Northampton Saints 8, Bristol Rugby 14
By Jonathan Stockham
January 30 2007
As the title suggests, I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry this morning. This was Saints first look at Premiership leaders Bristol this season, the visit to their muddy patch earlier in the month having been cancelled.
Good or Bad, Happy or Sad ?
Northampton Saints v Bristol Rugby.
Guinness Premiership. Round 13. 27 January 2007
Result: Northampton Saints 8, Bristol Rugby 14
By Jonathan Stockham from Franklins Gardens
So on our muddyish patch we had a chance to see what a team devoid of highly paid superstars was doing to get to the top under the stewardship of former England scrum half and peripatetic coach, Richard Hill.
In an absolutely blinding first half performance, Saints were the only team on the park and the visitors looked dead and buried but for one small technicality. The scoreboard only read 8 - 0 in the home teams’ favour, despite their total dominance.
But overall, that was “Good” and we were all “Happy.”
After a pre match interviewing fest on the pitch with the BBC and Sky trying to get the least muddy patch to stand on and with Bernie helping himself to Brian Moore’s chips with curry sauce (either that or it was a minor road accident), Saints came out of the blocks like supercharged rhinos.
The forwards were certainly not second best to the much vaunted Bristol pack and the moves which the backs were putting together looked so much better than in many games this season. There were some rare species sighted such as offloading, interpassing at pace, driving at rucks with low body positions and working the “Old Men of Bristol” left and right around the paddock.
The ferocity of the Saints attacks clearly rattled the visitors, who conceded a string of penalties as Saints worked towards the Bristol goal line. The immense Tongan prop, Soane Tonga’uiha, nearly touched down in one move and the penalties kept coming Saints’ way. After another sustained onslaught on the Bristol line, Saints were over again but the TMO decided no try could be awarded.
Eventually, on 12 minutes Saints lost the ball forward 15 metres out and Bristol had the scrum. Saints drove the Bristol pack back and round, giving defending No8 Dan Ward Smith very messy ball to deal with. He was caught by the Saints loose forwards and driven back over his own goal line. Tragically, he dislocated his knee cap in the contact and a very promising season, rewarded with an England call up has been cruelly cut short.
Best wishes to Dan for a full recovery.
From the scrum 5, Saints moved the ball infield. Bristol yet again infringed at the tackle and Sean Davey’s patience with them ran out, Brian Lima being the recipient of a yellow card. Carlos took the easy penalty from in front the posts to at last gain reward for Saints endeavours, an earlier kick by him having sailed wide from 20 metres out.
Saints kept the pressure on and were nearly rewarded with a try on 20 minutes which the TMO took an age to say no to. From the scrum 5, Bristol managed to win ball and cleared upfield to touch. Ben Cohen took a quick throw to himself and burst upfield. The ball was worked right to Sean Lamont who raced forward, only to be felled by an elbow and head contact to his chin.
Saints were nearly over again from a line out catch and drive but the ball was held up. From the scrum 5, Saints moved the ball wide quickly and simply into the hands of Ben Cohen who thundered over in the left corner for his 100th try for Saints and a well deserved reward for the home team’s dominance in the first period.
Trivia collectors will wish to know that at 6.15 (ish) pm on Saturday 27th January 2007, Ben Cohen reached a remarkable milestone for his and our club. Well done Ben and thanks for all 100 of the little beauties. Here’s to the next 100!
As half time arrived, Saints just kept at it, attacking wherever possible and the forwards looking comfortable in the set pieces and on the ball in the loose.
But, and this is the “Bad” and “Sad” bit of the headline, we still only had 8 points to show for all that pressure. “Good” was the way the team were playing and making Bristol look ordinary and “Happy” at the rejuvenated spirit in the team with everyman in GB&G looking as though he wanted to win.
“Good” also for the home support which was loud and sustained and proved that support is a two way contract with the team. In other words, give us something to cheer about! They did yesterday.
Bristol carried on at the start of the second half as they had during the first, getting penalised, firstly for fouling Christian Short in the air as he caught the kick off and then immediately after as they pulled down a line out jumper. Carlos tried a long range penalty kick from near halfway. It was straight but a little under-clubbed (ie short, for the non golfers!)
Saints attacked again from the restart and moved the ball quickly left from a ruck via Chris Budgen to Dan Browne. Unfortunately, he had a “Toonie” moment and didn’t look at the target for his pass, which was gobbled up by Brian Lima who was in at the other end under the posts to close the scores to 8 – 7. If only that first half pressure had brought Saints more points!
Bristol now looked rejuvenated. They had ball and momentum and Saints were now the ones getting serial pinging. Soane was shown yellow as Bristol drove a maul from a line out. The visitors kept using the catch and drive from 5 metre line outs but Saints managed to win ball back from one drive to clear the danger up field.
The sides were now more evenly matched so it looked like Bristol had the better half time team talk! Saints managed to disrupt another Bristol maul and cleared up field where Bristol knocked on near their 22. However, play was brought back to the Saints half where Gareth Llewellyn was shown the yellow card for having too many L s in his name. Oh, and also for punching.
So Saints had a penalty kick in their 22 when they might have preferred the scrum for the knock on 50 metres up field. Probably some rugby laws thing.
After 20 minutes, Soane and Toops came back on and temporary prop replacement Simon Emms, making a welcome appearance, trooped off. Now Saints had a man advantage up front. Would they make it tell?
“Sad” ly no. The game became looser and while Saints managed to keep pushing Bristol back up field, they were giving away penalties and thus territory. The visitors were now restored to 15 and worked field position up the touchline from penalty kicks in order to use their really rather good rolling maul. As Saints desperately tried to control the march of the maul, Shorty was shown yellow for a decision he didn’t understand nor was happy about when he arrived at the bench.
Bristol made the man advantage tell and worked the next maul over the line for the immediate award of a try, converted to make the score 8 – 14 after 30 minutes. Could Saints catch up with only 14 men on the pitch for the last 10 minutes?
Saints were now losing shape but kept trying to move forward where possible. They were getting penalty decisions but Mr Davey’s inability to count 10 metres meant that moves were stopped before any momentum had built. Despite going through the phases the old problem of lack of penetration to the goal line regardless of the amount of possession meant that the game finished rather fractiously with only a losing bonus point for the Saints.
In the cold light of a Sunday morning, what are my emotions? I’m very “Happy” at the “Good” play of the team, who played as a TEAM yesterday. There was much to be encouraged about and this is progress compared to recent GP performances against the likes of Worcester and Saracens. I’m “Happy” that my team showed up with a fire in the bellies and some of the old spirit in their hearts. The forwards fronted up against a strong pack who we thought would put our front row through the mincer.
But I was less impressed with our continued inability to turn pressure in to points in games where we have the upper hand. The lessening of intensity by the team in the second half was reminiscent of last week against Biarritz and that frankly is a puzzle.
But reflect for a moment. Bristol are the top side in England. They have a good record away as well as at home. We could (and should) have beaten them yesterday but most people would have banked a losing bonus point against the league leaders before this match.
So overall, I am “Happy.” I am also frustrated at the lack of points to reward dominance but there are signs of improvement and lets hope the upswing continues.