News: Saints sweep Sale away
By Emma Brooker
March 14 2009
Normal service was resumed at Franklin's Gardens as the Saints won at home, recording their first try bonus of the season against an under-strength Sale Sharks. The fixture had received significant coverage in the week leading up to the game, with attention focussing on the Lobbe's brother v brother battle, but it was Ben Foden, playing at fullback, who stole the show.
March 14 2009
Normal service was resumed at Franklin's Gardens as the Saints won at home, recording their first try bonus of the season against an under-strength Sale Sharks. The fixture had received significant coverage in the week leading up to the game, with attention focussing on the Lobbe's brother v brother battle, but it was Ben Foden, playing at fullback, who stole the show.
Guinness Premiership Round 17
Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks
Saturday 14th March 2009 Franklin's Gardens
K.O. 3pm
Saints 38 Sharks 3
Jim Mallinder left nothing to chance, naming undoubtedly his strongest available side. Barry Everitt kept his place at fly half after an assured performance at Worcester, with Ben Foden, unwanted by England, starting at fullback. The out-of-sorts Jon Clarke, evidently carrying an injury, was left out, meaning Joe Ansbro, one of last week's try scorers, started in his place. The Sale side was also their strongest available, but with a significant number of players missing through international duty and injury, it was far from the side they would have wished to select.
The Saints started the first half playing the right way, towards the Sturtridge, and unusually also kicked off. From the off it was clear that the team were not going to let Newcastle happen all over again, and some lovely interplay between Everitt, Downey and Diggin sent Foden through a gap. He shipped the ball right where it found its way to Paul Diggin via Joe Ansbro, but the winger was forced into touch just metres short of the try line. Referee Dean Richards pulled play back for a Saints penalty which Everitt slotted over, giving the home side a 3-0 lead after just four minutes.
A dodgy lineout aside, the Saints dominated the first period of play, with Foden again getting close to the line. Indeed, he got so close his knock-on resulted in a scrum on the Sale 5m line. Some excellent pressure from the home pack turned the scrum, and the Saints were awarded the put-in. Captain Bruce Reihana came off his wing and attempted to break the Sale line but couldn't get through, though the Saints were awarded another scrum just 5m out. Sale were able to clear, however, as Nacho Lobbe lost the ball and the Saints were penalised for offside.
Sale had to make their first substitution after just 15 minutes of play, with Will Cliff replacing scrum half Chris Leck. Shortly after the change Sale made their way into the Saints' 22 for the first time, but couldn't make the most of the pressure after conceding a penalty. Barry Everitt cleared the ball, and though the Saints won the lineout they lost the ball soon after.
A turnover in midfield saw the ball find its way back to Ben Foden, who launched a kick ahead which he chased and collected in fairly spectacular style (I suspect he is related in some way to Inspector Gadget, his arms seemed to extend out of nowhere to gather the ball). Everitt saw a gap and kicked the ball into it perfectly, where it was gathered by Sale's Kuadey. He slipped, and Digger pounced, a passage of play which eventually saw the Saints awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Everitt stepped up and added the three points, taking the score to 6-0 after twenty minutes.
The resulting restart was gathered impressively by Lobbe Jnr, who plucked the ball from the sky right under the nose of Neil Best. In hindsight this may not have been a brilliant idea, as it served only to rile the Irishman! Charlie Hodgson, continually overlooked by England, showed his quality soon after, breaking through a tackle and sprinting toward the line. The try was really only saved by the fact that the runner supporting him, lock Dean Schofield, appeared to pull a hamstring in the process leaving Hodgson unable to offload the ball. He was eventually tackled, but made his way back into position to drop a goal and half the deficit to 6-3.
The first try of the game came shortly after, scored by local hero Paul Diggin. Sale, having made three substitutions already, were clearly suffering and found badly out of position as some excellent handling skills by Everitt saw the ball passed out to Joe Ansbro who in turn found Diggin. The winger stepped inside his marker and scampered across the line to put the Saints 11-3 up. Everitt added the conversion, increasing the score to 13-3.
