News: Wycombe Wasps 9 v 5 Saints - Match Report
By Tom Carmichael
February 23 2009
I decided to wait for 24 hours before writing this up. It would give me time to compose myself, check a few other views and write a balanced report. To hell with the balanced report! Here comes a one-eyed diatribe... What a place! The usual route march through the industrial estate and an al fresco dining and watering experience for those brave enough to risk it...
February 23 2009
I decided to wait for 24 hours before writing this up. It would give me time to compose myself, check a few other views and write a balanced report. To hell with the balanced report! Here comes a one-eyed diatribe... What a place! The usual route march through the industrial estate and an al fresco dining and watering experience for those brave enough to risk it...
Guinness Premiership Round 14
London Wasps v Northampton Saints
Adams Park Sunday 22nd February 2009
KO 3 pm
We were then treated to replays of great Wasps moments on screen before the most dreadful cacophony masquerading as music to greet the home team.
Well the winless away league record continues, it's two years to the day since that victory at Welford Road. The hero of the hour, Sharky, was in the opposition ranks at Adams Park. So too the Glassman himself, Pat Barnard. The Saints front row seemed less than pleased to see Barnard and the feeling appeared mutual. It took three minutes for the first fight to break out. Sir seemed unwilling to intervene or to blame and this continued. An occasional chat with the skippers, including dragging Bruce across the width of the pitch, was the best Mr Debney could do. It seemed strange that a penalty could be given but no card when Bishay hacked Ben Foden's legs and another trip on Bruce in the second half went unnoticed. Myopia was finally confirmed when Waldouck did his best to rip Ben's shirt of him and deny us the winning score.
Sour grapes, well perhaps. The Saints perhaps should have won anyway. We did dominate for long periods , although not as much as some punters would have you believe. The effort and the grunt were back. There was even less moaning from the travelling pundits. This was no Stoop revisited. The lineout functioned , the scrum was shaky at times, but the ball was normally secured and we normally managed to stop Betsen from killing the rucks. But for all that, the first half was distinctly dissatisfying. My notes consisted mainly of dropped pass, missed kick, dropped pass, missed kick....nerves are playing too big a role on our travels. There must be an opening for a Sports Psychologist in the Saints camp. How about a spot of positive visualisation? Members of the great unwashed called for a half time bollocking instead.
Whatever happened , it worked for a while. Constant pressure , Digger went close and then Foden showed everyone how to do it. A couple of minutes later and Clarkey was over in the same quarter. Forward pass was the ruling, rumour has it that this may have been the correct call. And then that was about it. Wasps were efficient , they made few mistakes, it was hard to get the ball off them. The Golden One landed his third kick and apart from the shirt pulling incident we didn't threaten again.
For many these travelling travails have become too much. They seek solace in family duties or listen on the radio. But the next trip is Worcester. Surely we can beat them! Be there! In the meantime let's look forward to stuffing the Budgies at the Gardens on Saturday.
Well the winless away league record continues, it's two years to the day since that victory at Welford Road. The hero of the hour, Sharky, was in the opposition ranks at Adams Park. So too the Glassman himself, Pat Barnard. The Saints front row seemed less than pleased to see Barnard and the feeling appeared mutual. It took three minutes for the first fight to break out. Sir seemed unwilling to intervene or to blame and this continued. An occasional chat with the skippers, including dragging Bruce across the width of the pitch, was the best Mr Debney could do. It seemed strange that a penalty could be given but no card when Bishay hacked Ben Foden's legs and another trip on Bruce in the second half went unnoticed. Myopia was finally confirmed when Waldouck did his best to rip Ben's shirt of him and deny us the winning score.
Sour grapes, well perhaps. The Saints perhaps should have won anyway. We did dominate for long periods , although not as much as some punters would have you believe. The effort and the grunt were back. There was even less moaning from the travelling pundits. This was no Stoop revisited. The lineout functioned , the scrum was shaky at times, but the ball was normally secured and we normally managed to stop Betsen from killing the rucks. But for all that, the first half was distinctly dissatisfying. My notes consisted mainly of dropped pass, missed kick, dropped pass, missed kick....nerves are playing too big a role on our travels. There must be an opening for a Sports Psychologist in the Saints camp. How about a spot of positive visualisation? Members of the great unwashed called for a half time bollocking instead.
