Question: Pick your MoTM as Saints won on the road at Wuss!

Off the back of a dreadful first half performance against Newcastle - could Big Jim get the boys up for the away game at Worcester?  Surely this was one of the away games targeted for a win at the start of the season.  Mind you I am sure that was also the case for Newcastle and Bristol both of which had passed without that much coveted "W" in the away column!

Sixfields is turning into a magnificent stadium and since my last visit there were further additions.  What Warriors now need is a really competitive team on the pitch.  Fortunately for Saints Mike Ruddoch has not yet been able to put together a squad capable of challenging the top half of the table - so the opportunity was still on.

In response to the previous week Jim made 9 changes - I think that is a record - and it certainly seemed to work as almost from the start Saints were on the front foot and although the scores were tight for some time it was in my view in little doubt that Saints would win from quite early on.  Saints outscored Worcester by three tries to nil and if it wasn't for some fumbling at the final pass would have gained a bonus point for 4 tries - but in the end had to settle for just the 4 win points.  The pick of the tries came about from the determination of the backs to run the ball from deep and not to get drawn into a game of just aerial ping pong.  From memory Foden turned the ball over deep in our twenty two , ran laterally and then forward, passing to Everitt who did not kick but attacked the space before offloading to Digger who scampered up field.  Eventually after the ball had passed through the hands of Downey and Lawes Scott Gray powered over.  The Warriors called for a forward pass but the try was a thing of beauty.

So it was that Saints won their first road trip in the Guinness Premiership and hopefully put that particular monkey to bed!

So who caught the eye?

In fourth place with 14% of the 92 votes was James Downey.  James continues to be a regular in this section but so far has failed to register a place on the leader board.  Always the bridesmaid for James!

In third place with 20% of the vote was Ben Foden.  Ben seems by this stage of the season to have settled in at full back - pushing Captain Bruce out to the wing.  It was Ben's invention and willingness to run the ball that strikes so much fear into the defence and led to that marvellous try.

In joint first place this week were Barry Everitt and Paul Diggin who both got 26% of the votes.  This is a great result for Barry as he made the most of the opportunity given to him and controlled the game excellently from half back.  Paul however continues to impress.  It is strange that he is overlooked by people from other clubs when they consider the threats that Saints possess - he is also over looked by the national selectors.  Perhaps they think winger must all be over six feet tall.  Shame on them! Congratulations to Paul and Barry for their joint win.  Now I know that people do not like the half point but I think it is fairer, if you are not a clear winner that there is a share of the spoils!

Full Result

Previous Winners

Vote History

Who wins?

Winners 

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