The final minutes of the half were dominated by the home side as a storming run by Courtney Lawes resulted in a penalty just outside the Sale 22. Everitt stepped up again, and again was successful with the kick, making the score 16-3 with five minutes of the half remaining. Sale were penalised again just a few minutes later after a scrum in front of their own posts. The opportunity for another three points was too good to pass up and Everitt was successful with the kick, giving the home side a 19-3 lead at half time.
The second half was just a few minutes old when the Saints made their first substitution, with Paul Diggin making way for Sean Lamont. The second battle of the brothers was not to be, however, as at the same time Sale replaced Rory Lamont with Nick Macleod. Play took a while to settle, with possession switching between the two sides several times. Sale were awarded a penalty on halfway, but Hodgson's kick to touch went dead, resulting in a scrum back on halfway for the Saints. This platform set up the next Saints attack, with Everitt kicking the ball across field into the arms of Bruce Reihana in a move perhaps more associated with Carlos Spencer than the Irishman! Reihana attempted to offload inside to Foden, but Sale winger Doherty was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball on and was sent to the sin bin for his efforts. Everitt missed the resulting penalty, a lucky escape for the visitors.
It was Sale's turn to have a go for the next five minutes, as they tried in vain to break through the home side's defence. The extra man told, however, and Sale could not find a way past. Eventually the Saints were awarded a scrum, and immediately put pressure on the visitors, with Tiny forcing his way through a gap and releasing Foden. The fullback passed the ball inside to Wilson, but play was brought back after the touch-judge decided that Foden had stepped over the line.
Foden could not be contained for long, however. A Saints lineout went awry, but the ball was rescued by Nacho. Stephen Myler, on for Barry Everitt, spotted a gap and dashed through it, passing the ball to Courtney Lawes. Foden came dashing through on a supporting run and could not be stopped as he ran on with the ball in his hands, touching down under the posts. Myler added the extras, taking the score to 26-3 with just over twenty minutes to play.
The game was all but won by this point, and the Saints seemed to be in the perfect position to go for the two extra tries that would secure them the bonus point. As has happened before, however, this pressure seemed to tell and mistakes began to creep into their play. With Sale's players looking exhausted and the Saints dropping the ball and conceding penalties the game threatened to dissolve into nothing.
Eventually the Saints found themselves in the Sale 22, with Lamont and Downey making good ground before Tiny powered over the line, only for the referee to claim he had been held up. Sale were penalised at the ensuing scrum, and the Saints opted to scrum again in the hunt for their third try. This proved to be an excellent decision, as Roger Wilson picked the ball up at the base of the scrum and forced his way over. Myler added the conversion, giving the Saints a 30 point lead, 33-3.
Sale kicked off with just a few minutes left on the clock. A knock on by the visitors resulted in a scrum for the Saints, who set themselves up for a final assault on the Sale line. Reihana, Ansbro and Joe Gray combined to take the ball just metres short of the line, where it was quickly recycled and worked right. James Downey found himself in acres of space and ran in unopposed for the all-important fourth try. Reihana took the conversion and missed, but thankfully it was of no importance as the final whistle blew on a 38-3 victory.
While the Sale side was undoubtedly under-strength, it would be remiss of me to detract too much from the Northampton performance. We have seen them falter on too many occasions to take anything for granted! While Ben Foden was awarded the Man of the Match champagne, honourable mention must go to the ever-impressive Tiny. The Irish trio of Everitt, Wilson and Best played very well, and Juandre Kruger continues to impress, even if the lineout was not functioning perfectly. Nacho showed why we've missed him in the past couple of weeks, providing leadership in the forwards and popping up in the most unexpected of places in the loose! Although I've singled those players out this was a great team effort, with everyone giving 100% throughout. On the Sale side Charlie Hodgson would probably be my pick, though JM F. Lobbe was tireless in the pack.
The Saints started the first half playing the right way, towards the Sturtridge, and unusually also kicked off. From the off it was clear that the team were not going to let Newcastle happen all over again, and some lovely interplay between Everitt, Downey and Diggin sent Foden through a gap. He shipped the ball right where it found its way to Paul Diggin via Joe Ansbro, but the winger was forced into touch just metres short of the try line. Referee Dean Richards pulled play back for a Saints penalty which Everitt slotted over, giving the home side a 3-0 lead after just four minutes.
