END OF SEASON POLL:- PART 2
By Darraghgirl
July 13 2018
Part 2 of the End of Season Awards then – clever how we hang it out over 2 articles in our attempt to keep the site alive over the summer! (Is there no one out there who would consider writing something of interest to help out the hard-pressed Eds???)
THE ALBANESE AWARD FOR THE WORST PERFORMANCE BY AN OPPOSITION PLAYER AGAINST SARACENS
One team pretty much dominated this category. There was mention for Henry Slade and Joe Simmons, both in the Premiership Final, and Graham Hughes (for both sides) in the semi-final (although I’m not sure that one’s allowed) but all the other nominations involved our friends from up the M1. Kieran Brookes (started all 4 games against us and got humped in all of them), Ben Foden, Dylan Hartley, Harry Mallinder and Nic Groome were all singled out but the Albanese Award this year goes to THE ENTIRE NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM
THE MARTIN JOHNSON MEMORIAL LEAST FAVOURITE OPPOSITION PLAYER AWARD
An interesting selection for this category. “Any Saints Player” was a bit scattergun. Chris “everyone hates Saracens” Robshaw, Jonny “cry baby” Sexton, Faf “get a haircut” de Klerk, Christian “runs rings around us” Wade, and Thomas the Tank Waldron all had supporters but the award this year goes to a man said to be “obnoxious in victory” and “keeping the best full back in England out” (Ed – that’s hardly his fault) MIKE BROWN
THE PLAYER YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO JOIN SARACENS NEXT SEASON
Some class selections here! Schalk Brits to come out of retirement, Malcolm Marx or Cody Taylor (to replace Brits), Semi Radrada (who wouldn’t!) and Vereniki Goneva were all suggested. But most of the votes went to 3 players. Runners up were Chris Ashton and Michael Hooper but just piping them both, the player you would most like to join Saracens next season is: DAVID POCOCK
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SARACENS TEAM
There were fortunately many performances to choose from this season! Nominations included the away game against ASM (showed we’d turned a corner), the 2nd and 3rd games against Saints and the Final against Exeter (THE most complete performance, better than the Tetley Final in 1998). But your choice for the best performance by a Saracens team last season was THE SEMI-FINAL VICTORY OVER WASP
WORST PERFORMANCE BY A SARACENS TEAM
There really was only choice for this one. Anyone who was at Allianz in the snow on that cold December monday will remember it only too well. Overwhelmingly the worst performance by a Saracens team last season was THE DEFEAT AGAINST ASM AT HOME IN THE SNOW
FAVOURITE AWAY VENUE
This year’s European cup didn’t produce much in the way of exotic travel sadly although Clermont did get a few votes but the main contenders came down to 2 UK grounds and one Irish one. The Rec in the sunshine and Sandy Park were both popular but the winner, even though for Saracens it was a loser, was THE AVIVA STADIUM IN DUBLIN
LEAST FAVOURITE AWAY VENUE
Well there were a few places you didn’t like going to, not least The Olympic Stadium and Talen Energy Stadium in the USA (“what was the point?”) but most of the votes were closer to home. Last year’s “winner” Sixways and perennial dislike Kingsholm both attracted votes but inevitably your least favourite away venue was just up the M1 at FRANKLIN’S GARDENS
FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE SEASON
There were quite a few of these - more than I remembered. Wayne Barnes yellow card for Brits in the final, “any game against Saints”, Sione Vailanu being “bundled” after scoring from the base of the scrum and the diving exhibition in Bermuda all attracted votes but overwhelmingly the winner of the funniest moment of the season was MARO ITOJE PRETENDING TO FALL ASLEEP AFTER SCORING A TRY AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM
BEST REFEREE
Honourable mention for Matt Carley, Jerome Garces and newcomer Karl Dickson ("such empathy with the players") but your choice of the best referee is WAYNE BARNES
WORST REFEREE
A lot of nominations for this category including former winner Nigel Owens, JP Doyle (of course – you have long memories), Ian Tempest, Craig Maxwell-Keys, Jaco Peyper, Ben O’Keeffe (aren’t we getting into the international field now?) Graham Hughes (always) and Angus Gardner were all selected but your choice of the worst referee by a country mile, and sadly for the second year running, was TOM FOLEY
BEST MEDIA PERFORMANCE BY A RUGBY CELEBRITY OR BROADCASTER
Lots of suggestions for this category which was once the preserve of Will Greenwood (and yes he got plenty of votes). Others who were nominated included Neil Durden-Smith, the Egg Chasers, The Rugby Pod, Chris Jones, Paul O’Connell, Ben Kay & Alex Corbisiero but your choice for the best media performance by a rugby celebrity or broadcaster is DAVID FLATMAN
STUART BARNES AWARD FOR THE WORST MEDIA PERFORMANCE BY A RUGBY CELEBRITY OR BROADCASTER
Disapprobation to Clive Woodward, Mark Robson, Eddie Butler & Brian Moore but there really can only be one winner of this award which henceforth shall be named after him. The worst media performance by a rugby celebrity or broadcaster in this and every other season goes to STUART BARNES
MICHAEL GENTLEMAN AWARD FOR THE BEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE MESSAGE BOARD
And finally, the award which we give to our own. Once again thanks to those of you who mentioned me and the other Eds but as always I am excluding myself. Fraz Collett-Gordon & Clare Gonzalez were mentioned for Sarries on Tour. Highbury Sarrie was also nominated along with TPR’s Headmistress ("the voice of reason") & Seany_boy for so many excellent previews but this year, the Michael Gentleman Award for the best contribution to the message board goes to someone whose posts are “so passionate and always worth reading” BARNET SARRIE
So that’s the awards for another year sorted. See you next season.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:08:25:19:39:25 by Darraghgirl.
Virtual bouquets for DG - what would we do without you and your colleagues of course.
- Best Media Performance: long has rugby needed more than the 1 helpful voice
- Best Contribution to the board: so many good additions plus the tireless effort of our admins
-----------------------------------------------------
Stuart Barnes is a Cock Womble