News: Saints Shock Saracens 3 trys to 1 13-27
Will on his first match t
By David Lowrence
May 13 2013
Well, here we go again – another Semi Final – away, as we came fourth in the “Pool Stages” but hey-ho a trip to a new ground with a new type of pitch but as it is Sarries, no one gives us a scooby. And for once the weather forecasters got it right, rain started pretty well at KO and kept us very wet for the whole match
Aviva Premiership Semi Final
Saracens v Northampton Saints
Sunday 12th May KO 3pm Allianz Park
Firstly the Allianz Park. Those who know me will appreciate that Vicarage road, its environs and its inhabitants never made it to my Z list of grounds to attend. It has coloured much of my thinking and attitude towards Saracens, so it was with a great deal of pleasant surprise that we entered through the gates (somewhat later than we had expected as we had to wait for a players wife and children who were travelling with the supporters. No way were we going to leave without the Manoa’s, either through lack of courtesy or no fear of the consequences! Great to have them, together with Lucy and the little, and not so little, Tonga’uhia’s travelling with the SSC). The ground feels vast, probably due to the running track, and Sarries have made really good use of the open spaces. Some Fine Foods outlets, but the do not have a monopoly (please note AR), augmented by some wonderful Asian food stands, a Tyrolean Schnitzel outlet and a most amazing Citroen van a l’ancienne selling some really good vins a l’ancienne. All very well done, This augmented by a range of Greene King’s finest and the Saracen’s cask ale which was well worth the choice as my single allowed pint for the day. The main bar under the East Stand was noisy, fun and friendly, and the ground's plastic pitch was graced by two very large screens and three sets of new stands, which make the best of the restrictions imposed.
After the obligatory pre match build up (Theme for the day was Verdi – really nice to hear Nabucco, Aida and Rigoletto as a curtain raiser to the match). Your reporter settled in his seat in the West stand to report. Notebook to the fore, I made copious notes of the play in the first half. Unfortunately, every time I opened the book to write up some scintillating piece of action, the rain it raineth every minute on what I had written before. All my diligence to nowt – so you are getting a “from Memory” report.
Saints opened up the first half with what can only be called a “Hats on Wheels” display of powerful pressure rugby. Saracens were never allowed to settle and 25 minutes in Brian Mujati put the ball down over the line from a driving maul. Duly converted, it was followed 5 minutes later by a stonking (a word I used a lot this aft
ernoon) tackle on Chris Ashton (if he wasn’t in the game before, he certainly looked a little boy lost for the rest of the match. I am sure folks will have their say, but I just found it sad.) which with the ball getting to Daisy – set up Jamie Elliot for a steaming run in and touch down. Again converted by Stephen Myler (all you NAWCFH merchants should compare his performance today with that of Owen Farrell, the current Lions FH), the score had reached 0-14 by the half hour, and 0-17 by the end of the half. It was at about this time that it became clear that the drums, which are bashed all afternoon, to provide a commentary to the action, were interfering with the ability of the line out to hear the calls, and it looked as though Mr Hartley was getting rather exercised about it. Taken together with the blowing of hooters as the kicker strikes the ball, and the boing of tries, while this may be “just the way they do things thins round here” I guess it goes to show that while you may be able to take the rugby club out of Vicarage Road, it is probably difficult (in word this week) to take the whole of VR out of the rugby club, as has been discussed on Facebook today.
So, dear reader, imagine my surprise when, following a rather torrid and unusual few minutes, during which Saracens found themselves in the Saints 22 for what was I am sure was the first time in the match, Mr JP Doyle (of whom more later), blew for half time and the Saints were 0-17 in front. Heady and rich stuff indeed. Saints were giving a master class in direct, hard, and unflinching power, to which Saracens seemed to have no response. The tension was palpable; it was not only Jim Mallinder who was thinking of the Heineken Cup final in Cardiff.
Having spent half time in a queue with some I thought Sarries supporters, who vociferously agreed with me that Matf Stevens had been appointed official Buffalo pie taster, they tuned out to be Saints supporters in the Saracens Tabard style rain ponchos anther really good idea from E Griffiths team – (You will note that these comments are most out of character for me, so it must have been impressive).
