We haven't made as many away matches this year. Couple of reasons behind that. But when we saw the New Year game was at the Falcons, and with the thought that they are looking likely for relegation so this might be a limited opportunity to visit their ground, it seemed that a trip was needed. We did have a minor problem when they changed the date from New Years Day to New Years Eve, but I sweet talked the hotel to changing the nigh of our booking (and also got upgraded, thank you Novotel). We drove up and arrived in good time, giving us a chance to pop into the club shop and buy our pin badges then go on to a local pub (Two Farms) which served very good food, good beer, and had good company of a mixture of both Falcons and Saints supporters. Then to the match.
The first half was error strewn by the Saints. Despite opening the scoring with a try in the 9th minute, scored by Fodes touching down a loveley grubber kick from Easy, the Saints continued to make heavy going. Especially when they let the falcons in for a try. At half time it still felt that it could go either way. Then when Jimmy Gopperth kicked over another penalty I was seriously concerned. However the next score came from Fodes, this time after a grubber kick from Lamby. The Saints heads were up and they pushed on. Literally, with Tiny being driven over for the next try. Three tries in and the Saints were now looking comfortable.
Tom May wrapped up the bonus point with the fourth try within a minute of coming on, finally capitalising on some nice work between Fodes and Vaseline. He got some stick from the Falcons crowd, and not all of it good natured, surprising when considering all that he did for the club. He was genuinely upset but I am pleased to say many supporters have apologised to him.
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Saints 22 - Bath 13
The Saints continue to be a confusing mix of moments of brilliance surrounded by mistakes. And this was the second game where we scored three tries in the first half and then failed to score another to get the bonus point. A win is a win as they say, but a bonus point may be critical at the end of the season with so many teams clumped together in the middle of the table.
It wasn't as though the opportunities for a fourth try didn't exist. The most glaring being a fantastic break and run by James Downey. With both Fodes and Jamie Elliott outside him, Downey was clearly confused by the wide open spaces in front of him. He is a crash ball man, he isn't used to having to pass. And so he didn't. A clear overlap and guaranteed try was swallowed up by a tackle and the ball was lost.
Going down to 13 men didn't help either. Another match where the ref had a big impact, with four yellow cards being given, first off were two to Bath - during the first one the Saints actually managed to get 10 points, somewhat unusual for the Saints managing to capitalise on a man advantage - and then two in quick succession against the Saints meaning that for about 9 minutes we only had two men on the pitch. The Saints defence during this stage was incredible, and a large part of the time was actually spent camped on the Bath try line.
Pisi was a derserving man of the match. Once again he showed a great sidestep, after catching a neat chip from Lamby, to open up the Bath defence and a deft offload to Woody saw the number 7 go in for a straight forward try. In addition, Easy's defence was a rock, with some immense tackles put in. Put Easy and Courtney on the pitch at the same time and the opposition know that they are going to be hammered.
It was good to see both Sarge and Dowse back - injury and suspension respectively - and they showed that they were hungry to make an impact. Vaseline again had a solid game, catching high ball, tackling, and showing some wonderful footwork from a standing start to evade a number of Bath players and creat the first try.
The failure to score the try in the second try wasn't only down to the Saints. Bath changed their game plan when they highlighted how the Saints were getting through. Before half time the chips from Lamby were finding gaps and turning the Bath defence on its heels, effectively breaking them down. The gaps were closed in the second half but Lamby continued attempting the chips, there was no obvious plan B to turn to.
The Saints are sometimes guilty of trying too hard and trying to be too clever. Rather than stick to the basics they start to throw te ball around with adventurous offlods. When they come true then they are great, and they are what makes the team exciting to watch. However there are times where it would be better to bring it down a notch and keep working the phases. The skills are there, the ability is there, the mental position is possibly lacking at the moment. the team seem to freeze at times, and it is especially oticeable in big games or when the fourth try is up for grabs.
When all is said and done though, a win was a great early Christmas present.
It wasn't as though the opportunities for a fourth try didn't exist. The most glaring being a fantastic break and run by James Downey. With both Fodes and Jamie Elliott outside him, Downey was clearly confused by the wide open spaces in front of him. He is a crash ball man, he isn't used to having to pass. And so he didn't. A clear overlap and guaranteed try was swallowed up by a tackle and the ball was lost.
Going down to 13 men didn't help either. Another match where the ref had a big impact, with four yellow cards being given, first off were two to Bath - during the first one the Saints actually managed to get 10 points, somewhat unusual for the Saints managing to capitalise on a man advantage - and then two in quick succession against the Saints meaning that for about 9 minutes we only had two men on the pitch. The Saints defence during this stage was incredible, and a large part of the time was actually spent camped on the Bath try line.
