Diamond Sale Outshine Dull Saints
By Ben_D
September 24 2011
Whilst the noteworthy of world Rugby focus on events in New Zealand the Aviva Premiership continues to stumble through the dark wilderness whilst waiting for the leading lights to return - no doubt with their dwarfs and divorce lawyers in tow!
Aviva Premiership Round 4*
Sale Sharks 29 vs Northampton Saints 21
Edgley Park 23rd Sept KO 7:45
* - Eds note - Round 4 already - doesn't time fly when you are enjoying yourself!
So far Harlequins and now Sale have found their way through the early season mire to the front of the queue, whilst Northampton are staggering from game to game and could conceivably be bottom of the league by Sunday evening.
On the evidence of this match, with Sale missing eight of their 1st XV a claim to a top European spot or even a Premiership semi-final might not be beyond them. Steve Diamond has put his trust in a young and speedy set up while the adults are away and inspired by his halftime manoeuvrings to communicate with the Ref and pinch Nick Johnston’s jacket, they’ve proved as slick off the pitch as on it.
By comparison Saints looked slow, ponderous, indecisive, toothless, bereft of ideas and on top of it all have added indiscipline and bad decision making to an increasingly long list of deficiencies. Unfortunately some of the biggest villains of the evening were the time served leaders of the side.
Not to take anything away from Sale who’s spirited second half display put Saints to the sword but Captain Phil Dowson’s yellow card - the second for the team in the space of 3 minutes sealed Northampton’s fate with 18 minutes of the second half to go.
Still ahead at the time by a single point it was too much to ask Northampton to defend their line with 13 men against a side with, pace, incision and decisive angles of running.
Saints are increasingly prone to a game of two halves scenario, they start strongly impose themselves in the set piece, press the opposition and look like they have the game under control, but as the last couple weeks have proved it is a rapidly thinning veneer. European Cup Final ghosts perhaps still lurk nearby?
If there is anything by way of inspiration to be gained from this encounter then Stephen Myler’s place kicking was imperious as he punished a naive Sale side throughout the first half. But Sale hung on to the Northampton coat tails and when in possession always looked likely to secure tries.
With a halftime lead of 6 – 12 and with the Saint’s dominant pack winning the Referee’s approval and handing Myler the opportunities, only one result was looking likely. It continued in to the second half and Myler stretched the lead to 6 – 18, without Northampton ever being convincing with the ball in hand, and being quite frankly woeful when kicking from hand.
Sale’s form though began to rise and former Saint Mark Easter put the first dent in the lead with just 20 minutes of the game left. A box kick from Roberts was charged down in to touch and Sharman’s resulting lineout was stolen by Sale who rocked and rolled to the line, the TMO confirming Easter’s score.
No need for panic, but the wheels wobbled and then rapidly dropped off for Northampton as Referee Wigglesworth lost patience with Calum Clark who stepped over the line once too often for his liking.
Clark was rapidly followed by Dowson who’s petulance at an opposition penalty was equalled only by the foolishness of Dwayne Peel who was in the first half rewarded with 10 minutes for a similar offence. Dowson’s card was to prove the more costly.
Sale with their tails up and the smell of blood in their nostrils quickly secured the lead, the aforementioned Peel at the back of an impressive maul finding a gap and the line.
Saints stayed in touch by virtue of Macleod’s inability to convert and the result was still in the balance with less than 10 minutes to go as Myler bought Saints back to within a point.
Saints were back to 15 men, but Sale had all the momentum, Noah Cato stepped in to the line to stifle another promising Sale attack, but the ball was free left and then right, Saints were physically and mentally fractured and Sale were home free as the impressive Seymour burst over, Macleod annoyingly for Northampton pushing the score beyond seven points difference.
Still Northampton had an opportunity to leave with a losing bonus point but with a penchant for adventure rather than pragmatism Roberts took a quick and curious tap to nothing which left this particular Northampton household dumbfounded.
Four games in to the season, and Northampton belie their pre-season form and remain entirely unconvincing. A dominant scrum is proving their only weapon of worth, negate that – by fair means or foul and the armoury appears worryingly empty. The World Cup can’t end soon enough for some Saints supporters, but relying on Romania to help save this particular corner of the East Midlands is about as likely as Saints putting together a technically competent, free flowing, errorless move!
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Cheers and good luck for the rest of the season...
