Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
By Chris Gleadell
September 25 2009
ON WINNING AWAY ..........................Who would have thought it eh? Just three weeks into the new Guinness Premiership season and already Saints have an away win under their belts! Whatever will we worry about now? To be honest though I thought there was too much emphasis last season on the perceived ability to not win away especially from the media (though that's not going to stop me
whittling on about it here today).
The cold hard facts were that away from home in the GP the opposition scored more points than we did but you would almost believe from some, given the gravity that they put upon it, that Dylan had lost his lucky rabbits foot, Neil Best had kicked a black cat and there was someone somewhere sticking pins in a voodoo doll called Saints away form.
And the more it was mentioned the more it became the proverbial monkey on the back and in the darkest recesses of their minds the players started to doubt too, Juandre Kruger even mentioned as much towards the end of last year. Mentally though the win this early will have done the squad a power of good and trips away now should hold no fears, if you can win at Gloucester, you can win anywhere.
I know a lot of us supporters bought into the away day gloom wholesale too, you could tell that by the smiles and sense of relief on peoples faces when we won at Worcester towards the end of last term.
But then in the early days of this season with the first trip on the road and being ‘robbed’ at Wembley more than a few might have thought ‘oh no, here we go again, the gods are against us’ but Saturday’s victory at Kingsholm proved there is indeed nothing like a gypsy curse on Saints travels this time round.
So now there is nothing stopping us. Welford Road, Stade Aimé Giral and Thomond Park, here we come!
THE GAME ITSELF
As for the game itself well it was a bit grating to read in the Gloucester local press how it was nothing to do with Saints prowess rather it was Gloucester that blew it against “a team which never really came to play at Kingsholm” and which “played a passive brand of rugby”.
Now I know down Gloucester way they have a reputation as being more one eyed than most but that really takes the biscuit. Was the move that started with a break through the middle by Shane Geraghty who then orchestrated the attack which pulled the Gloucester defence this way then that before Jon Clarke scored in the corner really from a team that never came to play rugby? Was that ferocious defence in the last ten minutes really that passive? Nope, not in a month of Sundays.
That Gloucester reporter might want to look a bit closer to home as to who was not trying to play the rugby by forever kicking away possession and who looked mightily passive in attack in the closing stages. They certainly were not wearing gold, black and green.
Now I know some might say that’s rich coming from Gleadell after he bleated after the loss against Saracens, surely he is just the pot calling the kettle black. However there is a big difference in losing by a couple of points to a highly disputed score than being comprehensively beaten on your home ground. To try and claim some moral high ground by suggesting the victors did not come to play, which plainly they did, seems churlish in the least.
If Saints were really that bad then what does it say for Gloucester? If they continue in this vein then that reporter will soon run out of excuses, but then again we have a defunct gypsy curse going cheap that he might want to borrow to blame for all their ills going forward.
LEEDS
At last, a Saturday afternoon at the Gardens. After a couple weeks on the road it is back to home comforts this week with a game against Premiership new boys Leeds Carnegie. It seems an awful long time since we have played each other. In fact you have to go back five seasons to the January of the 05/06 season when Saints narrowly overcame the then Tykes 21-18. Certainly in a game best remembered for the spat between Ben Cohen and Justin Marshall, Ben a cut eye from a punch, Marshall ten minutes in the bin, it was hard to tell which team was relegation bound and which heading to qualify for the Heineken Cup. That was Leeds for you though, a match for anyone on their day but more often than not failing by a single score which ultimately lost them their place in the top flight.
Under Neal Back’s guidance I am not sure we can expect an easy ride this time round either but with the season still in its infancy and Leeds perhaps not up to Premiership speed yet I’m taking us to win it handsomely.
LOOKING BACK
Just out of interest looking back to that game in 2006, I noted it is not just Mr Cohen who has moved onto pastures new (and then again) In fact nineteen who wore the gold black and green that day are no longer at the Saints. Just Bruce, Clarkey and Dylan remain from the match day twenty two, perhaps a mark of how much things have changed in such a relatively short space of time. We seem to have a more settled look about the squad now and looking forward I would think if we looked at Saturdays squad to take on Leeds in three years time then hopefully the majority might still be at the club.
SAINTS WITH HEART
A date for your diaries. On October 24th, before the game with Sale at the Gardens, the annual Saints with Heart walk takes place. In aid of the British Heart Foundation and now in its eighth year the walk has raised over £80,000 for its chosen charity since its inception. Again this year the walks will take place along canal towpaths there will be two routes converging on the Gardens. There is the 18 miler starting from Wolverton at daybreak where can opt for the fast or not so fast group and a more leisurely stroll from Gayton starting later in the morning.
As ever Paul Flatt is doing sterling work organising it all and if you want to take part either as a walker or as a helper on the day at the Gardens please contact Paul at 33, Stimpson Avenue, Northampton, NN1 4LP or by email pflatt2@btinternet.com.
Last season Neil Best and Matt Lord were roped in to walk a few miles, who knows who you might bump into this time round.
And the more it was mentioned the more it became the proverbial monkey on the back and in the darkest recesses of their minds the players started to doubt too, Juandre Kruger even mentioned as much towards the end of last year. Mentally though the win this early will have done the squad a power of good and trips away now should hold no fears, if you can win at Gloucester, you can win anywhere.
