This was always promising to be a big match, especially after the previous week, but we had no idea of exactly how much of an epic it was all to become.
My parents are Blues season ticket holders. They had managed to get us tickets in the Executive Lounge at the Blues. And we were going to stay with them for a couple of nights as we weren't going to see them on Christmas Day.
48 hours before the match heavy snows hit the UK. Wales went under early on and suddenly the match was in doubt. Not only was the ground under a thick blanket but also the approached were also treachorous. Even if the match were to go ahead would we be able to make it? No news on Friday. Saturday comes, the football is cancelled but the rugby sites still not updated. We wait. Finally, about 1500hrs they announce that the game is still on. But now it has started snowing in Northampton. Can we make the drive to Wales. Should we wait until the Sunday morning rather than drive in the dark. Much beating of chest but finally I decide we have to give it a go. We set off, half expecting to have to turn back. Initially we try avoiding the motorways as these are gridlocked by all accounts. We reach Leamington, it gets interesting. Roads are covered in snow. As we go over the M40 it looks clear. Change of plan and we get on the motorway. Shortly we see signs telling of congestion. So off we come again and head down towards Evesham. Luckily it is downhill as the snow here is really thick and the car probably couldn't make it up hill. We reach Wales. We reach Newport. We come off the motorway and we get to the small valley village where my parents live. And then I make the mistake of coming off the main road to get to their house. We get to within 500 feet and then get stuck! Ah well, walking distance at least.
With both cars now stuck, getting to the game the next day looked doubtful. Then someone had the brainwave of a taxi. Initially the idea was that we would share the cost. Soon it changed into a bet, winner pays.
The game itself was brutal. There were scores to settles from last week, and the Blues came out completely fired up. No dominance of the line-out by the Saints this time and even the scrum was pushed back on a few occassions. For most of the game the Blues looked in charge. But Smylers boot kept the Saints in touch. All it needed was a little something to change the game.
The turning point was when Xavier Rush put in a high tackle on Long Arm. It was judged dangerous by the ref and a red card appeared out of his pocket. Rush was off and the Blues had 20 minutes more to play. While the Saints didn't capitalise as well as they should, it was enough. A rather strange try by Callum Clark (at least he got the plaudits although not convinced it wasn't Rabbit) saw the Saints ahead. Despite the last 5 minutes with the Blues camped on our try line, once we had the lead we weren't going to give it up easily, and we just scraped through.
Back to the bet. I spent most of the match thinking I was getting a free ride. In the end I had to shell out the £40. And rarely have I felt £40 so well spent!
Scorers
Saints - Try: Callum Clark; Pens: Smyler (6)
Blues - Try: Mustoe; Cons: Parks; DG: Parks; Pens: Parks (3)
Sunday, 19 December 2010
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Two Extend Contract
Mooj and Brett have extended their contracts with the Saints, much to the joy of the supporters.
Brett has come on well this season, especially while Rabbit has been off playing for England. His throw-ins still need work, but he has turned into a fast hooker, not afraid to run with the ball.
However Mooj has really become one of the beloved. I sometimes wonder what travelling supporters think because it is easy to misunderstand what we shout. Although we are all going "moo" for the Mooj, it can sound like boo. Fortunately Mooj knows what it is, and he is one of those players who will always wave to the crowd as he leaves the pitch. A small gesture, but massively appreciated.
Brett has come on well this season, especially while Rabbit has been off playing for England. His throw-ins still need work, but he has turned into a fast hooker, not afraid to run with the ball.
However Mooj has really become one of the beloved. I sometimes wonder what travelling supporters think because it is easy to misunderstand what we shout. Although we are all going "moo" for the Mooj, it can sound like boo. Fortunately Mooj knows what it is, and he is one of those players who will always wave to the crowd as he leaves the pitch. A small gesture, but massively appreciated.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Venter Interview
Venter said he wasn't doing any more interviews after getting in to trouble again. So it is difficult to know if this interview after, yesterdays loss to Racing Metro, is irony or if he has cracked.
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Saints 23 - Cardiff Blues 15
Last time I saw the Saints playing the Blues I was shouting for the Blues. Oh how times change. Two years later and my loyalties have swapped - this is what happens when you don't miss a match. Institutional memory meant I nearly shouted come on the blues, but I managed to stop myself.
This match has had some bad write ups. I don't know if people were expecting tries a-plenty. But that was never going to happen. Both teams were going to have a dogged defence, and both play with passion. It was a tough match, perhaps that explains the 5 yellow cards. No quarter given. But ultimately the Blues nevver really looked like scoring a try and they couldn't match the Saints. Once again it came down to the forwards. They mashed the Blues scrum and they tore the Blues line-out. In fact the Blues lost 5 of their own throw ins at the line-out, each time losing critical position.
