News: Saints Revival Continues with First Aviva Away Win
By Jonathan J Stockham
November 6 2011
The old rugby saying goes, “Forwards win matches, backs decide by how much.” However, at Adams Park today, only the first part really held true as the Saints props both scored tries and Wasps’ loose head helped out by spending 10 minutes in the bin.
Aviva Premiership Round 8
Adams Park, 6 November 2011
London Wasps 13, Northampton Saints 24
Saints Revival Continues with First Premiership Away Win.
By Jonathan Stockham
Tim Payne’s yellow card came after 12 minutes when a bit of argy bargy worsened and Payne aimed a short arm jab at Callum Clark’s face right in front of the assistant referee. From the penalty kick to touch, Saints moved up field to win another penalty and Lamb landed 3 points to open the scoring for the afternoon.
But with Wasps still down to 14 men, scrappy handling by Saints saw ball lost to Wasps. Joe Simpson switched the attack from right to left and a kick was partly gathered by Chris Ashton but lost under pressure. Christian Wade collected, darted forward and threw a blind pass over his left shoulder to Rikki Flutey to dive over in the left hand corner.
The conversion was missed but Wasps took an unlikely lead at the end of the first quarter, a period of play notable for the first of Courtney Lawes’ trademark “Big Hits,” perfectly legally tackling Wasps No10 Nicky Robinson into the middle of next week. He performed another purler later in the match on Hugo Southwell, again totally legal and this, allied to his work rate around the pitch and quality line out play led to the Man of the Match award. This must have really annoyed the home crowd who booed him off the field when he was substituted in the second half!
Lamb and Robinson exchanged penalty goal kicks and Lamb was sure he had landed another shot high above the rather short posts, asking the ref to involve the TMO when the assistant refs had called it a miss. Lamb was convinced the kick was good but the TMO disagreed. Lamb was successful shortly after when Saints pinched Wasps ball and then won a penalty to put the visitors back in the lead at 8-9.
From the restart, Vasily Artemyev looped outside his cover and scooted up the left wing. His kick ahead was marked by Robinson and kicked to touch but Saints won a free kick at the line out for there being an inadequate gap between the packs. Mr Wigglesworth had a “thing” about the gap all afternoon and awarded several kicks against both teams. A quick tap and Saints’ charged up field to win a penalty within range for another 3 points.
Saints had another attempt at goal just before half time after their pack started to get on top of the opposition at the set scrum. Two penalties in quick succession brought the Wasps posts within range again but the kick was off target.
So, half time and Saints took a narrow lead in for tea and oranges at 8-12.
Part Two saw Saints playing towards the Dreams Stand and a dream start to the second half was what we got as Saints turned over Wasps’ ball twice before quick hands to the left sent Artemyev racing up the left wing. He jinked back in field to set up a ruck from which Soane Tonga’uiha stretched out an arm to dot down for Saints’ first try. Lamb missed to conversion but a healthy lead opened up for the visitors at 8-17 with barely 2 minutes of the half gone.
Twelve minutes later and the dream continued. Wasps ball, as it moved along the line, was stolen by Lamb and Tom May kicked ahead for position. From the Wasps line out and box kick, Foden scythed through, Saints recycled and kept the pressure on and when the visitors got quick ruck ball, a well-timed pass by Dickson found Brian Mujati in midfield 25 metres out. With only Robinson to beat, he thundered over and through the Wasps No10 and stretched his legs for a cracking try under the posts, which was just as well as Flutey was shirt tugging the support player. Lamb popped over the extras to stretch Saints lead to an unassailable 8-24.
Saints now defended their lead for the duration and kept a determined Wasps side at bay until clever deception at a ruck saw Ross Filipo emerge out of a pile of bodies to dot down for a try. The conversion went astray and the game finished 13-24 and a valuable away win for the Saints.
Although this win was crafted out by the Saints pack, who increasingly got the better of their opponents as the game wore on, strong running by the back three kept the go forward going forward and the Lamb / May combo at five-eighths definitely looks exciting. Not be left out, Jon Clarke defended as though his life depended on it and the whole team looked solid in defence for most of the 80 minutes.
Wasps were no easy touch and have started the season well but their lack of depth is starting to tell as other teams reassemble their full squads post World Cup.
At the end of the weekend Saints move up to sixth, only 2 points behind London Irish in third place.
Teams:
London Wasps: Southwell; Varndell (Mayor, 77), Bell, Flutey, Wade; Robinson, Simpson; Payne, Webber (Lindsay, 65), Broster (Taulafo, 59), Filipo, Wentzel, Birkett, Poff (Everard, 72), Hart (Burton, 76).
Northampton Saints: Foden; Ashton, Clarke, May (Pisi, 76), Artemyev; Lamb (Myler, 70), Dickson (Roberts, 70); Tonga'uiha (Waller, 71), Hartley (Haywood, 77), Mujati (Doran Jones, 65), Sorenson, Lawes (Manoa, 65), Clark (Wood, 60), Dowson, Wilson.
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I had a family lunch today (which meant I had to sell the v cheap tickets I had from Groupon) but having decided to cut down my outgoings with Virgin, in the process I inadvertently deleted the ESPN subscription.
"quel plonquer Rodders" I said having got in to find the recording had not happened! (don't you all admire my restraint!?),
Especially as the site was down!
Well played Saints - I see the Wasps reckon it was a poor reefing display.
*
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:06:23:50:19 by St Marlowe.
Thanks, Cap'n!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:11:07:10:31:13 by ElmaFudd..
I did not see much to complain about the Ref but behind the goal is not always the best place to judge all decisions. OK the gap was pinned frequently but you have to close it for the ref to give it.
My view was that it was a reasonably comfortable win against a goodish Wasps team. Our wayward kicking kept them in the game in the first half. Second half was solid and I was so confident in our tackling and defence that we were not vulnerable to Wasp attacks. One player who stood out for me was Vasily again. He covered the cross kick beautifully to touch down, he was totally in control of Wade and he made some wonderful breaks. Tom showed why he has played the last couple of games at centre and JC looked like a man possessed at times. Ryan's kicking out of hand was his weakness again. I liked the way Lee took responsibility at times to do the kicking.
And once again it demonstrated how great a place Adams Park is for watching rugby because it still has a Stand for spectators to stand. Us Saintly folks congregated behind the posts and sang all match long. With seated Stands we are split into little groups. A joyous day.