Rather late posting about this one. Wasn't able to go and see it as we were camping with friends. Not sure that following the match on the iPhone was particularly sociable and I think they got fed up of me going on about the Saints winning for the rest of the evening. Never mind.
A strange match, which became evident once I saw the recording. In the first half the statistics were all against the Saints. Quine dominated in our territory but just couldn't nail the points. The few times we went into their half then we made it count. Half time score of 3:13. It looked as though the Saints just needed to step on the gas and would be clear. Instead they lost the pedal altogether. Quins came out fighting for the second half and suddenly the game turned. They were in the ascendency. It started to look worrying. After so many years it seemed as though we might have another without a win at the Stoop. It fell to the captain to steady the ship and Dylan went over for a well worked try.
Another tense match for Saints fans. But puts us second in the table, just below Bath, who we have next.
Scorers
Saints - Tries: Flash, Rabbit. Con: TinTin (2). Pens: TinTin (2)
Quins - Tries: Lowe. Con: Evans. Pens: Evans (3)
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Friday, 10 September 2010
Saints vs Quins Preview
Tomorrow is the Saints vs Quins. Jerry Guscott has us as winning by more than 7 points. But that is what they expected last year. And, to be brutal about it, the Quins hammered us.
We don't have a particularly good record at The Stoop. In fact we haven't won a league match there in three years. Will this team do it:
15 Ben Foden
14 Chris Ashton
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Bruce Reihana
10 Shane Geraghty
9 Lee Dickson
1 Soane Tonga'uiha
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Brian Mujati
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Christian Day
6 Phil Dowson
7 Tom Wood
8 Roger Wilson
Replacements
16 Brett Sharman
17 Regardt Dreyer
18 Euan Murray
19 Calum Clark
20 Mark Easter
21 Stuart Commins
22 Stephen Myler
23 Joe Ansbro
There might be some question over Smyler not starting but being on the bench. Based purely on last weeks match this might be a harsh decision. But the last time I saw Smyler kick as badly as he did on Sunday was at this match last year. To put him on as first choice would place an incredible weight on his shoulders, two bogeys to bare. So on the bench to come on later makes a lot of sense. And maybe this is the kind of match made for TinTin - confuse the opposition, don't let them predict what will happen.
Looking at the bench as a whole we appear light on backs. Certainly Joe is flexible and can do the job at both centre and wing. But what do we do if we get an injury. Maybe Jim is thinking he can put Tiny out on the wing if necessary :-)
We don't have a particularly good record at The Stoop. In fact we haven't won a league match there in three years. Will this team do it:
15 Ben Foden
14 Chris Ashton
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Bruce Reihana
10 Shane Geraghty
9 Lee Dickson
1 Soane Tonga'uiha
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Brian Mujati
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Christian Day
6 Phil Dowson
7 Tom Wood
8 Roger Wilson
Replacements
16 Brett Sharman
17 Regardt Dreyer
18 Euan Murray
19 Calum Clark
20 Mark Easter
21 Stuart Commins
22 Stephen Myler
23 Joe Ansbro
There might be some question over Smyler not starting but being on the bench. Based purely on last weeks match this might be a harsh decision. But the last time I saw Smyler kick as badly as he did on Sunday was at this match last year. To put him on as first choice would place an incredible weight on his shoulders, two bogeys to bare. So on the bench to come on later makes a lot of sense. And maybe this is the kind of match made for TinTin - confuse the opposition, don't let them predict what will happen.
Looking at the bench as a whole we appear light on backs. Certainly Joe is flexible and can do the job at both centre and wing. But what do we do if we get an injury. Maybe Jim is thinking he can put Tiny out on the wing if necessary :-)
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Saints 27 - Tigers 19
That was an intense match. Just what you would expect from the first match of the season and a local derby to boot.
Some incredible moments. Tiny scoring two tries within the first 7 minutes. This is a prop who has the heart of a wing. Clarke making a try saving tackle, turning his man and holding him up even when they were both over the line. Tom Wood showing immense presence at the line-out. The Sarge driving through the Leicester forwards almost at will. Some beautiful breaks by Fodes and Brooce.
Some less good moments. Smylers kicking was terrible. He forgot to turn up. Then started trying too hard and it really went into melt down. Luckily the Tigers had a bad day kicking as well otherwise things might have been very different.
We come away with 4 points. And we prevented the Tigers getting any. If you had asked me yesterday I would have said that I would take that as a result. In fact I feel robbed. We should have got the fourth try and the bonus. However the Tigers put in an incredible number of tackles. Their defence was almost like a rock. Maybe not too surprising that we didn't get through more. But a match well aorth the money and making me glad I bought season tickets.
Scorers
Saints - Tries: Tiny (2), Mooj. Con: Smyler (2), TinTin. Pens: Smyler, TinTin
Tigers - Tries: Tuilagi, Hamilton (2). Con: Flood, Staunton. Pens:
Some incredible moments. Tiny scoring two tries within the first 7 minutes. This is a prop who has the heart of a wing. Clarke making a try saving tackle, turning his man and holding him up even when they were both over the line. Tom Wood showing immense presence at the line-out. The Sarge driving through the Leicester forwards almost at will. Some beautiful breaks by Fodes and Brooce.
Some less good moments. Smylers kicking was terrible. He forgot to turn up. Then started trying too hard and it really went into melt down. Luckily the Tigers had a bad day kicking as well otherwise things might have been very different.
We come away with 4 points. And we prevented the Tigers getting any. If you had asked me yesterday I would have said that I would take that as a result. In fact I feel robbed. We should have got the fourth try and the bonus. However the Tigers put in an incredible number of tackles. Their defence was almost like a rock. Maybe not too surprising that we didn't get through more. But a match well aorth the money and making me glad I bought season tickets.
Scorers
Saints - Tries: Tiny (2), Mooj. Con: Smyler (2), TinTin. Pens: Smyler, TinTin
Tigers - Tries: Tuilagi, Hamilton (2). Con: Flood, Staunton. Pens:
Saints vs Tiggers
Count down. Only a few hours to go and the first "real" match of the season. Getting the bikes ready so we can cycle there (strangely hardly use the bikes during the summer, they are mainly for cycling to Saints matches).
Nerves are kicking in. I can feel the butterflies. It's already been an interesting weekend - Exeter beating Gloucester, London Irish beating Sarries. And now we have the big one, one of the biggest local derbies going. Time to see how the new players gel into the team. Time to see if Draco is going to be playing at centre this season. Will Flash beat his try record? Can we get bonus points in our matches?
Here we go, Come On You Saints!
Nerves are kicking in. I can feel the butterflies. It's already been an interesting weekend - Exeter beating Gloucester, London Irish beating Sarries. And now we have the big one, one of the biggest local derbies going. Time to see how the new players gel into the team. Time to see if Draco is going to be playing at centre this season. Will Flash beat his try record? Can we get bonus points in our matches?
Here we go, Come On You Saints!
Monday, 23 August 2010
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)
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)
Sunday, 1 August 2010
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.
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.
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