Round Up - BAD

I realise I haven't done an update of the last matches.  To be honest my heart wasn't in it.  It wasn't just the fact we were losing, I'm not a fair weather fan, but the manner in which we were losing.  The spirit seems to have gone out of the team.  Can't help but wonder if that is a lack of Fodes, Flash and Dicko, the true clowns of the Saints.  Without them buoying up the lads then the heads seem to have gone down.  From a team that before Christmas didn't believe it could lose, we now seem to be watching a group who don't believe that they can win.  Even when they did get ahead yesterday they didn't grasp the opportunity. 

5 premiership losses in a row.  Bad days.

a dissopointing leave

A few weeks ago Joe Ansbro sighned a contract for Londen Irish. It is very dissopointing and it wont feel right playing against him. He will be first choice for the them and thats what he deserves but Jim has two other good people to chose from and this has always limited Joes game time for the Saints. He will be missed alot but hopefully Jim has a plan to bring in some more centres. It's been great having him as a player and seeing him improve and he even got into scotland. It would be very good if he enjoys Londen Irish, but we are not as conserned about him going as we would be because this season we have got alot of new players that have alot to live up to.

Saints 38 Leeds 23

Well I said that the first ten minutes would be important. Saints scored a try ten minutes in and then got rolling. Flatmates Tonks and Commins both scores tried so that gives them something to talk about tonight!
Leeds will be bitterly disappointed to throw that away. They get a bonus point for 4 tries, but not enough.

Mixed feelings coming away from this game.  Certainly if we let the Sarries get this far ahead next week then it is unlikely we will be given an opportunity to get back in.  But a lot of credit to the team for not letting their heads drop and to show this much resilience.

Defence was poorer than we normally expect from the Saints.  Exactly why is unclear.  TinTin does struggle and bounces off a lot of tackles rather than holding his man, and then we seemed to be leaving gaps that aren't normally there.  Just not tight enough.  The attaking game was better though for the first half lacking penetration.  Not least because of unforced errors at vital times.  Sometimes it is as thought they try too hard, and by trying to force it then they slip.

Scores:
Saints - Tries: TinTin, Brett, Tonks, Piggy, Sarge, Commins; Cons: TinTin, Brooce (3);
Leeds - Tries: Tincknell, Craig, Fourie, Rowan; Cons: Thomas (2)

Saints 12 Leeds 19

Not a half-time score I was expecting to see. Saints not firing properly and squandered some chances. But more importantly the Saints defence is leaving holes for Leeds to come through. And this week we don't have a Wanderers team out. A number of our first choice players who should be doing better than this. Can Jim turn them around now and fire them up. The first 10 minutes of the second half will be crucial.

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Wales vs England

Four Saints players starting for England. Thus leaves me somewhat split. I support Wales but I want the Saints players to do well. This means that the pain of final score is numbed by the pleasure of seeing Flash score two tries.

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London Irish vs Saints

An interesting game this one. As a result of International and Saxons duties the Saints were severely depleted. Even those that weren't committed elsewhere were being rested so this was effectively a Wanderers team. In fact two of the bench are normally on loan to Cambridge.

Despite this they put on a good show and at times had London Irish worried. They probably showed more running rugby but were unable to break through a resilient Not-Not defence.

A loss but a good run out for the youngsters, some of whom showed promise for the future.

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