Heineken Cup Pool 1 Round 1

Northampton Saints v Munster

Saturday 10^th September 2009 KO 6:00 pm

Red Sky at Night, Jimmies' Delight.

The atmosphere was electric: if the floodlights had had the nerve to fail, the power generated by the singing alone could have lit up the stadium - indeed, the rugby itself did just that. I met a lovely gentleman from Munster in the club before the game and he told me that in his younger days he'd played for Sunday's Well and he followed Cork Constitution. His is one of the many stories that Saints supporters will have heard this weekend - isn't rugby a wonderful game?

So to FG. All I could see was a tide of red - at times it seemed that the Munster shirts outnumbered the GBG. The singing was also competitive, but my throat tells me that the Jimmies and Wendies held their own very well.

Once I'd reached my seat, I had time to look around...I spotted three Tigers shirts and two Leinster ones, the latter grinning sheepishly at the cheers they received from the Munster support. Wonder which song they sang?...

Imagine being in the dressing rooms before kick off...the wall of sound would surely have penetrated the stoutest of brickwork. The excitement built and built until at last the teams emerged. If the volume had been loud before     it went off the scale when they ran out.

But then disaster...what's this? Saints playing toward the South Stand in the first half?

We're doomed!

The whistle was blown and we're off - the first tackle by Bruce and Courts set the tone for the whole game...no quarter asked, none given.

Munster retained possession to clear the ball upfield. The men in red pinched our lineout, but as it wasn't straight...not a good start, I felt, but nerves needed steadying.

Second lineout was better, Kruger taking the ball well. Saints broke out but held on, penalty to Munster.

Saints were then awarded a penalty, took a lineout and Freddy again took the ball, which was kicked over the top, only for Saints to be caught offside. Bruce was too quick out of the blocks, penalty Munster. RO'G stepped up, but sent the ball wide of the upright. From the restart, O'Leary fumbles and scrum to Saints, who were then penalised - free kick to Munster.

An up and under saw Saints break, Munster offend, and a kickable chance for Shane G. Points on the board at last,3 -0.

We then had some entertainment in the South end...we had a choir master gee up the Munster folk, getting "Fields" going...not that they needed much encouragement.

Another bone crunching tackle, this time from Downey on de Villiers...ouch! The men in red had possession and kicked for touch, but it was just too long, touch in goal. Courtney then put in another special, this time on Warwick.  That tackle  brought smiles/grimaces to a few faces in the crowd.

 Another penalty to Saint after a scrum: were our boys targeting Buckley? Geraghty's kick went wide, but from the restart, Ben Foden put up a howitzer and Munster knocked on. Tiny then took on Tom Smith's other role, scrum half...Saints attacked and after some confusion, Chris Ashton kept a cool head to gather the ball and score the easiest of tries. Conversion missed and the score was 8 -0.

A lineout upfield saw the clearance from Saints go to Howlett, who passed to Warwick for a drop goal...8 -3 the score.  The next score saw a sublime try for Munster...passes through the backs, Warwick to Earls, who chipped the ball over Saints, gathered by Wallace to score. Dowson's tackle couldn't stop him, 8 - 8 the score. Much joy in the Church's stand as the conversion was missed.

Scrum in the Saints 22 collapsed and Horan was down injured, but recovery was swift. Sir then had a chat to him and Bonorino for their antics. Munster penalty, lineout .A rolling maul, then Saints gave away another penalty and O'Gara added another 3 as the sun sank over the west stand. Then Ashton broke out to set the FG pulses racing, advantage given and Geraghty goes for a drop goal. It goes nowhere, but the kick is taken.11 - 11.RO'G then slotted another 3,before Bruce nailed the Munster man catching the restart to gain Saints another 3 points.14 all and half time beckoned. Time for the restart and Dixon cleared...Munster ran it back, Howlett tackled by Clarke and the fullback tried to kick the ball through, for it to be gathered by Saints...what was Air Courts doing on the wing...and it's pick and drive by Saints and metre by metre they went nearer to the 22.Ref calls ruck, Munster infringe and the very alert Shane Geraghty caught Munster unaware...tap and go, try Saints! Sir called for the TMO...he was blocked by a couple of Munster players and didn't see what happened. But the South Stand all knew...21 - 14 with the extras.

Half time and time to draw breath.

The second half started as the first had ended - fast and furious. A lineout to Saints saw Courts downed...he recovered and play continued - and a lovely try by Saints. Ashton scored his second of the evening, but it was made by Geraghty - well done for the diving celebration, Asbo! Conversion and the score was 28 -14.

Green Army! (Sorry)

Back to the Lake end and Saints gave away another penalty- Up stepped R O'G to make it 28 -17. Bonorino started to suffer with cramp, but continued playing until he'd witnessed Tiny once again play at Scrum Half. On comes Big Brian as Munster slot another 3 and 28 - 20 the score at that point.

Munster then attacked for what should have been a certain 5 points; only for O'Gara to fumble the ball...he wasn't best pleased with himself. A few changes for Saints, Courts and Downey off, Nacho and Mayor on.

Munster had the ball and attacked again, drove on to break through for another try. With the conversion it was then 28 - 27 and tense it was in my world and probably everyone else's as well.

Dixon off, Dickens on and another scrum gained Saints another penalty...lineout and Tiny  at scrum half again. Munster gave another penalty away...3 more points,31 - 27 to Saints, with 5 to go. No fingers left by this point...very difficult to write stuff down!

Munster could have won the game in the last 3 mins...they were awarded a scrum in the Saints red zone...free kick, scrum again...the tension was almost unbearable...turnover and Nacho had the ball, only to run into his own player. With the clock reading 80 mins, Munster had posession, scrum again, O'Leary broke through, went down, O'Connell carried on, went to ground, pick and drive - penalty. No choice but to tap and go...ball and player go to ground...what happened in there? Ref blows up, game over.

What tension!  A fantastic evening of entertainment. Worth the season ticket price alone.

Sir had a good game, I hardly noticed him and that's an achievement in that shirt!

Both sides wanted to play rugby, no spoilsports on the pitch at all. The real winner on this wonderful evening was the rugby. Thank you Munster for bringing your supporters with you. Thank you Munster for bringing out the best in Saints.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• News: Saints v Munster HC Preview
• Thoughts from the Chron 8th October 2009
• News: Wasps 20 Saints 15 Match Report