I know a lot of us supporters bought into the away day gloom wholesale too, you could tell that by the smiles and sense of relief on peoples faces when we won at Worcester towards the end of last term.
But then in the early days of this season with the first trip on the road and being ‘robbed’ at Wembley more than a few might have thought ‘oh no, here we go again, the gods are against us’ but Saturday’s victory at Kingsholm proved there is indeed nothing like a gypsy curse on Saints travels this time round.
So now there is nothing stopping us. Welford Road, Stade Aimé Giral and Thomond Park, here we come!
THE GAME ITSELF
As for the game itself well it was a bit grating to read in the Gloucester local press how it was nothing to do with Saints prowess rather it was Gloucester that blew it against “a team which never really came to play at Kingsholm” and which “played a passive brand of rugby”.
Now I know down Gloucester way they have a reputation as being more one eyed than most but that really takes the biscuit. Was the move that started with a break through the middle by Shane Geraghty who then orchestrated the attack which pulled the Gloucester defence this way then that before Jon Clarke scored in the corner really from a team that never came to play rugby? Was that ferocious defence in the last ten minutes really that passive? Nope, not in a month of Sundays.
That Gloucester reporter might want to look a bit closer to home as to who was not trying to play the rugby by forever kicking away possession and who looked mightily passive in attack in the closing stages. They certainly were not wearing gold, black and green.
Now I know some might say that’s rich coming from Gleadell after he bleated after the loss against Saracens, surely he is just the pot calling the kettle black. However there is a big difference in losing by a couple of points to a highly disputed score than being comprehensively beaten on your home ground. To try and claim some moral high ground by suggesting the victors did not come to play, which plainly they did, seems churlish in the least.
If Saints were really that bad then what does it say for Gloucester? If they continue in this vein then that reporter will soon run out of excuses, but then again we have a defunct gypsy curse going cheap that he might want to borrow to blame for all their ills going forward.
LEEDS
At last, a Saturday afternoon at the Gardens. After a couple weeks on the road it is back to home comforts this week with a game against Premiership new boys Leeds Carnegie. It seems an awful long time since we have played each other. In fact you have to go back five seasons to the January of the 05/06 season when Saints narrowly overcame the then Tykes 21-18. Certainly in a game best remembered for the spat between Ben Cohen and Justin Marshall, Ben a cut eye from a punch, Marshall ten minutes in the bin, it was hard to tell which team was relegation bound and which heading to qualify for the Heineken Cup. That was Leeds for you though, a match for anyone on their day but more often than not failing by a single score which ultimately lost them their place in the top flight.
Under Neal Back’s guidance I am not sure we can expect an easy ride this time round either but with the season still in its infancy and Leeds perhaps not up to Premiership speed yet I’m taking us to win it handsomely.
LOOKING BACK
Just out of interest looking back to that game in 2006, I noted it is not just Mr Cohen who has moved onto pastures new (and then again) In fact nineteen who wore the gold black and green that day are no longer at the Saints. Just Bruce, Clarkey and Dylan remain from the match day twenty two, perhaps a mark of how much things have changed in such a relatively short space of time. We seem to have a more settled look about the squad now and looking forward I would think if we looked at Saturdays squad to take on Leeds in three years time then hopefully the majority might still be at the club.
SAINTS WITH HEART
A date for your diaries. On October 24th, before the game with Sale at the Gardens, the annual Saints with Heart walk takes place. In aid of the British Heart Foundation and now in its eighth year the walk has raised over £80,000 for its chosen charity since its inception. Again this year the walks will take place along canal towpaths there will be two routes converging on the Gardens. There is the 18 miler starting from Wolverton at daybreak where can opt for the fast or not so fast group and a more leisurely stroll from Gayton starting later in the morning.
As ever Paul Flatt is doing sterling work organising it all and if you want to take part either as a walker or as a helper on the day at the Gardens please contact Paul at 33, Stimpson Avenue, Northampton, NN1 4LP or by email pflatt2@btinternet.com.
Last season Neil Best and Matt Lord were roped in to walk a few miles, who knows who you might bump into this time round.
Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 00:17
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Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 06:56
Splendid work Mr G. You might like to give tourself a pat on the back every now and again for devising and checking out traditional route.
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: Shaddo (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 06:59
Excellent as always Mr G
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: Wee Jim (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 08:09
Great read sir!
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: Connorman (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 08:15
The headline on the Leeds review is rubbish. Needs more bite.
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: ChrisG (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 08:17
' Neal Back in handsome claim!'
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: Connorman (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 08:21
Meant to say good read as ever, mate btw. Poor old Steve Riches probably wishes he stayed in Majorca though.
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: Stockers (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 11:43
Good riposte to the Glos media rubbish we had to endure at the start of the week, Mr G.
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: Paul Flatt (IP Logged)
Date: 25/09/2009 23:38
Muchas gracias amigo. Stainsby and Bleach and more deserve mentions too.
Hey! D'ya like the new sig.....?
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
Hey! D'ya like the new sig.....?
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 25th September
Posted by: ChrisG (IP Logged)
Date: 26/09/2009 09:03
That can wait till later Paul it was more about first contact.
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