Smyler had another good controlling match. 100% with his kicks from the tee, but also good positional play. A beautifully weighted kick should have resulted in a try but Flash had post-international fall-out and failed to catch a ball that dropped right through his arms.
Dan Parks kept the Blues in touch throughout with well kicked penalties. But it was never going to be enough. In the end a tense match but a good win.
At about 78 minutes once again the Saints scrum demolished the Blues. They steamrollered over them when they should have stopped as the ref blew up. In itself a penalty against the Saints. But Dylan and Gareth Williams continued their own private battle, both getting a yellow card for their efforts. As they walked off Rabbit kept mouthing off at Williams and went passed a microphone at just the wrong moment, overheard to say "you're f*****g useless". The return match next weekend could be interesting!
Socreres:
Saints - Tries: Digger, Flash; Cons: Smyler (2); Pens: Smyler (3)
Blues - Pens: Parks (5)
This match has had some bad write ups. I don't know if people were expecting tries a-plenty. But that was never going to happen. Both teams were going to have a dogged defence, and both play with passion. It was a tough match, perhaps that explains the 5 yellow cards. No quarter given. But ultimately the Blues nevver really looked like scoring a try and they couldn't match the Saints. Once again it came down to the forwards. They mashed the Blues scrum and they tore the Blues line-out. In fact the Blues lost 5 of their own throw ins at the line-out, each time losing critical position.
Smyler had another good controlling match. 100% with his kicks from the tee, but also good positional play. A beautifully weighted kick should have resulted in a try but Flash had post-international fall-out and failed to catch a ball that dropped right through his arms.
Dan Parks kept the Blues in touch throughout with well kicked penalties. But it was never going to be enough. In the end a tense match but a good win.
At about 78 minutes once again the Saints scrum demolished the Blues. They steamrollered over them when they should have stopped as the ref blew up. In itself a penalty against the Saints. But Dylan and Gareth Williams continued their own private battle, both getting a yellow card for their efforts. As they walked off Rabbit kept mouthing off at Williams and went passed a microphone at just the wrong moment, overheard to say "you're f*****g useless". The return match next weekend could be interesting!
Socreres:
Saints - Tries: Digger, Flash; Cons: Smyler (2); Pens: Smyler (3)
Blues - Pens: Parks (5)
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Saints 35 - 23 Not Nots
In the end this proved a convincing win and my fears were unfounded. It didn't seem that way in the first 5 minutes however as Ryan Lamb managed two drop goals (one the result of a Smyler kick being charged down) and we were down 6-0 in the blink of an eye. However that was the last time that the Exiles were to look threatening, the final score flattering them as a result of some disruption near the end of the match (more of which later).
Smyler came into his own. Instead of being phased by his early mistake, he took the game by the scruff. Wonderful positional kicking, great handling. This was the fly half we wished we always saw. Confident, play making. He shortly narrowed the lead with a penalty from a difficult position. In fact his place kicking throughout the game was fantastic, some really difficult kicks going over, and only one miss for the entire match.
The first try came from Jamie Elliott. At only 18 he is the youngest player we have, but he is already showing flare and poise. He was targeted with the high ball at the Irish restarts but he caught every one. And he never dropped out of a tackle. But even more impressive is his pace and his ability to spin out of hits. He reminds me of Shane Williams in many ways. And after a couple of attempts that didn't quite make it, finally he got over in the corner and things were moving the right way.
Next was a try magicked out of nowhere. A smart pick up of a loose ball which had spilt out of a ruck by Brett Sharman and he was off. But it was clear he couldn't make it the whole way. Digger was on his outside and his arms were out for the pass. Brett decided to kick ahead instead. If you ever see a replay you will see Digger turn to Brett and say something very rude before haring down the field after the ball. A lovely weighted chip ahead and then Digger was able to drop on the ball scoring a fine try. Brett got a lot of plaudits, but the reports internally suggest that if he ever tries that again then he is going to find himself in the Wanderers for the rest of the season.
The try of the match came from Clarke however. This time from a maul. Tiny was standing his ground with a horde of Irish trying to bring him down. Clarke sees an opportunity and scoops the ball out of Tiny's hands. And after a neat side step around Hodgson he's got the field ahead of him clear except for one figure. Delon Armitage. Delon prepares, he waits. Clarke nears him. And just as Delon goes for the tackle Clarke makes a beautiful side step which completely out-manouvres Delon who only manages to get enough of a hand on Clarke that he is spun around and down while Clarke continues on to the line and the try.
Half time and Saints well in the lead. Three tries up. Almost 90% of territory. Dominant.
Scoring slowed after half time but it was clear that the Saints weren't going to let go. And from a game that had initially looked dangerous there was now the sniff of a bonus. Sure enough it was to come. From a scrum, that rock of our play this season, Ryan Powell went to the blindside. Only Ojo to get passed, and a nice offload to Digger saw him go in for his second try of the match.