A dodgy lineout aside, the Saints dominated the first period of play, with Foden again getting close to the line. Indeed, he got so close his knock-on resulted in a scrum on the Sale 5m line. Some excellent pressure from the home pack turned the scrum, and the Saints were awarded the put-in. Captain Bruce Reihana came off his wing and attempted to break the Sale line but couldn't get through, though the Saints were awarded another scrum just 5m out. Sale were able to clear, however, as Nacho Lobbe lost the ball and the Saints were penalised for offside.
Sale had to make their first substitution after just 15 minutes of play, with Will Cliff replacing scrum half Chris Leck. Shortly after the change Sale made their way into the Saints' 22 for the first time, but couldn't make the most of the pressure after conceding a penalty. Barry Everitt cleared the ball, and though the Saints won the lineout they lost the ball soon after.
A turnover in midfield saw the ball find its way back to Ben Foden, who launched a kick ahead which he chased and collected in fairly spectacular style (I suspect he is related in some way to Inspector Gadget, his arms seemed to extend out of nowhere to gather the ball). Everitt saw a gap and kicked the ball into it perfectly, where it was gathered by Sale's Kuadey. He slipped, and Digger pounced, a passage of play which eventually saw the Saints awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Everitt stepped up and added the three points, taking the score to 6-0 after twenty minutes.
The resulting restart was gathered impressively by Lobbe Jnr, who plucked the ball from the sky right under the nose of Neil Best. In hindsight this may not have been a brilliant idea, as it served only to rile the Irishman! Charlie Hodgson, continually overlooked by England, showed his quality soon after, breaking through a tackle and sprinting toward the line. The try was really only saved by the fact that the runner supporting him, lock Dean Schofield, appeared to pull a hamstring in the process leaving Hodgson unable to offload the ball. He was eventually tackled, but made his way back into position to drop a goal and half the deficit to 6-3.
The first try of the game came shortly after, scored by local hero Paul Diggin. Sale, having made three substitutions already, were clearly suffering and found badly out of position as some excellent handling skills by Everitt saw the ball passed out to Joe Ansbro who in turn found Diggin. The winger stepped inside his marker and scampered across the line to put the Saints 11-3 up. Everitt added the conversion, increasing the score to 13-3.
The final minutes of the half were dominated by the home side as a storming run by Courtney Lawes resulted in a penalty just outside the Sale 22. Everitt stepped up again, and again was successful with the kick, making the score 16-3 with five minutes of the half remaining. Sale were penalised again just a few minutes later after a scrum in front of their own posts. The opportunity for another three points was too good to pass up and Everitt was successful with the kick, giving the home side a 19-3 lead at half time.
The second half was just a few minutes old when the Saints made their first substitution, with Paul Diggin making way for Sean Lamont. The second battle of the brothers was not to be, however, as at the same time Sale replaced Rory Lamont with Nick Macleod. Play took a while to settle, with possession switching between the two sides several times. Sale were awarded a penalty on halfway, but Hodgson's kick to touch went dead, resulting in a scrum back on halfway for the Saints. This platform set up the next Saints attack, with Everitt kicking the ball across field into the arms of Bruce Reihana in a move perhaps more associated with Carlos Spencer than the Irishman! Reihana attempted to offload inside to Foden, but Sale winger Doherty was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball on and was sent to the sin bin for his efforts. Everitt missed the resulting penalty, a lucky escape for the visitors.
It was Sale's turn to have a go for the next five minutes, as they tried in vain to break through the home side's defence. The extra man told, however, and Sale could not find a way past. Eventually the Saints were awarded a scrum, and immediately put pressure on the visitors, with Tiny forcing his way through a gap and releasing Foden. The fullback passed the ball inside to Wilson, but play was brought back after the touch-judge decided that Foden had stepped over the line.