Back to my seat for the second half, notebook away, soaked, exhilarated and very nervous – those nerves we heightened as the Hosts started to get back into the game.. By now JP Doyle thought he understood what was going on the mauls, and following more puzzling decisions, two quick penalties brought Sarries to 6-17. On about 55 mins Dowson came on to steady the Buffs, and almost immediately GJ Van Velze, who had replaced an injured Courtney Lawes in the first half, was put over for a superb try, by Dickson, who had seen that Ashton was out of position yet again, The tricky conversion was welcomed by the by now, regular chorus of boos from the unwashed at the back of the West Stand. But your correspondent was breathing again – 6-24.
Then followed a poor piece of play by Elliot, in which he got under Farrell, who was in the air. I am sure it was poor positioning, but he and the Saints paid the price with 10 minutes in the bin for the winger, who seems to have scored in almost every match he has played in since his return from injury. This reduction fired up Saracens, and was followed by some of their best play of the afternoon, running hard and strong at `Saints, and culminating in a try to Taylor, converted by Farrell. This reporter was by now very worried, as Jim brought on the replacements in the front row, Waller, Mercey and swapped May for the irrepressible Burrell, and I became concerned we would throw it away. But as the clock ticked down, our little band of supporters in the West Stand became more and more elated. Us – beat the Saracens at home – How very dare we? The score was 13-24 at no side. It was a pleasure to watch a Saints side, given no chance or respect from the likes of S Barnes and the Media, or indeed our resident Eyeore on this site, not only beat our bête noir, but do it comfortably, impressively and with no little style. PJ Doyle, the ref, was mostly harmless, but does need a session with some serious front row coaches in order to understand forward play, but on the whole he was even handed and not pushing his presence on the game. (You see, I must have had a good day!)
So at the end, we have an East Midlands final. Once again we are given no chance against our other neighbours, so Dylan and Jim need to keep the team focussed for 10 days, and be prepared to go and do it again.
Samu Manoa is of course Officially AWESOME!
Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty
The MoM and new England Captain speak:-
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:05:13:08:53:32 by St Marlowe.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:05:13:08:56:06 by St Marlowe.
You do seemed to have missed the final pen in your report but like me I am sure you were in disbelief at this point....
“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
Tom Wood's interview - demonstrating leadership and national captaincy.
It still hasn't sunk in, we are going to be singing 'Oh Wendy's' at HQ in a couple of weeks :-D There's that Cheshire cat grin again
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
i thought there was one other key moment in the game, when strettle had to score if he had just pinned his ears and gone straight for the corner (or passed to flash). instead he stepped inside and along with fodens comedy slide he managed to bungle it.
pps i was more nervous when the score was briefly 6-22, which was exactly the half time score vs leinster. i knew that if smyler got the difficult conversion we would win, otherwise i wasnt sure - glad he did!
I was at Welford Road the previous day where Quins dominated the 1st half but the discipline of the whole Tigers squad (there were no F and As), meant that they actually took an undeserved half time lead. Tigers were really good and I would guess that Saints will have to step up another gear in the final.
There are so many talking points and that's just from seeing it once live. Three stand out, the way we defended that first 15 minutes of the second half when we knew Sarries would come at us. Then there was a moment while we were Jamie down, when Sarries went short to their right wing, it looked like we were exposed but Luther came in with a decisive tackle and we defended collectively again. The other and my joyous moment of the match was VV's try. Where we stood under the East Stand it was possible to see the move before it happened, VV went wide, Lee spotted it and made a very simple try possible. I don't know if there was any communication, whether VV called it, whether Lee called it, whether it was instinctive but it was a beautiful sight.
I may have doubted Saints at times this year, not on capability but delivery. Yesterday was the first game I have seen this season where Saints truly excited me as a fan. I think it was also a huge win for the management team. We have not shown the ability to beat the top teams and have looked tactically naive at times. For me that is Jim's biggest and best victory as Saints D of R. But it is only the beginning.
Thanks Saints for a wonderful day out.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Good day out and great rugby!As everyone has said, very big improvement on Vicarage and I even liked the opera. Hope they play it at Twickers. I bet the whole of Northampton is smiling if not singing this morning.
Good stuff mate. All matches between top sides have a moment that decides the outcome. The tackle on Ashton and the resultant try was that moment for me.
Saint til I die