Northampton 34 - Nottingham 23

A "friendly" and our first game of the season as we weren't able to get to the others.  Plus our first chance to try out our season ticket seats.  By the end of the first half I was thinking that the seats were probably about the best thing we were going to see.  It was a difficult start, and at one point we were 20:0 down.  However they went in at half time with a try, and it seemed likely that Jim was going to give them a proper talking to.  And he must of done because they came back out with a different attitude.  Andy Long especially was suddenly everywhere, as though he'd just woken up.  Within 5 minutes the Saints had two tries and things just looked different.

To be fair, the Saints team was made up of a lot of the newcomers and some academy lads (junior as well as senior) so they were finding their feet.  And Nottingham definitely came to win a match.  Their scrum was all over ours in the beginning.  Special mentions go to Joe Ford, excellent with the boot and a real contender for the No.10 shirt; Matt Cornwell, brought speed and variety into the attack; Charlie Sadler, wow can that boy shift; and Mark Easter for leading the team from the front.  There may have been others, but they didn't have their names on the shirts and I haven't worked out who they all are yet!

Scorers
Saints - Tries: Jamie Elliott, Charlie Sadler (2), Matt Cornwell, Richard Lane. Con: Ford (3). Pens: Ford
Nottingham - Tries: Tom Youngs, Cesar Sempere. Con: Arlidge (2).  Pens: Arlidge (2)

Sixes and Sevens

Friday night saw the inaugural J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens Series reach Franklins Gardens.  The aim has been to get all the premiership teams playing sevens, partly to bring a bit of rugby to the summer and partly to give the younger squad members a chance to play.  This was the third of the play-offs.

I enjoy Sevens, always have done, it's fast and showcases some different skills to normal rugby.  The amount of open space allows for some wonderful breaks, and generally provides fun rugby.  So I was looking forward to this, and bought tickets almost as soon as it was promoted.  And it was going to be a good opportunity to practice "Oh When The Saints...." before the season kicks off for real.

The Saints aren't known for their Sevens skills however, despite having a few players in the England Sevens squad.  Leicester had struggled the week before at their hosted evening and there was more than an off-chance that we might replicate this.  Our fears were to prove unfounded.    The Saints won their first game against Gloucester 17-12.  They then had a break before the next match against Bath, which was another victory, 19-7.  The last match of the evening was Saints vs Exeter, and at this point neither team had lost a match so it was a real show-down.  Going in to the match the Chiefs were one point ahead, on 9, as a result of a bonus pioint for four tries in a match against Bath.  Unfortunately for the Chiefs one of their team was red carded right at the beginning of the final game, taking them down to six men.  The Saints being what they are, they didn't really manage to capitalise on the numbers advantage to the degree that they should and there were some worrying moments.  But they managed to come through in the end, winning 17-12 and heading the table to book their place in the final next Friday.

Special mention must go to the Exeter Chiefs.  They have only just come up into the premiership, but if they play like this all season then they are going to have some fantastic rugby.