News: Youth and Experience sees Saints to a Home Semi
By Rob Leach
February 2 2014
Having been wth the Author both pre and post match, I can attest to the coldness of the weather. How he held a pencil I do not know. But he did, and with thanks here is his report on another encounter with our nearest Southern rivals.
Northampton Saints v Saracens
Saturday 1st February 2014
Franklin's Gardens - KO 3pm - attendance 13256
The cold January wind was straight in my face as I walked the four miles to the ground – it had seemed like a good idea at the time but after the first mile I was starting to regret it. I was desperately hoping that one of “Connect’s” buses would pull up and drive me to the pub but it wasn’t to be. Without my iPod (MP3 player actually) I was desperate to take my mind off the wind and so I started to debate “ Had any Saints player left Franklins Gardens to become a better player”. This discussion was doing the trick, and to be honest, I struggled to think of any player that had become better after leaving the Gardens. The likes of Downey and Wilson, for example, never became better, Ben Cohen and Steve Thomson didn’t set Brive on fire. Tiny and Mooj have gone alarmingly backwards. Anyway the debate in my head got me to the comfort and warmth of the Foundry which was empty. Don’t think I had ever seen such an empty pub prior to a Saints match. Saracens were represented by a single fan – no camels, no mass meet ups and march to the ground – this was the LV Cup at its finest. Without a Match Preview ( was this a first? ) the following comments probably summarised the mood in the camp before the game
“It is now ingrained in the mentality of each club that this is a game that matters. – Tom Vickers”
“Will Hooley. Didn't see that one coming. Great chance for the lad to step up and show his stuff.”
“I don't think anyone predicted that line-up”
“A team picked to give fringe players game time , but also a team picked to win and give us a home semi.”
“Anyone who predicted Will Hooley to start with Myler on the bench needs to make sure they've bought a lottery ticket for tonight!”
“Watch that back row go!!!”
“On paper at least, Saints seem to have more of a 1st team flavour in the starting XV than Sarries. We do however have some serious grunt on the bench.”
And so, armed with my Junior Reporters Kit which I had picked up from the Pound Shop I headed to the ground. Whoever we are playing I always pop into Heroes to say hello to those who are no longer with us - on this occasion I could not believe my eyes. Someone had stolen all the tables! People still sat in circles, with glasses and food placed on ‘imaginary’ tables. The removal of the tables is obviously a major part of the current cost cutting exercises to pay for George North and so this intrepid reporter wasn’t too upset. Having said hello to fellow COYS members I headed to my seat and awaited the arrival of the teams – armed with a pencil (HB) I started to scribble a few notes..
The Saints pack started well, as usual and on the 14 minutes mark the ever effective Fotuali’l combined with Elliot and Manoa on the blindside where a mighty overlap appeared leaving debutant Hooley and Pisi to combine leaving Wilson a simple stroll to the line. Rumours floating around the Tetley’s stand suggest that Wilson will be off at the end of the season, this would be a huge loss if true.
Once again, a referee deemed it irrelevant to police the law which states that the scrum half has to throw the ball in straight and as the stadium clock showed 26 minutes, Saracens won a scrum and Saints were penalised, yet again. Spencer scored the 3 for Saracens
The game meandered on, a large crowd and yet no real atmosphere to report on – the occasional WENDY broke the silence and the ever vocal St Ian’s voice echoed around the stadium. With about ten minutes of the half remaining curiosity got the better of me and I headed to the comfort of the Tetley’s bar to check the progress of the Wales v Italy Game. What a contrast, the Welsh were playing a brand of rugby yet to be seen, props and back rowers passing off any hand, balls being off loaded in the tackle with ease and confidence, George North rampant all over the field. Apologies, the long stay in the Foundry pre match might have given me Eifitis – this match was pretty dire as well but the warmth was welcoming. When I was away from my seat it appears that Saracens scored a try following Fotuali’l s yellow card – a somewhat contentious decision I was told as I scribbled in my official match reporters note book.
The game desperately needed an injection of passion and on 51 minutes the crowd were rewarded with the site of Manoa charging through the Saracens defence to reach the whitewash. Young Hooleys conversion attempt looked perfect and I had started to write his success in my note book before the wind drove the ball wide of the uprights. The C Block National Choir soon belted out the ever popular “ Oh, Samu Maoa “ whilst the ageing population around me decided to sing the greatest hits from Paint Your Wagon (They Call the Wind Maria.. in reference to Hooleys attempt)
Young Nutley having a great game won yet another turn over and moments later Saracens decided to come over the top of a ruck leaving the ever vocal Doyle to award the Saints a penalty. I, along with others shout to go for the corner but the youngster as cool as you like slots the ball between the posts and extended the Saints score to 15 – 10. This five point gap didn’t last long and Doyle awarded the aggressive Saracens defence with a penalty – despite the Saints pocession and firepower, the gap was just two points.
