News: Young Saints take Bonus Point win against Gloucester
By David Lowrence (St Marlowe)
November 10 2013
No one volunteered for a match report this week, which is your loss, for you will now suffer an unprepared report from me, largely culled from memory. It is also a shame, because after the cries from here for some of our youngsters to be blooded, it finally happened, and they did spectacularly well, with no hand up to chronicle it.
LV= Cup round 1
Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby
Franklin’s Gardens 9th November 2013, KO 5pm
Background
Firstly, by way of an introduction, on a day when 6 Saints represented England in the AI against Argentina, receiving praise from pundits everywhere, even the formulaic Stuart Barnes, the “2nd Team” (my ironic quotes) was trusted with launching Saints campaign in a competition with strange pool stages (never having to play others in the same pool) and paying English clubs more than the Heineken cup. This fatuous position is one of the reasons that the clubs have given notice to ERC over the inequalities of that-blazer controlled competition.
The Franklin’s Gardens “Experience”
Back to the Gardens at 5pm. I took my seat in the Burrda (I still call it the South) stand following a peripatetic afternoon watching the England match, First in the TAB until half time, then a look through the doors of the Foundry, crammed to the walls, than an inspired choice of the Sturtridge, great spaces to watch the match, but a dreadful picture on tiny screens (good job I had my binoculars) and at over £7.50 for 2 pints of fizzy beer, the caterers again showed that the club is extracting far too much money from them for their work. In my business, that is called “margin on margin” and customers (let alone club members) tend to avoid it like the plague. On to the Rodber Suite, Better screens but rammed. The bar was unsurprisingly quiet, but that was, I think, because the crowds watching the only decent screens in the Gardens were backed up to the bar counter. Departed post haste to Heroes, where the Sturtidge experience was reprised, but this time with more people. Experience?? – poor! I will revert to spending any pre match elsewhere!
The Match (at last – I hear you cry)
By far the best part of the day. Bets having been taken as to the number of words before which Geoff’s voice would crack in his remembrance reading of “They shall not grow old” – he took us all by surprise by having a voice cracked from the opening. My eyes always water at this special occasion at the Gardens and today was no exception.
Having seen the opposing squads for this match, I was slightly nervous about the outcome. Although it was not a first Choice Gloucester 15, there were enough Internationals and wise old birds in there, supplemented by the up and coming youngster, Tindall, of whom I am sure we shall hear more as his career is surely set to be meteoric.
The return of James Craig from injury was heralded by an early charge down, and Gloucester’s inability to let go on the ground gave Dickson his first penalty attempt, which he duly took. Craig’s actions all afternoon while he was on, showed how good he is, and it is to be hoped that his injury is not serious, for his is surely dogged with misfortune. Great contributor in the forwards.
In the next 10 minutes, Gloucester start to punish Saints nervousness, with two penalties, putting them ahead for the first and only time in the match, 3 -6.
Drawing level after a penalty from Dickson, created by some powerful pressure by Saints, the match starts to settle into the most fantastic go forward game for the youngsters, led by the eventual man of the match’s front row, where Waller A, Haywood M and Mercey T were beginning to make the Gloucester front row look very poor.
A fizzing pass from Dickson to Waldouck with a grubber through set Ken Pisi off on a blistering race to dot down the first try of the match, No conversion, but at 11 6 and following three scrum penalties, Gloucester start to get a trifle techy and physical. C block were howling for blood after a Glyn was illegally “tackled” but Saints were only awarded a penalty, rather than the yellow to Gloucester it warranted. After another few minutes and another heavy scrimmaging session, Ken Pisi introduced Thomas to his “Strictly Samoa” Sidestep, Slide and Score routine and Dickson adds the extras. 18 – 6
Gloucester, their pack being mullered by the youngsters, started to get physical, with rude words and bad temper at the temerity of these young lads in teaching Gloucester the dark arts. (The opposition do tend to forget that these guys are “Dorian’s Babes”, having come through the academy with his guidance – it’s all they know!)
Saints resist Gloucester’s attacks until half time – the score staying at 18-6
The second half opens with a cynical off the ball tackle on Packman (who was winning the battle with the much vaunted Kvesic) which the referee claims never happened (much to the vocalised annoyance of Blocks B, C and D who all had a better view!).
Wilson’s powerful boot, propelling unfeasibly high balls gives Saints go forward all day, and from the next, Saints claim a penalty after Gloucester’s defenders knock on. Dickson was never going to miss the penalty – 21-6. Alex Day appeared to make his first full team appearance, and showed why people are beginning to talk about him. His positional awareness is superb, and as he develops he will surely be a real name for the future. A raft of replacements follow, and the team could have been forgiven for shutting up shop, but these lads were all in a showcase and were determined to capitalise on an increasingly irritated and poorly skilled Gloucester approach.
10 minutes from No side and another famous Saintly name made his debut. Sam Olver on for Dickson, who had put in a good afternoons work, immediately stepped up the pace, and linked Artimyev through to the well positioned Day for a try, converted by Olver with commendable haste in order to get on with chasing the BP.
Three minutes later following some frenetic defending by Gloucester, (they can be very rough young men), Day puts the ball into touch with a tremendous kick to the corner, and after some messing about at the lineout, positions himself well (yet again) for a terrific try to secure the Bonus point.
Not Gloucester’s finest side, or hour, but a fantastic performance by the youngsters and those just below the “cup final team” to give Jim some selection headaches and real choices for the rest of the Season. I suspect next week’s match at Irish will provide a sterner challenge, but, “sufficient unto the day” etc…..
The second part of the “Match day experience" really outclassed the first, with my MOM being GJ van Velze.
The two Alex’s say:
photograhs courtesy X-Block Dave and Tustker
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Saint til I die
Odd memories include seeing Glenda kick a penalty to touch with his left foot. I cannot remember a two footed flyhalf in a Saints shirt. Another major one was the progress of Tom Stephenson. Last year, though painful, his errors led two tries. Yesterday his tackling, chasing and general looked fantastic. Wasn't it so good to see us push the Glass back towards their line so often. That was the major surprise, but should it have been. We seem to have 6 Prem quality props. When did that last happen. Then there was the great debuts by Rob and Glenn, the good looking second partnership of Rob and James and that new cruel injury. Howard was great on Monday and yesterday he just looks the part. And the academy lads were brilliant to a man.
My special praise and my motm go though to Dom. I thought his experience and leadership underpinned so much of what we did. The mix of youth and experience was exceptional.
Was it only 12 months ago the doom merchants on the old offy [ cant comment re this site ] were calling for Jims head , moaning about the lack of quality youngsters etc etc etc - in a perverse way I wish the old site was still around - it would be great fun to be able to revisit some of the c..p comments that were posted - and remind the victor meldrews involved
ps - Eif - you are very quiet this morning .I suspect the referee at the millenium stadium yesterday was garbage
Quote:?St Marlowe
I think there are 2 Matt Williams's John
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Quote:ComeOnYouSaints.com
What do you think?
In think if the unprepared report includes the word "peripatetic" I'm quite glad I wasn't reading a prepared one.
Thanks David - a good read. Your memory's obviously much better than mine.