Foden could not be contained for long, however. A Saints lineout went awry, but the ball was rescued by Nacho. Stephen Myler, on for Barry Everitt, spotted a gap and dashed through it, passing the ball to Courtney Lawes. Foden came dashing through on a supporting run and could not be stopped as he ran on with the ball in his hands, touching down under the posts. Myler added the extras, taking the score to 26-3 with just over twenty minutes to play.
The game was all but won by this point, and the Saints seemed to be in the perfect position to go for the two extra tries that would secure them the bonus point. As has happened before, however, this pressure seemed to tell and mistakes began to creep into their play. With Sale's players looking exhausted and the Saints dropping the ball and conceding penalties the game threatened to dissolve into nothing.
Eventually the Saints found themselves in the Sale 22, with Lamont and Downey making good ground before Tiny powered over the line, only for the referee to claim he had been held up. Sale were penalised at the ensuing scrum, and the Saints opted to scrum again in the hunt for their third try. This proved to be an excellent decision, as Roger Wilson picked the ball up at the base of the scrum and forced his way over. Myler added the conversion, giving the Saints a 30 point lead, 33-3.
Sale kicked off with just a few minutes left on the clock. A knock on by the visitors resulted in a scrum for the Saints, who set themselves up for a final assault on the Sale line. Reihana, Ansbro and Joe Gray combined to take the ball just metres short of the line, where it was quickly recycled and worked right. James Downey found himself in acres of space and ran in unopposed for the all-important fourth try. Reihana took the conversion and missed, but thankfully it was of no importance as the final whistle blew on a 38-3 victory.
While the Sale side was undoubtedly under-strength, it would be remiss of me to detract too much from the Northampton performance. We have seen them falter on too many occasions to take anything for granted! While Ben Foden was awarded the Man of the Match champagne, honourable mention must go to the ever-impressive Tiny. The Irish trio of Everitt, Wilson and Best played very well, and Juandre Kruger continues to impress, even if the lineout was not functioning perfectly. Nacho showed why we've missed him in the past couple of weeks, providing leadership in the forwards and popping up in the most unexpected of places in the loose! Although I've singled those players out this was a great team effort, with everyone giving 100% throughout. On the Sale side Charlie Hodgson would probably be my pick, though JM F. Lobbe was tireless in the pack.
Let's hope that this is the start of another two-year unbeaten home record!
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News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)
Date: 14/03/2009 22:55
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Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: Saint Dom (IP Logged)
Date: 14/03/2009 23:25
Prodigious eye for detail, Emma - great stuff!
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: Saint Morrissey (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 07:38
Excellent report. Great season just gets better.
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: desbralass (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 07:58
Very good read,Emma...thanks.
I've Taken the Pledge.
Just call me Nellie.
I've Taken the Pledge.
Just call me Nellie.
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: HjS (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 08:26
Good read - lots of detail and a balanced viewpoint! Think one of my favourite moments was when the Sale 11 tried to chip Bruce - but instead, he caught it and headed off down the wing unopposed!
One typo - score on the first line should read "38", not "28"
South Burrda Stand / K-Lo / Row P / Renewed
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:15:08:36:36 by CdrAitch.
One typo - score on the first line should read "38", not "28"
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:15:08:36:36 by CdrAitch.
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: ernie b (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 09:11
Excellent game and excellent report, I feel I must mention Brett Sharman who is coming on in leaps and bounds and works tirelessly, I don't feel quite so unhappy about letting England have Dylan now.
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: St Muggs (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 09:18
Good stuff.
Just a minor point, I thought we scored more than 28.
Didn't have you down as an early leaver.![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
.
Sorry missed the comment above.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:15:09:20:50 by Muggs.
Just a minor point, I thought we scored more than 28.
Didn't have you down as an early leaver.
.
Sorry missed the comment above.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:15:09:20:50 by Muggs.
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: St Marlowe (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 09:20
My Fault Cdr_Aitch
Now corrected
Now corrected
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 09:42
Great reporting and a god read but I'm a little confused about your thoughts on our lineout. 2 ball to Kruger was safe as houses and as Broonie et al have alluded to previously, a confident statement of:
"this is where the ball is going and we will win it!"
