News: A call to the Bar not enough for Saints
By Richard Lewis
December 31 2012
I rarely travel to a Saints game these days, home or away, brimming with confidence. The swagger of recent campaigns seems to have deserted the team and fans alike as we all make heavy weather of the 2012/13 season. I do however travel to each game I attend with hope. We are not too far off the pace, which, I appreciate, is still not good enough for some and should not be good enough for our lads. But we can be a very competitive team, as Sunday proved
Aviva Premiership Round 12
Saracens vs Northampton Saints
Sunday December 30th Stadium mk: K.O. 2.15pm
Thankfully we had a break from the December downpours and the colour of the sky matched our boy’s kit as they took to the field at a sunny but chilly Stadium MK. A chorus of “stand up for the Saracens” reminded us that this was an away fixture as our opponents jogged onto the pitch. Both sides were pretty much at full strength although Sarries were resting their captain Borthwick whilst we were welcoming back ours in the shape of Dylan Hartley.
This wasn’t to be a game of two halves but a half of two quarters! After both sides initially “treated” us to an inept aerial kicking duel Sarries put together a couple of phases in midfield followed by a perfectly weighted chip through from Hodgson. Eliot had no option but to run the ball into touch thus giving the home side a lineout close to the Saints line. Sarries had lost their first lineout, but not this one. A simple catch and drive against a disorganized defence saw Smit go over for his first Premiership try. Hodgson was unable to convert but the Fezmen were 5 nil up.
This would quickly increase to an 8 point margin as Myler’s restart went directly into touch and from the resultant scrum on half way Saracans were awarded a penalty. Charlie found his kicking boots and with the wind behind him, knocked the ball over from half way.
Saints were not helping themselves at this stage and a promising passage of open play featuring Waldouk, Dylan and G.Pisi came to an end with Van Velze crossing Waller. A marginally high tackle by Foden on Strettle quickly followed by Dylan pulling down a rolling maul set up Hodgson for another kick at goal and the Fezboys had increased their lead to 11. Saints were in trouble.
It was all Sarries at this stage with Strettle and, stand-in captain, Joubert featuring heavily. However, mid way through the half the pendulum started to swing gradually in Saints favour. Sarries kicked the ball dead from inside their own half and passes were not going to hand. Then, from an attacking scrum, Dickson first set up a drive by Waldouk followed by a lovely little break by K.Pisi. Dowson ultimately took possession and finished superbly breaking a number of tackles on route to the try-line. Myler landed the conversion and on 25 minutes the score was 11-7.
Saints continued to edge the play defending superbly when required and putting Saracens under increasing pressure, which eventually resulted in a kickable penalty for Myler just before half time. Saints had recovered well and went into the break just 11-10 down but minus Mooj who had limped off shortly before the break. Momentum was with the Saints and those of us of a green gold and black persuasion hoped that it would continue.
The second half proved to be an even affair although there could be an argument that Saracens shaded it, certainly on the penalty count. Hodgson, without the aid of the wind, failed with three attempts during a ten minute spell early on in the half. Myler, on the other hand, landed a simple kick on 47 minutes, as a result of a collapsed scrum, to give the visitors the lead for the first time at 11-13. He then further extended the lead on 59 minutes with a long range effort from half way. This followed another collapsed scrum despite sarries having substituted their entire front row and PDJ struggling with a rib injury.
Saracens however struck back shortly thereafter by way of a penalty from Owen Farrell who had taken over the kicking duties from Hodgson and 5 minutes later Saints relinquished the lead. After winning a fantastic turnover on the 22 metre line, Saints attempts to run the ball out of defence lead to George Pisi becoming isolated and the support players entering from the side in their attempt to retain possession. 17-16 to the Fezheads with 12 minutes to play.
The remainder of the game was evenly balanced until the final drama unfolded on 80 minutes. Rees Gill clearly stole the ball from an illegal position at a ruck inside Saints half but then foolishly kicked the ball away. JP Doyle, having given Saints the penalty, than marched sarries back a further 10 metres for Gill’s transgressions. The penalty was now kickable, or was it? Fifty seven metres out and with the wind behind him Myler lined up the kick. He struck it sweetly and the trajectory looked perfect from behind the posts, could it be? One further revolution would have carried it over but, to the disappointment of all the Saints followers, it thumped into the crossbar and bounced back into the field of play. Saracens kicked the ball out and it was all over 17-16 to the Fezchaps.
It was a great game in the end and good to see the continued emergence of Elliott and Van Velze settling well into the number 8 position. However, Saints have only collected 2 points from the 4 encounters with Sarries, Quins and Tiggers so far this season and probably therefore deserve the current league position.
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Bridesmaids no more.
Small margins and all that, eh?
Many thanks, good Sir!
alive and well in Shrubbery Terrace
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Good review, (and nice title), as a rare Sarrie who cares naught about the "Fez..." title, I'm hoping we get a few comments on the nice rotation of them
I already knew the score and my heart stopped when I saw that final kick
Personally I feel Saints should be higher than they are in the table atm (though, of course, below Sarries)
Luck with the new year, both to the fans and the team
Are you quite sure that Rhys stole the ball from an illegal position?
Quote:RugbyBiker
Are you quite sure that Rhys stole the ball from an illegal position?
Yes.
Quote:Dragon27
Excellent report and nice to hear from you Squawker2. The main reason we are not higher up is because the top teams keep beating us. You'd think they'd show more respect and lose sometimes.
I know,inconsiderate, we're more than happy for you to beat Quins and Leicester
Quote:Are you quite sure that Rhys stole the ball from an illegal position?
Yes
Personally it looks like the most chaotic laying of an egg that I've ever seen
See I have one (and a bit of the other) eye during a game
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Quote:DuckonstiltsQuote:RugbyBiker
Are you quite sure that Rhys stole the ball from an illegal position?
Yes.
You are as wrong as Doyle then. It isn't even a ruck and never was.
I don't accuse either front row - like most of us (and as a girly back in my playing days) I don't have a clue what goes on in there - but it'd be nice to think the ref had some idea.