Its fair to say that Mr Doyle wasn’t having one of his finest games, the ever growing cries of “ You Don’t Know What You’re Doing” soon could be heard around the arctic Franklins Gardens when young Elliot was judged to have tackled a player without the ball, Mr Doyle and his touch judges failed to see the blatant obstruction. The penalty was awarded to Saracens and the accuracy of Spencer’s boot gave the visitors a slender lead with about ten minutes or so remaining. Substitutions had already started to happen and acute frost bite prevented me from recording them all apart from the appearance of Ross Macmillan – who couldn’t notice the presence of a giant on the field. Yet another Saints attack saw the powerhouse that is Manoa stride for the line after a clever Stephen Myler break who had come on from Hooley. Had the TV cameras been at the ground I would have included footage of Mylers conversion attempt which would have gone viral on YouTube.
By now, the faithful England supporters had started to make their way home leaving large gaps in the Franklins gardens stands. The job had been done and Saracens had been beaten with a Home semi-final tie against… Saracens the reward. This was an entertaining game and one I was glad to have attended. Mr Manoa richly deserved his Man of the Match award, young Hooley did a good job and Saracens with probably a weaker squad on show highlighted the depth they have and the overall intensity of their game. March will be a fascinating encounter.
There were many comments post match with Alan Dickens offering what most had said:-
"The boys stayed in control, with players like Will, Kahn Fotuali'i, Mike Haywood and GJ Van Velze, all doing the talking on the pitch and coming up with the answers," Alan Dickens
"The scrum gave us the foothold to get into their half and put us in the positions to have an attacking platform." – Alan Dickens, Saints coach
all of them here:
How the Teams Lined Up
Northampton Saints Line Up
15 James WILSON
14 Jamie ELLIOTT
13 George PISI
12 Dom WALDOUCK
11 Ken PISI
10 Will HOOLEY
9 Kahn FOTUALI’I
1 Ethan WALLER
2 Mike HAYWOOD
3 Gareth DENMAN
4 Rob VERBAKEL
5 Samu MANOA
6 Teimana HARRISON
7 Ben NUTLEY
8 GJ VAN VELZE (capt)
16 Ross MCMILLAN 17
Tom WARREN
18 Adam PARKINS
Christian DAY
20 Matt WILLIAMS
21 Alex DAY
22 Stephen MYLER
23 Fa’atoina AUTAGAVAIA
Saracens Line UP
15 Ben Ransom
14 Jack Wilson
13 Tim Streather
12 Marcelo Bosch
11 Michael Tagicakibau
10 Nils Mordt (capt)
9 Ben Spencer
1.Rhys Gill
2 Jared Saunders
3 Petrus Du Plessi
4 Hayden Smith
5 Eoin Sheriff
6 Nick de Jager
7 Matt Hankin
8 Justin Melck.
16 Scott Spurling
17 Richard Barrington
18 Matt Stevens
9 Mouritz Botha
20 Jacques Burger
21 Jack Maplesden
22 Sam Stanley 23
Tom Jubb.
Northampton Saints 20-16 Saracens
For Northampton:
Tries: Wilson, Manoa 2
Con: Hooley
Pens: Hooley
Yellow card: Fotuali'i
For Saracens:
Try: Spencer
Con: Spencer
Pens: Spencer
Referee: JP Doyle (England) Assistant referees: Peter Huckle (England), Simon Mcconnell (England) Timekeeper: Roy Marfleet (England)
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David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
My measure of cold is when I start to put extras layers on my hands. I had my fingerless gloves on yesterday and I didn't really need them.
Yesterday was a lovely day - I think David and Rob, you need some more layers!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:02:02:10:07:41 by ClaireJ.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
...so that's my 15 minutes of fame then
A good read throughout Mr L; nice one.
Quote:saintian
"....and the ever vocal St Ian’s voice echoed around the stadium...."
...so that's my 15 minutes of fame then
A good read throughout Mr L; nice one.
...and saintian said to Lammy..
Once a scrum half .... always a scrum half