Ospreys 22 - Saints 32

This always had the potential to be an interesting match.  Ospreys put out a fairly junior team (with a lot of players still in New Zealand or making their way back after a fairly successful World Cup for Wales - as an aside, how do Wales get to the 3rd/4th play-off and still go down in the world rankings, something wrong there) while the Saints had their World Cup players integrating back into the team.  One of those matches that is always threatening an upset. 

Looking at the result you could think that it was closer than, in many ways, it was.  Saints got the bonus point for 4 tries.  Ospreys only got one try, the rest of the points came from the boot of Matthew Morgan (rightfully MOM), and that was despite playing for 20 minutes with only 14 men after the ref gave two yellow cards.  But while the Saints showed their experience in holding the game and correcting early errors, the Ospreys youngsters should be proud of a fantastic effort

The first half was an untidy affair from the Saints.  A lot of errors, handling was rusty and penalties given.  Typical integration team, the world cup players not really sre of the new members of the team and calls not fully understood.  The first try came from Vasily, making 4 tries in two matches, after a nice pass from Lamby found Fodes who then put Vasily over unopposed.  For a while everything bogged down into a rough and slightly bad tempered game and the half time score was 19-10 to the Ospreys.  Saints fans where left wondering what was going to happen, the Saints looked dominant but weren't getting the points on the board whereas the Ospreys were keeping it all ticking over, helped by their one try just before half time coming from an intercept by Sonny Parker of a Vasily pass.

Jim Mallinder clearly gave the guys a bit of a talking to.  They came out looking determined, if not happy.  But they put the ill-discipline to the side and tightened up on all aspects.  Starved of penalty opportunities then the Ospreys were always going to struggle.  But even after Dylan collected the next two tries during the first fifteen minutes of the second half, he still didn't break a smile, clearly this wasn't enough in his mind and more was needed.  And sure enough, a few minutes after that Callum Clark collected a wonderfully weighted cross kick from Lamby to go over, with other men spare.  19 unanswered points and the Saints looked done and dusted.  A penalty each for the teams didn't affect the final score greatly and the Ospreys were unlucky to leave without a bonus point after a good display.

Match Details

• Half Time 19-10
• Attendance 4,463
• Referee Neil Hennessy 

Ospreys

No.	Name	T	C	D	P
15	Ross Jones
14	Tom Prydie
13	Ben John
12	Sonny Parker	1T
11	Eli Walker
10	Matthew Morgan		1C		5P
9	Tom Habberfield
1	Cai Griffiths
2	Scott Baldwin
3	Aaron Jarvis
4	Tom Smith
5	Ian Evans
6	James King
7	Sam Lewis
8	Morgan Allen
16	Mefin Davies
17	Joe Rees
18	Duncan Jones
19	Richard Kelly
20	Chauncey O'Toole
21	Tom Grabham
22	Will Price
23	Kristian Phillips

Northampton Saints

No.	Name	T	C	D	P
15	Ben Foden
14	Chris Ashton
13	Scott Armstrong
12	James Downey
11	Vasily Artemyev	1T
10	Ryan Lamb		3C		1P
9	Lee Dickson
1	Soane Tongauiha
2	Dylan Hartley	2T
3	Paul Doran-Jones
4	Courtney Lawes
5	Mark Sorenson
6	Calum Clark	1T
7	Tom Wood
8	Roger Wilson
16	Mike Haywood
17	Alex Waller
18	Tom Mercey
19	Samu Manoa
20	Phil Dowson
21	Martin Roberts
22	Stephen Myler				1P
23	Jon Clarke

Saints 36 - Sarries 6

Over the last couple of years the Sarries have become a bit of a bogey team for the Saints. There are several reasons behind it - some of the support is more football like than rugby, the Tiny incident, the fact that they keep beating us (!). Anyway, having finally got a win last week this was theoretically not the match that we now needed. Yes, it's LV Cup so not the full first choice Sarries, but it isn't our top team either. Some interesting choices in the team though - Vasily Artemyev making his debut, Jamie Elliott finally back from injury, Tom Wood back from the World Cup, Sarge back from injury. And on the bench Dylan, Courtney, Tiny, Cesare.

It turns into a dream start for Vasily (now nicknamed Vaseline for his ability to slip through) and he has a try within minutes of the whistle. Like last week the team are showing signs of playing and running. A second try for Vaseline before half time and he has won over the fans. Sarries putting on pressure but other than two penalties they can't follow through.

The second half continues well. Vaseline gets his third try, a hattrick on his debut, how's that to light the rugby world, and Jamie Elliott gets a brace. When the Saints run then hey are fun and dangerous. When they go back to a kicking game then it becomes less dominant and some worrying moments. When the Saints play well though it is a great game, audacious off loads which don't always go to hand but you can forgive for the vision. And without the ones that don't go to hand then those that do wouldn't happen either and we wouldn't have 5 tries. It's worth mentioning the last try, a beautifully weighted chip from Smyler going into Elliotts hands for him to dive over after a sprint for the line.

Saints 33 - Chiefs 3

The two teams came into this match from opposite sides of the spectrum.  The Chiefs have got their season off to a flying start whilst the Saints have been struggling (to say the least).  Having beaten the Tigers at home the Chiefs must have fancied their chances.

So at kick off to see the Saints collect the ball and then run rather than kick for clearence had many of us with our hearts in our mouths.  Any moment we were waiting for the whistle to blow as ill-discipline has been a big part of our downfall.  But when the whistle did blow it was a for a try, scored by Downey, and the Saints were off to a flyer. 

The score board at the end was misleading.  In fact the Chiefs had the majority of the possession and spent a lot of time in the Saints half and even on the try line.  But resilient defence and a refusal to infringe meant that the Chiefs couldn't find the gap that they wanted.  

It's hard to say what made the difference, and it is only one game.  Personally I hold to the line that it is the return of Dicko.  I beleive we saw the same efect last season.  I beleive that Dicko keeps them on the straight and narrow while organising the defences to withstand the hordes.  Others will say it was Ryan Lamb (MoM) running the ball and creating openings.  Whatever the reason, this was the team that we expect to see and there were smiles all around at the end.

Massive credit to Mike Haywood, a youngster catapulted into playing as the starting hooker with Dyln in Ne Zealand and both Sharman and Long injured.  Hooker is a tough position to play and normally age is needed to get wise. Mikey played fantastically and earned the respect of players and fans alike.  Also Samu Manoa deserves a mention - another great game and he is learning each time he pulls on the shirt, he deserves a starting place in the future.

Warriors 12 - Saints 3

It doesn't get better. Worcester fighting to get off the bottom of the league show more determination and more nouse than the Saints. The pre-season warm ups and signings seems to have all been for nothing, confidence is shaky and errors high. Not an inspiring team to watch. How we go from Heineken finalists to resting at the low end of the table is anyone's guess.