SAINTS GO TOP - If just for one day! - Saints 30 - Leeds 10

A bonus point win, a twenty point margin and temporarily top of the league on Saturday night but still the feeling amongst many that it was not quite enough; such is the level of expectation at the Gardens this year. Perhaps it was expecting too much for Leeds to roll and die in the way they did last week against Irish.

By Tom Carmichael (attempting to utilise the skills instilled by EG(g) Bennett et al at Trinity 1965-72.)

Guinness Premiership Round 4

Northampton Saints vs Leeds Carnegie

Saturday 26th September , Franklin's Gardens 

KO 3pm

A bonus point win, a twenty point margin and temporarily top of the league on Saturday night but still the feeling amongst many that it was not quite enough; such is the level of expectation at the Gardens this year. Perhaps it was expecting too much for Leeds to roll and die in the way they did last week against Irish.

Phil Dowson led the boys out for the first time and Mr Davey and his acolytes looked pretty in pink, contrasting nicely with Piggy’s immaculate greensward. The attendance was a thousand shy of capacity, partially explained by a distinct shortage of bods from Yorkshire; they were clearly expecting the worst. However their boys soon gave them something to cheer about after Mr Davey’s fist wavey demo when Henry Paul collided with two of his mates. No accidental offside ruled Sir but the Saints infringed; penalty, three points. Fortunately Messrs Thomas and Paul seemed to have left their kicking boots at home as they missed the next three offerings. After two of these, the Saints sprang to life. Penalties were kicked to corner and , from a line out, a clever switched move put Shane Geraghty over for his first try in the GBG –there’ll be a lot more for sure. This was the signal for a brilliant blitz of tries, subtle Geraghty kicks set up a brace for Jon Clarke and then great work by Ben and Bruce, carried on by Chris Mayor but Chris Ashton under the posts. Digger was still missing with no explanation offered amidst unsubstantiated rumours in the bar. The likeliest explanation is simply that it’s Ashton’s turn for few weeks. Digger will return soon, but how can the great unwashed’s favourite local son be so badly treated?

A bit of weak tackling gave Leeds one back on the stroke of halftime but things looked fair for a second half romp. However this isn’t Div One (aka the Championship) any more and Leeds are caste in the image of Neil Back, erstwhile tormentor of our boys when in Tigers’ colours. No they hadn’t home to die and they took the game to the Saints for large parts of the second half. The South Stand faithful were denied their usual close-up of the action as we were forced to soak up Leeds pressure at the other end. After last week’s late defensive heroics at Kingsholm , the line again remained inviolate. Courtney Lawes’ dumping of three men into touch in one go brought admiring recognition from Uncle Geoff on the mike.

With the bonus point tied up before half-time, Mallinder rang the changes; boys were rested for sterner tests and the Gardens had a first look at Mujati and Cairns. As is so often the case, the substitutions disrupted the pattern, Dickens knocked on with his first touch and over-eagerness led to more errors. However there were more cheers for young Courtney (fast becoming a cult figure for his bone-crushing tackles) as he chased a Geraghty kick and forced Leeds to hold on. A sensibly pragmatic decision and Shane kicked the goal. The Leeds scrum was creaking, Roger Wilson drove, they were penalised again and Bruce slotted one from half way. Apparently he’s been working with kicking guru Grays at banging the long ones. This new-look Saints has so many options.

OK, we blew couple a couple of chances, went of the boil and a few punters aching for, and not getting, an avalanche headed for the exits. The game fizzled out but who cares? For 24 hours Northampton are top, the best in the land…..catch us if you can!