News: Saints slog out a win against Worcester in the mud

By Alan B
February 16 2013

It was with some trepidation that I set out for my 3rd visit to Sixways. Previously I had seen the LV final versus the Tigers and a poor effort during the world cup autumn. Last week we saw Saints give away 2 soft tries and miss 2 or 3 opportunities but somehow the result seemed to go deeper than that. Jim said we were owed one, lets hope so. Our skipper was back, as was Lawes, would this make the difference?

Aviva Premiership round 15

Worcester Warriors v Northampton Saints

Saturday 16th February Sixways KO 3pm

Two driving lineouts secure Saints the match

It was with some trepidation that I set out for my 3^rd visit to Sixways. Previously I had seen the LV final versus the Tigers and a poor effort during the world cup autumn. Last week we saw Saints give away 2 soft tries and miss 2 or 3 opportunities but somehow the result seemed to go deeper than that. Jim said we were owed one, lets hope so. Our skipper was back, as was Lawes, would this make the difference?

Nutley was unlucky, after last week to be squeezed out of the back 5 on Lawes' return and one or 2 others may have been lucky to retain their place. Saints need to treat the rest of the season as mini finals if they are to achieve something. For Worcester; a chance to relax and try to reach the top 6.

A good start with Ruddles County at £3.20 a pint, is the water cheaper in thwest? (wait a minute, does this beer travel through the county on the way to Worcester?)

The pitch was very heavy in places, as my son observed, not a day for wingers in poncy boots.

Manoa began by taking a high kick in the sun, the first of a number of good restart takes by saints. Before long Worcester had the ball and messed up a 4 on 2 only for the ball to fall into Drauniniu's hands and Foden had to work hard to stop him. A penalty resulted and soon there was another soft one and Worcester were 6-0. Saints weren't committing enough to the attacking rucks and were being penalised but as the game evolved it became clear that whoever attacked tended to get pinged. Saints defensive effort at ruck and maul was winning possesion but this was a day of error.

First scrum on 12 mins saints pinged and as I was vocal. I got a nice tap on the shoulder from the Worcs fan behind. We agreed We would keep count (by tap) and as the ref seemed to want to blow rather than observe the scrummage my new friend ended up with a bruise as the saints won this part of the game 5-1.

Following endless kicking duels Saints drew level at 6-6. The skipper was making hard yards and Dicko was brave in defence. Our kick chase was still poor even though kicks were needed. Mercey created mayhem at a ruck but at the next breakdown another penalty was kicked and 9-6. Lots of notes but little rugby. Immediate penalty at the kick off and Saints level the score to 9-9. Coaches nightmare. Manoa then takes a kick off and breaks forward but Elliot forces an offload and Worcs are pressing. However a miss pass going left then a kick going right when on both occassions simple passing would suffice butcher 2 chances for Worcs. Eventually they have to settle for a penalty and 12-9.

Confession, I now miss the Dylan yellow and another brave tackle from Fodes (the ruddles was too cheap!). (Ed. It was a team yellow) A kickable penalty missed by Goode then a penalty reverse as Best tugs a shirt, is our luck changing? A scrum penalty at halftime and a hard chance missed by SM, 12-9 and 14 men, we are still in this.

Can we cut down the error? Our work rate is better but nothing is working in the backs yet.

Wilson puts in a couple of better kicks and shows what a proper chase looks like, Dylan returns for no net loss and following another scrum pen' we are 12-12.

Myler puts up a bomb but Claassens is under no pressure and a wonderful counterattack stretches Saints until Worcs conceded a penalty in front of the posts. Worcs are playing the best rugger, Clarke is ellusive, although the miss passes from 10 seem irrelevant and help Saints. 30 minutes to go and the first real cheers from the Worcs fans can be heard; do they sense a chance?

Saints drive a maul and then kick to the corner and win a penalty from the maul for 12-15. This looks like the tactic that will win it for us. However, Lawes tackles Goode without any arms and takes a 10 min' rest. He may have gotten away with that had he used his arms. Goode recovers quickly from severe pain to slot the levelling penalty. 15-15. This will now be tough. We miss another kick (3 or 4 now) however, one try might settle this. Saints are just winning the collisions and with their scrum advantage and the lineouts even that is enough possession to strangle the game if error is avoided. Fresh props are on and we decide to go for the corner. Best sees yellow at the maul and from the following maul we score a try, Manoa the man who put it down. 15-20 and we just about get a 'wendy' going.

Goode slots another penalty but by this stage we are looking for lineouts, most ball is going to Dowse at this stage and after Lawes returns another driven lineout is collapased and a penalty try awarded for 18-27 after the extras. 5 minutes to go and saints freshen up the back 5 with Nutley and Oakley. When possession is secured they take it in turns to make the hard yards and run the clock down.

That wasn't pretty but it was gutsy. 14 men for 20 minutes on a tough pitch. I hope training is light on effort and hard on thought next week! Work is needed on chasing our kicks (can Wilson lead a session on that?) and on supporting our backs if we shift it wide; they were outnumbered too many times.

Lets hope we can build on that next week, whatever we do don't let Stockers near the match report he is on a bad run.

Samu and Tom say:=

News: Saints slog out a win against Worcester in the mud

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 16/02/2013 22:34

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