaneous Awards
At last, the final part of the marathon End of Season Awards announcements. So please read on, add comments at the end and volunteer to write some articles during the season.
PART 4 - MISCELLANEOUS AWARDS
1. BEST SARRIES RUGBY MOMENT OF THE SEASON: The Official Opening of Allianz Park on 24 March 2013
If we had won one of the three semi-finals we lost this season and made it to a final, perhaps one of them might have been a best moment. Alas, perhaps we’re faced mainly with clutching at fragments of joy like the amazing comebacks wins at Leicester and against Racing Metro in Nantes, the huge win against Ulster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final and the fabulous experience of a home game in Brussels. Just behind the winner was topping the league for the very first time. That was an incredible achievement. But clearly, there’s no place like home. Thank you to everyone who made Allianz Park such a special place to call home, at last. The pitch, the pies, the pints and the wins: here’s to the new season and erasing the memory of the Saints defeat.
2. WORST SARRIES RUGBY MOMENT OF THE SEASON: Defeat to Saints, semi-final Heineken Cup.
The flip side of positive is clear: what were the downsides in a season that brought so much success but ultimately resulted in coming away with just a Melrose 7s win and a whole stack of new memories? Voters point to The Fat Lady singing with two minutes to go against Exeter; the Angels appearing to come straight from a dubious club night to replace the Sensations; and Jonny’s drop goal that sealed out fate in the Heineken Cup semi-final. However our voters’ eyes our Mariana Trench, the lowest depth we plunged, was that semi-final against Saints. As one voter put it, “not one moment: the whole thing – despair”. Next season we need to beat them, home and away, every time. Heal the wound…
3. FUNNIEST RUGBY MOMENT OF THE SEASON: Sarrie the Camel doing “Gangnam Style”
We clearly enjoy the many funny moments in a year supporting Saracens. The spread of votes in this category again suggest we pick out many different things to enjoy a laugh at. Some of the votes went to” Leicester fans leaving after that fourth try at Welford Road”; “Nil-ling Bath and Edinburgh both away”; “Seeing David Strettle get his hat-trick in 25 mins against Worcester, made me chuckle in amazement”; “Gavin Henson's dive at Allianz Park for one of our tries” (is it funny to see The Mighty Ego floored…?) and, my personal favourite, seeing referees trying to mark the spot with their heal on the Allianz Park carpet (really refs, stop trying…!). However showing the love for our long-time mascot, out in front were Sarrie the Camel’s crowd-pleaser performances of Psy’s hit song. Need a fix? Check out the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15SUFBIJ13o. And a reminder of the Sensations too…
4. BEST REFEREE: Greg Garner
It’s good to see quite a few different referees get voters’ support including Wayne “Red Card” Barnes, Jerome Garces, Martin Fox, “the ones I don’t notice!”, Nigel Owens and JP Doyle (last one, not a mistype). Counting up the votes, out in front was the 33 year old from Coventry, top “Sir” this year, former teacher and now full-time referee, Mr Greg Garner. Perhaps the fabulous Saracens Supporters Association can arrange a ‘Meet the Ref’ session.
5. WORST REFEREE: Alain Rolland (again).
For every group of fans who think a particular referee is excellent, there will inevitably be a few who think he’s the pits. JP Doyle may be a visible presence on Twitter but he’s someone clearly many would prefer not to see officiate Saracens next season. One comment was “JP ‘Crouch. Stand up. Talk a bit. Repeat’ Doyle”. Whatever can you mean? Steve Walsh is a shoe-in for votes in this category. But unlike the ‘best’ category, the ‘worst’ was not particularly diverse in the voters’ choices. By far the fans’ least favourite, again, was the Irish Frenchman, or is that French Irishman? Either way, will the ERC stop picking him to referee Heineken Cup games with French or Irish teams: it’s arguably the perception of bias based on his background that seems so damaging to the spectators’ views of his performances.
