Crunch Time vs. Budgies

By BrianC
April 26 2005

Twenty one ZP games past us this season, one to go. With the threat of relegation still hanging over our heads our last game at Newcastle is a crunch one.

Any one of five clubs can go down this weekend. Ourselves, Leeds, Quins, Saints and Worcester are all staring into the abyss that is relegation to ND1. As we have a better points difference than the other troubled clubs the odds are somewhat in our favour but we cannot by any means be complacent. I well remember the day that Bristol came to play us two years ago. All they needed to be safe, as with us this Saturday, was a bonus point. In their case it was not to be.

Perhaps the toughest match of all those being played this weekend is that between Saints and Worcester. In itself that fixture could be our salvation. For us to be in danger Worcester have to win that game and allow Saints to pick up a bonus point, or it has to be a draw. Any other result will ensure that one of those teams ends the season below us. That game must be particularly galling for Northampton no. 10 Shane Drahm, our nemesis in our home fixture this season. He has signed for Worcester next term, is it possible that he could kick himself into ND1 rugby?

After Quins defeat to Leeds on Tuesday night they appear to be in the greatest danger of all. They are one point behind at the bottom and face a tough match at home to fourth place Sale. The Sharks will be in no mood to take things easy, they are chasing third place and a spot in the play-offs. Leeds, like us, are not out of the woods yet but their recent run of three straight ZP wins now means they only have to pick up a point at Bath or to have another club below them slip up for safety to be within their grasp.

Our game is against a Newcastle team who have disappointed somewhat this season. They currently sit one place and four points above us in the table. One of our rare highlights at the Madejski this season was our 21 – 15 victory over them in November. Even then this victory was not as convincing as the score line might suggest, we only took the lead with a converted 15-man pushover try in the dying seconds of the game.

Disappointing or not, there is talent galore in this Newcastle side. They have been have been without wunderkind Jonny Wilkinson for the bulk of the season, indeed it is uncertain if he will play on Saturday, but in Dave Walder they have a more than competent stand in. The Budgies pack commands respect wherever it goes, ours will have to be up to the level we were against Bath if we are to take anything from this game.

A bonus point in this game would see us safe. Victory may well even see us in the play-offs. Should we come away with nothing we can only hope that other results go our way. So much now comes down to this final weekend of the regular ZP season. It is going to be a tense afternoon.