Whatever happened , it worked for a while. Constant pressure , Digger went close and then Foden showed everyone how to do it. A couple of minutes later and Clarkey was over in the same quarter. Forward pass was the ruling, rumour has it that this may have been the correct call. And then that was about it. Wasps were efficient , they made few mistakes, it was hard to get the ball off them. The Golden One landed his third kick and apart from the shirt pulling incident we didn't threaten again.
For many these travelling travails have become too much. They seek solace in family duties or listen on the radio. But the next trip is Worcester. Surely we can beat them! Be there! In the meantime let's look forward to stuffing the Budgies at the Gardens on Saturday.
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponRelated Articles:
News: Wasps 9v5 Saints Match report
Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)
Date: 23/02/2009 21:23
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Re: News: Wasps 9v5 Saints Match report
Posted by: Saint Dom (IP Logged)
Date: 23/02/2009 22:09
Aftr Red Saint's excellent if interminabl preview, this was a short, sharp shock-report: brilliant.
And an authentic glimpse of another day of missed opportunities on the road.
Thanks for this reporting, TM - why not continue where you started and give us a Wuss preview?!
And an authentic glimpse of another day of missed opportunities on the road.
Thanks for this reporting, TM - why not continue where you started and give us a Wuss preview?!
Re: News: Wasps 9v5 Saints Match report
Posted by: Chris Hoddle (IP Logged)
Date: 23/02/2009 22:13
Tom,
Thought God was going to intervine with Mylers first kick?
I was there and thought the same.
I will be at Wuss on the train so I can celebrate our first away trip. (If editors want an in depth view of getting better deals out of on ine train deals then let me know)
Of course will be at budgies although not convinced of the suggested walk over.
mrs H will have just had yet anoter of her majesties Inspections so might even be singing on Saturday?
SWH9, Please sponsor me here
Thought God was going to intervine with Mylers first kick?
I was there and thought the same.
I will be at Wuss on the train so I can celebrate our first away trip. (If editors want an in depth view of getting better deals out of on ine train deals then let me know)
Of course will be at budgies although not convinced of the suggested walk over.
mrs H will have just had yet anoter of her majesties Inspections so might even be singing on Saturday?
SWH9, Please sponsor me here
Re: News: Wasps 9v5 Saints Match report
Posted by: hoddros (IP Logged)
Date: 24/02/2009 13:30
Thanks Tom, sums it all up nicely for me although I am more firmly with the punters you refer to who feel we dominated greatly for such a long period that we should have won. Not perhaps, just should have won.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Re: News: Wasps 9v5 Saints Match report
Posted by: desbralass (IP Logged)
Date: 24/02/2009 20:19
Just got around to reading this.Very good,summed up so much better than the Noddy commentary could ever do.
I've Taken the Pledge.
Just call me Nellie.
I've Taken the Pledge.
Just call me Nellie.
Re: News: Wasps 9v5 Saints Match report
Posted by: Trevor Church (IP Logged)
Date: 25/02/2009 11:13
A good accurate report as I was at the match,Best team lost on the day but superb defence from Wasps. Trev
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
More Northampton Saints headlines
- News: AP: Gloucester vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview
- News: Mark Sorenson signs again for the Saints
- News: DOMINANT: Saints (57) Swat Wasps (10)
- News: LV: Northampton Saints vs London Wasps - Preview
- News:Tales from the sofa LV= Cup Round 3 Bath 46 Saints 14
- News: LV: Bath Rugby vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview
- News: Munster Monster Machine Mauls Saints at Milton Keynes.
- News: HC: Northampton Saints v Munster Rugby - Match Preview
- News: Ash Leaving - Soon to be Official?