15 minutes to go and the Saints were firmly in charge. London Irish hadn't looked like scoring but were making a quick foray into our 22. Then disaster. Digger attempted to tackle the biggest player on the pitch and got himself in completely the wrong position. He received a knee to the head for his troubles and was laid out cold. A long long time for treatment, and a lot of concern from the supporters, but he was awake when he was stretchered off, and later reports indicate that he recovered quickly and is OK. However this disrupted the team. At the restart after the injury they let in a soft try. And then a mispass by TinTin allowed Ojo to race away for a second (although nearly caught by Elliott). The Irish were able to go home with a semblance of respectability but, in reality, they were crushed.
Scorers:
Saints - Tries: Elliott, Digger (2), Clarke; Cons: Smyler (3); Pens: Smyler (2), TinTin
London Irish - Tries: Hala'ufia, Ojo; Cons: Lamb (2); DGs: Lamb (2); Pens: Lamb
Smyler came into his own. Instead of being phased by his early mistake, he took the game by the scruff. Wonderful positional kicking, great handling. This was the fly half we wished we always saw. Confident, play making. He shortly narrowed the lead with a penalty from a difficult position. In fact his place kicking throughout the game was fantastic, some really difficult kicks going over, and only one miss for the entire match.
The first try came from Jamie Elliott. At only 18 he is the youngest player we have, but he is already showing flare and poise. He was targeted with the high ball at the Irish restarts but he caught every one. And he never dropped out of a tackle. But even more impressive is his pace and his ability to spin out of hits. He reminds me of Shane Williams in many ways. And after a couple of attempts that didn't quite make it, finally he got over in the corner and things were moving the right way.
Next was a try magicked out of nowhere. A smart pick up of a loose ball which had spilt out of a ruck by Brett Sharman and he was off. But it was clear he couldn't make it the whole way. Digger was on his outside and his arms were out for the pass. Brett decided to kick ahead instead. If you ever see a replay you will see Digger turn to Brett and say something very rude before haring down the field after the ball. A lovely weighted chip ahead and then Digger was able to drop on the ball scoring a fine try. Brett got a lot of plaudits, but the reports internally suggest that if he ever tries that again then he is going to find himself in the Wanderers for the rest of the season.
The try of the match came from Clarke however. This time from a maul. Tiny was standing his ground with a horde of Irish trying to bring him down. Clarke sees an opportunity and scoops the ball out of Tiny's hands. And after a neat side step around Hodgson he's got the field ahead of him clear except for one figure. Delon Armitage. Delon prepares, he waits. Clarke nears him. And just as Delon goes for the tackle Clarke makes a beautiful side step which completely out-manouvres Delon who only manages to get enough of a hand on Clarke that he is spun around and down while Clarke continues on to the line and the try.
Half time and Saints well in the lead. Three tries up. Almost 90% of territory. Dominant.
Scoring slowed after half time but it was clear that the Saints weren't going to let go. And from a game that had initially looked dangerous there was now the sniff of a bonus. Sure enough it was to come. From a scrum, that rock of our play this season, Ryan Powell went to the blindside. Only Ojo to get passed, and a nice offload to Digger saw him go in for his second try of the match.
15 minutes to go and the Saints were firmly in charge. London Irish hadn't looked like scoring but were making a quick foray into our 22. Then disaster. Digger attempted to tackle the biggest player on the pitch and got himself in completely the wrong position. He received a knee to the head for his troubles and was laid out cold. A long long time for treatment, and a lot of concern from the supporters, but he was awake when he was stretchered off, and later reports indicate that he recovered quickly and is OK. However this disrupted the team. At the restart after the injury they let in a soft try. And then a mispass by TinTin allowed Ojo to race away for a second (although nearly caught by Elliott). The Irish were able to go home with a semblance of respectability but, in reality, they were crushed.
Scorers:
Saints - Tries: Elliott, Digger (2), Clarke; Cons: Smyler (3); Pens: Smyler (2), TinTin
London Irish - Tries: Hala'ufia, Ojo; Cons: Lamb (2); DGs: Lamb (2); Pens: Lamb
Friday, 26 November 2010
Saints vs Not Nots
It's cold. In fact that's an understatement. The snow may not have arrived but I have more layers on than at any other time this season.
Big game tonight. Last week we went top of the league. Who did we knock off the top spot. London Irish. So they will be desparate to get that back again. If they fail then we start to see daylight between first and second for the first time this season.
Traditionally this has been a close game. Last season we won, but only in extra time with a try in the last play of the game. Something that did not go well with Delon Armitage who had a go at the ref. The same Delon who was released by Jonni from the England squad this week so he'll be out there.
Too close to call.
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