Ball to the middle jumper was also secure. Our long ball was the blip as it was overthrown at least twice. However that lineout against Falcons, would IMHO, have won us the match. We did not concede field position through the lineout and defensively it was solid. Kruger is worth his weight in god!
Sale's lineout by contrast was poor and our boys were well able to disrupt or indeed steal their throw. Sale had a lineout on half way in the first half which was thrown to 2 and the scrum half box kicked to no gain. For me it was indicative of their lack of confidence both in the quality of ball received and their ability to use it.
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"this is where the ball is going and we will win it!"
Ball to the middle jumper was also secure. Our long ball was the blip as it was overthrown at least twice. However that lineout against Falcons, would IMHO, have won us the match. We did not concede field position through the lineout and defensively it was solid. Kruger is worth his weight in god!
Sale's lineout by contrast was poor and our boys were well able to disrupt or indeed steal their throw. Sale had a lineout on half way in the first half which was thrown to 2 and the scrum half box kicked to no gain. For me it was indicative of their lack of confidence both in the quality of ball received and their ability to use it.
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Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: eb13saint (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 10:01
Sorry Rich, should have explained myself - it was the longer throws that I was talking about, and I thought there were a couple of occasions when we were lucky not to be done for 'not straight'. As you say, Kruger caught everything intended for him.
Thanks for the kind feedback as ever, a nice easy one to write this week!
Thanks for the kind feedback as ever, a nice easy one to write this week!
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 10:07
OK Emma, that makes sense. Did sir ping for not straight all day? I can't remember him doing so. He was guessing a lot like for Tiny's try and the lineout he gave us when the Sale winger totally missed the ball. Much hilarity in c block for this and the TJ was well aware that we were laughing at him. For the yellow, my friends in c block believed that someone whose name rhymes with ditch actually gave the card and sir just complied. It was 50:50 and in rugby league probably not even a knock on!
Come join my Six Nations prediction game on SportGuru! It's free and loads of fun. Just click here:
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Pool name: coysdc
Pool code: tunabane
Come join my Six Nations prediction game on SportGuru! It's free and loads of fun. Just click here:
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Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: Wee Jim (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 10:08
Excellent report on an excellent game - as people have said its full of detail and opinion. I agree with you about the lineout - it was good but the long throws were a bit iffy.
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: St Francis (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 10:14
Nice report and in my humble opinion, very well written. I have to say that I thought "dodgy lineout" too, but that was after the two long throws went astray. If you lose one or two early on, you are nervous about lineouts for the rest of the match (or maybe that's just me)!
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: SlimJimmie (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 10:49
Thanks for a great read.
I thought Saints tackling yesterday was the sharpest I have seen in what has been a good season for us defensively. Joe Ansbro, Juandre K and the back row boys were scything down the Sale attack at every opportunity and the forward drives Sale attempted were rarely more than inches if any distance at all.
You rightly praise this whole team effort. Tom needs to pay a forfeit for the dreadful knock-on but there was so much to encourage the Saints support throughout the game.
Well done to the whole team including of course the coaches!
I thought Saints tackling yesterday was the sharpest I have seen in what has been a good season for us defensively. Joe Ansbro, Juandre K and the back row boys were scything down the Sale attack at every opportunity and the forward drives Sale attempted were rarely more than inches if any distance at all.
You rightly praise this whole team effort. Tom needs to pay a forfeit for the dreadful knock-on but there was so much to encourage the Saints support throughout the game.
Well done to the whole team including of course the coaches!
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: desbralass (IP Logged)
Date: 15/03/2009 19:28
I can forgive Wee Tam for his knock..more than made up for it with some lovely scrum half work 
I've Taken the Pledge.
Just call me Nellie.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:15:19:30:09 by desbralass.
I've Taken the Pledge.
Just call me Nellie.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:15:19:30:09 by desbralass.
Re: News: Saints sweep Sale away
Posted by: SaintsDuncan (IP Logged)
Date: 16/03/2009 13:00
Shouldn't he have been at fullback?
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