We go Marching into the Saints
By BrianC
October 8 2003
This weekend sees us visiting Northampton. At the start of the season many people, this author included, forecast that they would win the Zurich Premiership this time round. Early days though it is they are certainly in contention. With four games gone they are third in the ZP with twelve points.
Northampton Saints vs. London Irish
Saturday 11th October, Franklin's Gardens, K.O. 3p.m.
That they have reached third position is all the more creditable given the slow start they had to the season. Their first game was a high scoring draw away to Sale, this was followed by defeat away at Bath. It was only on their third game of the season that they recorded a victory with a 27 – 17 home victory over Wasps. Last weekend they trounced Rotherham away 13 – 42, picking up a bonus point in the process, although reports on the Northampton site indicate that this was not a wholly satisfactory performance. That said the bookmakers have now made them 3-1 favourites to win the league.
Northampton have lost a good number of players to World Cup call ups, not least of those we will miss on Saturday is Matt (The mouth) Dawson the most highly paid water carrier in the game. One aspect of our games with the Saints that I will miss this season is the running Doc/Dawson battle. Missing players aside they still appear to be a potent force, backs such as Shane Drahm and Bruce Reihana will no doubt provide our thus far impressive defense with their stiffest test of the season thus far.
Last season we played Northampton three times. The disappointment of a 12 - 14 defeat at the Madjeski in October was more than made up for by our unexpected 10 - 22 victory at Franklin's Gardens in the first game of 2003. In addition to the ZP games the Saints went some way to avenging their defeat in the previous years Powergen cup final by beating us comprehensively, 38 - 9 in last seasons semi.
Before the game the Saints supporters are holding their main fund raising event of the year, a sponsored walk on behalf of the British Heart Foundation. Our very own Peter Earnshaw and Marie Hilliard (NoExpert and Mulledwinemarie) are taking part in this. If you have not already been collared for sponsorship on their behalf can I suggest that you get hold of one of them on Saturday and press some money into their palm.
On paper this looks to be our toughest test of the season thus far. As we showed last season on our day we can beat them even on home territory. Should we manage that this weekend I, for one, will be pleasantly surprised.