6. BEST MEDIA PERFORMANCE BY A RUGBY CELEBRITY OR BROADCASTER: Joint winners - Large (Jason Harris) and Will Greenwood.
I think there has to be a huge mention in this category for the inspirational Michael Lynagh for tackling serious ill-health, seemingly conquering his problems and returning to our screens with his educated and knowledgeable insights. But he didn’t win this category. Mark Durden-Smith will be sorely missed from our screens if BT Sport sticks with its opening presentation team of Doyle and Dallaglio. Nick Mullins gets support for his excellent commentary. Eddie Butler does some great montages, though (in my view) can’t quite hide his dislike of anything English. Out in front though is the first and only tied winners in all the poll’s many categories: the golden talents known here as Large and Will Greenwood. Perhaps Sky Sports should take note for its Heineken Cup coverage. Large probably takes it by a whisker though as no one voted for him in the ‘worst’ category unlike Will G!
7. WORST MEDIA PERFORMANCE BY A RUGBY CELEBRITY OR BROADCASTER: Dewi Morris and Stuart Barnes (again, again, again, again, again…)
Was there EVER any doubt about the ‘winner’ in this ‘worst’ category? I don’t think I need to provide any further comments. You’ve seen Sky Sports…
8. THE MICHAEL GENTLEMAN (SAMUI MAN) CONTRIBUTION TO THESARACENS.COM MESSAGE BOARD: Saracens4Life
Modesty prevents me taking any offence that despite my efforts with polls, countdowns and other contributions I only received one mention.
Oh, go on then, I’ll finish this article, I suppose. There was strong support for last year’s winner TPR’s Headmistress as well as McSaracens, King Zak, Darraghgirl, Convex Hull, BarnetSarrie and others. I’ll draw attention to those voting for “the Editors, without whom none of this would be possible.”
Just out in front though is the indefatigable author of previews to delight and entertain as well as contributing all manner of excellent contributions to the discussion on the forum. Rise up, take a deserved bow and wallow in the glory of being the number one.
Hopefully the poll will be back after the 2013-14 season though I suspect via either a facelift or rebirth to make use of more sophisticated counting methods. Keep contributing!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:08:20:09:23:26 by TonyTaff.
Tou Lon or not tou lon
"My kicking coach tells me to imagine I am on the beach and that's what I did. I tried to be as relaxed as possible because we had the wind in our face and I didn't want to force it." - Marcelo Bosch, 06/04/15
Quote:Juan Knight
Defeat to Saints-semi final of Heineken Cup???
Tou Lon or not tou lon
Ah yes, you spotted that deliberate, cough, mistake. Just checking anyone read these articles!
Hopefully not an omen for fortunes ahead. Losing an Aviva Premiership play-off semi to Saints was bad. Losing again to them next or any year in the Heineken would be also very bad, a truly red card moment to the season ahead. Which reminds me...
Quote:tpr's headmistress
You Japie, should win the 'Richard Hill Award' - quietly going about your business, doing a splendid job, without necessarily being noticed but without your endeavours life on here would be a whole lot less entertaining. Well done that man!
Thank you TPR's Headmistress (HRHRH Award would be such a huge honour!) and Rif for your comments and to everyone who reads the articles. I have fun writing them.
Lots of opportunities ahead though for others to write for the site and give us all a break from my by-line!
Regardez mon visage. Suis-je bovvered?
This is where the arm-twisting begins regarding next close season!
You'd be the ideal person to manage the transition to Survey Monkey, or whatever - the Eds would then look for a volunteer to succeed you, in what would then be a less onerous (i.e. more attractive) role.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
Quote:TonyTaff
Thanks James. your contribution has been extremely valuable.
This is where the arm-twisting begins regarding next close season!
You'd be the ideal person to manage the transition to Survey Monkey, or whatever - the Eds would then look for a volunteer to succeed you, in what would then be a less onerous (i.e. more attractive) role.
Happy to do it again next season. Gives me time to research a quicker way of voting and compiling the results.
take 5 gold stars