LV= Cup: Ospreys vs Northampton Saints: Match Preview
By Odd Billie
November 4 2009
Saints travel to Wales this Thursday to face The Ospreys in the LV= Cup. Odd Billie looks ahead to the match...
OSPREYS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Thursday, 5th November 2009 – 7.45pm
THE LIBERTY STADIUM, SWANSEA
MATCH PREVIEW
The Osprey(s) by Odd Billie
The Osprey (pandion haliaetus) is a large raptor that feeds exclusively on live fish. In the UK it breeds mostly in the Highlands of Scotland but smaller numbers breed at lower levels including two sites in England and one in Wales. It bonds for life.
The Ospreys (rugbyclub swanseaneathus) is a large egg chasing bird that lives exclusively in Wales. It was bred by the mating of two former giants of the aviary in the principality, Swansea and Neath. Despite bickering parents the offspring appears to be going from strength to strength.
The Osprey (pandion haliaetus) has black and white plumage and nests high off the ground on a platform of sticks with a moss and grass lining.
The Ospreys (rugbyclub swanseaneathus) also had black and white plumage till recently, inherited in equal measure from its parents. Lately however a golden hue has been spotted in the offsprings feathers believed to be in part to a gene variation (fleeceus supporterus). The Ospreys nest at Liberty Stadium in a bowl of steel and concrete with a grass lining, However they share this nest with the South Wales Cuckoo (footieballus swanseaus). Sometimes the exploits of footieballus swanseaus means the Osprey cannot chase its eggs when it wants too. This makes some potential visiting twitchers angry.
Each autumn the Osprey (pandion haliaetus) migrates south to its winter hunting grounds to recuperate before heading back north for the breeding season in the spring.
Each autumn the Ospreys (rugbyclub swanseaneathus) sees great numbers migrate west to Cardiff to fly for Mr Gatland’s Flying Circus (grumpus alwaysmoaningus) in the autumn avian internationals. This week these migrants will be trying to mark their territory against invading dark birds from the south (blackallus chokerus.) something they have not done since pterodactyls filled the skies. You have to admire their spirit…
However unlike pandion haliaetus, rugbyclub swanseaneathus sees a small number of lesser specimens remain close to the nest until those deflated westward migrants return. They attempt to defend their territory against all comers while weakened by their absentees. A keen observer may see the following subspecies in the area on Thursday trying just that.
15 Barry Davies
14 Nicky Thomas
13 Sonny Parker
12 Andrew Bishop
11 Kristian Phillips
10 Gareth Owen
9 Liam Davies
1 Ryan Bevington
2 Richard Hibbard
3 Cai Griffiths
4 Ian Gough
5 Filo Tiatia
6 Jerry Collins
7 Steve Tandy
8 Tom Smith
16 Ed Shervington
17 Ross Davies
18 Will Taylor
19 James King
20 Justin Tipuric
21 Rhodri Wells
22 Jonathan Spratt
23 Ashley Beck
Keen ornithologists will have noticed the species ‘Collins’ in that list. Formerly of the race blackallus chokerus it has been taken under the wing of rugbyclub swanseaneathus after being found wandering around Europe. If it still holds any of his old blackallus traits then it could be a match for any transgressor in Ospreys territory and it may be needed because a great threat looms on the horizon.
The Osprey (pandion haliaetus) has no known natural predator. It sits at the top of its food chain.
The Ospreys (rugbyclub swanseaneathus) regularly has to fight for survival. At this time of the year their main fear is the colourful sporadic invasion from the east of the magnificiently plumaged Greater Spotted Saint (rugbyclub northamptonus).
With resplendent Gold body, Black wings and Green tail feathers the Greater Spotted Saint heads west in a flock that contains not only magnificent experienced specimens but also juvenile birds hoping to learn quickly from the adults. Again keen observers looking skywards on Thursday should be able to tick off the following strains in their field guides.
15 Ben Foden
14 Chris Ashton
13 Joe Ansbro
12 Jon Clarke
11 Chris Mayor
10 Stephen Myler
9 Alan Dickens (capt)
1 Regardt Dreyer
2 Joe Gray
3 Jon Vickers
4 James Cannon
5 Christian Day
6 Mark Easter
7 Scott Gray
8 Mark Hopley
Replacements
16 Brett Sharman
17 Alex Waller
18 Adam Parkins*
19 Owen Giles
20 James Ingle
21 John Brake
22 Barry Everitt
23 Grant Pointer
Hoping to rule The Ospreys roost for
at least a couple of hours, just like the jackdaw the Greater Spotted Saint has
its eye on distant bright trinkets. However rugbyclub swanseaneathus has been a
fair collector of such trinkets itself in the past and will not give up its
chance of more too easily, especially in its own nest.
It could be feathers everywhere and real hardbeaked, claw to claw battle.
Greater Spotted Saints to prevail, as sure as eggs is eggs!
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COYGSS!Saint til I die
Come On You Saints
There was one in my garden this morning.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:11:04:19:32:48 by ChrisG.
dej
"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.