Pisi was a derserving man of the match. Once again he showed a great sidestep, after catching a neat chip from Lamby, to open up the Bath defence and a deft offload to Woody saw the number 7 go in for a straight forward try. In addition, Easy's defence was a rock, with some immense tackles put in. Put Easy and Courtney on the pitch at the same time and the opposition know that they are going to be hammered.
It was good to see both Sarge and Dowse back - injury and suspension respectively - and they showed that they were hungry to make an impact. Vaseline again had a solid game, catching high ball, tackling, and showing some wonderful footwork from a standing start to evade a number of Bath players and creat the first try.
The failure to score the try in the second try wasn't only down to the Saints. Bath changed their game plan when they highlighted how the Saints were getting through. Before half time the chips from Lamby were finding gaps and turning the Bath defence on its heels, effectively breaking them down. The gaps were closed in the second half but Lamby continued attempting the chips, there was no obvious plan B to turn to.
The Saints are sometimes guilty of trying too hard and trying to be too clever. Rather than stick to the basics they start to throw te ball around with adventurous offlods. When they come true then they are great, and they are what makes the team exciting to watch. However there are times where it would be better to bring it down a notch and keep working the phases. The skills are there, the ability is there, the mental position is possibly lacking at the moment. the team seem to freeze at times, and it is especially oticeable in big games or when the fourth try is up for grabs.
When all is said and done though, a win was a great early Christmas present.
Match Details
- Half Time 22-3
- Attendance 13,475
- Referee David Rose
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Castres 41 - Saints 22
The misery continued with this match. While the new players stood up to be counted, the older ones had some major issues. It's looking as though the World Cup is still taking its toll as mentally some of the players seem completely shot. And its hard to understand how a team can score four tries for the bonus and still lose.
I'm afraid this one will ahve to go in the "least said soonest mended" category. I can't face a write up.
I'm afraid this one will ahve to go in the "least said soonest mended" category. I can't face a write up.
Try
Malonga
2
Conversion
Teulet
3
Penalty
Teulet
17
Penalty
Teulet
30
Penalty
Teulet
34
Try
Martial
40
Conversion
Teulet
40 +1
Penalty
Teulet
48
Penalty
Teulet
63
Try
Martial
68
Conversion
Teulet
69
Try
Diarra
77
Try
M Sorenson
9
Conversion
S Myler
10
Try
Elliott
31
Try
Elliott
44
Try
S Manoa
55
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Tigers 30 - Saints 25
This was a strangely unenjoyable match, despite the close score line. Having Barnes as ref after last years debacle may not have been the best decision in the world, and it soon came home to roost. Quarter of an hour into the match Flash tackled Tuilagi and then tried to pull him into touch. This has become a bit of a thing with Flash, pulling players out, but in this case he grabbed hold of Tuilagis hair. This was probably not sportsmanslike (and later lead to a 4 week ban after he was cited) but, importantly, lead to a full scale brawl which saw Tuilagi and Wood both red carded. What was a potentially exciting match was again spoilt by a ref. In the words of Max Boyce, "it cast a gloom over the whole proceedings".
The game itself seesawed to and fro. At half time it was 15-6 to the Tigers. One of the Tigers tries came from Matt Smith, tackled by Flash well before the line he just kept going and grounded the ball. This possibly showed up a flaw in Flashes tackling technique as really he should never have got there. Second half saw the Saints come back though and with three fine tries they looked set. 5 minutes before the end more controversy however, as Agulla set off on a run, Murphy (who had appeared injured) got up and took out Fodes from behind. Agulla was left unimpeded and scored for the Tigers to take the lead back, and so it ended.
Attendance 24,000
Referee Wayne Barnes
The game itself seesawed to and fro. At half time it was 15-6 to the Tigers. One of the Tigers tries came from Matt Smith, tackled by Flash well before the line he just kept going and grounded the ball. This possibly showed up a flaw in Flashes tackling technique as really he should never have got there. Second half saw the Saints come back though and with three fine tries they looked set. 5 minutes before the end more controversy however, as Agulla set off on a run, Murphy (who had appeared injured) got up and took out Fodes from behind. Agulla was left unimpeded and scored for the Tigers to take the lead back, and so it ended.
Penalty
Flood
11
Try
M Smith
20
Try
S Mafi
32
Conversion
Flood
33
Penalty
Flood
42
Try
Youngs
59
Try
Agulla
75
Conversion
Flood
77
Penalty
R Lamb
4
Penalty
R Lamb
35
Try
Ashton
44
Try
T May
63
Conversion
S Myler
63
Try
P Dowson
65
Conversion
S Myler
66
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