Saints Repel Reivers Cross-Border Raid
dilletante
By Jonathan Stockham
October 29 2006
The first home game in Pool 6 for Saints and a vital bonus point win was essential for the Jimmies to remain in contention in their group, especially after Biarritz had earlier taken another 5 points when demolishing Parma in Italy.
Northampton Saints v Border Reivers.
Heineken European Cup. Pool 6, Round 2. 28 October 2006
Result: Northampton Saints 37, Border Reivers 13
By Jonathan Stockham from Franklins Gardens
What is a “reiver” anyway? It certainly isn’t a Revier as spelt on the cover of the match programme! In days of old, when England and Scotland were forever at war, the Borders were in the front line of military action and often the local folk would mount guerrilla raids into Northern England to steal cattle, sheep, women and Newcastle Brown Ale ( I made the last two up, well, maybe just the last one) and the Border raiders became known as Reivers. So, the current lot arrived at Franklin’s Gardens in a vein of improving match form to see if they could return north of the Border with the spoils. (Dodgy links courtesy of BBC Radio 2).
Saints knew they needed to collect a hatful of tries and a bonus point to keep up with Biarritz in Pool 6. Grayse had to reshuffle the backs again as Dave Qunilan returned from the Pays Basque injured but the good news was that Sean Lamont was fit, as was Ben Cohen after a late fitness test. Rhodri Davies made a welcome return after a long injury absence and Carlos Spencer was back after suspension. Added to the walking wounded was stadium announcer and comic turn, Geoff Allen, who barely made it up the steps to his perch having strained a muscle in his back. He still managed to tell me the smokeless fuel joke, though it was rather through gritted teeth.
So to the match. Well at least the rain had held off and the redoubtable Saints with Heart 5 walkers had all made it to the ground safely from their various starting points, some as far away as Wolverton. Top effort everyone.
Carlos got the score board ticking over early with a penalty kick after the Borders backs had strayed off side and again on 10 minutes when he converted a try by Sharky Robinson when Saints won good ball from a line out, drove on strongly, spitting Borders forwards out everywhere and Sharky darted through on the blindside from an initial surge and pass by Paul Tupai, to dot down near the posts.
10 minutes gone, 10-0 to Saints. One try, three more needed.
Saints then kept the pressure on for much of the first half and were camped in the visitors half but it was beginning to become worrying that lots of pressure was not being converted into lots of points. Often, a streetwise Borders team slowed down possession illegally long enough for any overlaps by Saints to be covered and a possible 7 points became a probable 3. At other times, Saints would get pinged themselves after good build up work or passes which were not best made stopped a movement in its tracks.
Saints had a man advantage for 10 minutes when Borders centre McDougall was shown the yellow card for a high tackle but they were fortunate that the officials hadn’t seen the punch to Toops’ head from hooker Ford which will hopefully be seen by the citing commissioner. From that penalty, Saints won another and Carlos knocked over from in front the posts. 13-3, after an earlier penalty kick for the visitors.
Saints should have scored at least a couple more tries before the interval but opportunities were still being squandered, although Rhodri Davies nearly touched down after Carlos chipped through. A quick look at the replay showed that the Saints centre, who had looked very sharp on his return to the side, had missed the ball by a good few inches.
As the interval approached, Borders mounted a rare break out into Saints half and were rewarded with 3 points after Cap’n Fox was penalised for criticising the referee with “too much spirit!” Half time, 13-6.
The Saints had showed a lot of “spirit” throughout the first half and the pack had built solid foundations for a much bigger score by half time but the finishing touch was proving to be elusive. We should have been well ahead by now.
Cans of Popeye spinach consumed at half time, Saints pack were soon gaining the advantage when they drove the Borders pack backwards in a scrum so strongly that an unbalanced Chris Cusiter slotted the clearance kick straight in to touch. Shortly after, from a line out on the Borders 5 metre line, Saints mounted a classic catch and drive to maul Toops over the line.
Carlos missed the kick from out wide but the score was now 18-6 and, more importantly, two tries scored, two tries to go for the bonus.
Rhodri left the field after an encouraging return to the team and Johnny Howard came on to the wing with Ben moving to centre. This re-jig in the backs may explain the Borders try minutes after when Simon Danielli, travelling at speed from his 10 metre line, took a pass from Steve Jones, fielding a speculative Carlos kick ahead, and waltzed through far too many missed tackled for comfort to touch down at the posts and with Saints backs glaring at each other. An absolutely furious Grayse legged it down to the touchline to remind his players which end to play rugby in.
Calum MacRae slotted the conversion and all of sudden Borders were within 5 points.! Eeek!
Saints then won a penalty when Bruce Douglas dropped the scrum, Carlos kicking for the 5 metre line out rather than the posts. Borders then killed the ball and prop Gavin Kerr was perhaps rather harshly sent to the sin bin but the referee’s patience had obviously run out after several professional fouls. Saints opted wisely for the scrum against a seven man pack and drove strongly over the line. A Borders forward was adjudged to have kicked the ball out of the Saints scrum after crossing the line so a penalty try was awarded, easily converted by Carlos.
That the scrum had gone over the line with both front rows standing up and Sharky having sold what looked like an illegal dummy from the No 8’s feet, are matters only for the referee to discuss with his assessor.
25-13 to Saints and three tries scored, guess how many for the bonus point?
Carlos started another attack with a sparkling run down the right wing. Borders kept up their serial offending and from another 5 metre line out taken at the back by Toops, Wally was driven over for a well deserved try for the pack and yes folks that valuable bonus point! Carlos added the extras with a perfect kick from 30 metres out.
32-13 now and Tom Smith, in fantastic form as a scrum half and centre all afternoon (and less than shabby as a prop) left to be replaced by the only thing more daunting than Toops in a bad mood, the mountain that is Soane Tonga’uiha. David Gerrard also left after a strong game to be replaced by Matt Lord. The dark shadow being cast over the Borders line out near their goal area by Soane’s bulk obviously blocked the illumination from the floodlights and when scrappy ball was tapped down by the Borders to no one in particular, Wally grabbed it and thundered over from 10, no 20, actually 50 metres out!
The variety in Carlos’s kicking routine meant that the conversion headed for the corner flag but no matter, Saints were home and dry although endured a late scare when Borders looked to have scored a try after stringing several phases together. The decision went to the TMO and despite Scott Hastings on Sky babbling on four or five times about the try being scored, it was eventually clear that Cap’n Fox had managed to get his hand under the ball and held it off the ground. Phew!
As the clock ticked down to zero time left, Man of the Match Robinson cleared the ball to touch on his 22. Borders mounted one last attack with Brendon Daniel taking the ball forward….until he met Soane, who put his man on the floor and stripped the ball from his grasp! Nice!
No side and the Saints eventually well clear at 37-13 against a gritty Borders team who saw little of the ball all afternoon. Saints will be pleased to have secured the vital bonus point with matches away and then home against Pool 6 whipping boys Parma next to come in the Heineken Cup. For all their possession Saints still need to improve their finishing but the pack is becoming a formidable unit under Peter “Slugga” Sloane’s mentoring. Offloading in contact is also starting to feature, at last and, all in all, the signs are encouraging. A useful centre pairing emerged in Myring and Davies and occasionally Myring moved to 10 with Carlos to 12, developing the first and second five-eighths tactics. Brownes Damien and Dan both stood out as did the rest of the pack. And Sharky certainly won the battle of the 9’s, although, when one of them hardly sees the ball…………..
7 out of 10 from this observer.