Northampton Saints v Harlequins.

 Guinness Premiership.  Round 8.  21 November  2009

 Result: Northampton Saints 26, Harlequins 17

By Jonathan Stockham from Franklins Gardens.

Saints welcomed back Courtney Lawes from England duty as well as Ben Foden, both players who, in the eyes of Stuart Barnes during commentary on the England defeat at Twickenham, should have been present in some capacity at HQ. Anyway, their loss was Saints gain with Foden looking very sharp in attack and solid under the high ball when Quins launched up and unders.

Also as welcome to the Saints faithful was the inclusion amongst the subs of British Lion Euan Murray whose tour of South Africa had been cruelly shortened by a cracked fibula. Still, look on the bright side Euan, had you been a horse, the vet might have been reaching for the euthaniser!!

With a strengthening breeze blowing from the Lake End, Quins kicked off upwind but downhill. Despite knocking on the catch from the kick off, Saints soon got into their stride and the scoreboard man hardly had time to finish his lunch before Bruce! Bruce! Bruce! was over for a try in the left hand corner.

Quins had knocked on but Scottish referee Peter Allan, for whom the conditions must have made him feel right at home, played advantage. The ball whipped out along the line towards the Church's Stand with Jon Clarke neatly chipping a grubber through the Quins defensive line towards the corner flag. Quins winger Dave Strettle made a mess of gathering the ball and Reihana swooped, picked up and drove powerfully through the last gap tackles to dot down in the corner after only 3 minutes on the clock. Steve Myler pulled the conversion just left of the posts, so 5-0 already!

Quins restarted quickly. Although Saints returned back to halfway for a lineout, in the second phase they were pinged for holding on. Quins kicked for touch and drove the line out towards the Saints line. The home pack managed to disrupt the driving maul but from a series of rucks, Quins rumbled over the try line. Fortunately, Saints got bits of bodies under the ball for the ref to call held up over the line.

From the 3^rd reset of the scrum 5, Quins went for the blind side and headed for the corner flag. A massive tackle by Soane Tonga'uhia flattened the ball carrier who knocked on. Saints relieved the siege but Quins were soon attacking the line again although forward passes and ruck infringements were not helping. Indeed, Quins discipline and lack of precision let them down all afternoon. A niggly pack who seemed intent on starting fights didn't help the visitors and a well organised Saints defence was key to keeping the lid on the opposition.

On 18 minutes, after weathering the early storm, Saints got their act together. The back row trio were starting to impose themselves and good work by Wilson and Dowson saw the Saints skipper nearly over for a try. Indeed, if he had offloaded to one of his two support runners, the try would have been a certainty.

Saints kept the pressure on and two penalties by Steve Myler, one from just inside his own half with a following wind, moved the score on to 11-0. Quins narrowed the gap just before half time when Neil Best, playing very well in the loose and at lines out, decided to barge into rather than tackle his opponent and was sent to the sin bin with 4 minutes of the half left. Nick Evans opened Quins score from the penalty kick.

The visitors nearly added a try by none other than phlebotomist winger Tom Williams. He had earlier received a bloody nose, causing much merriment in the Tetley's Terrace! His "try" shortly after was disallowed due to a forward pass in the build up.

Saints managed to keep the ball for the rest of the half, helped in no small measure by a reversed penalty for foul play against Quins lock James Percival as a scrum blew up and Saints had been penalised until Percival's red mist descended.

Half time score: 11-3. No changes to either team at half time.

Saints kicked off towards the Lake End and went through the phases, recycling well until a Quins player tried handling the ball and lying down in a ruck at the same time. Naughty boy! After a long advantage yielded nowt, Myler took a place kick at goal from 35 metres. It nearly became one of those pub quiz questions, as the rather high kick sailed between the uprights into the breeze and looked for a moment as though it might be headed for the centre spot for the restart before dropping into the shelter of the stand! But the kick was called good and Saints moved on to 14-3.

Quins got stuck in again as soon as play resumed. Full back Mike Brown should have delivered a scoring pass to a team mate but greedily went for glory himself, to no avail. Quins were then nearly over in the right corner but adjudged held up. The scrum 5 was a mess and Quins were knocked back to the 22 before being penalised for holding on in the tackle.

Shortly after Best returned to the field, a young up and coming lad by the name of Courtney Lawes (watch out for him, he might be quite good one day) took over from Christian Day after a solid performance in the Saints boilerhouse.

Saints got the go forward message and some delightful improvisation and handling as the game loosened up nearly brought another try. Exciting to watch and at least Saints are trying to play exciting rugby.

And then Euan Murray came on!

With 15 minutes gone, he replaced Santiago Bonorino, who'd usefully enjoyed himself at the coalface, but the roar as Euan ran out for his return to competitive action was nearly at "try scoring" volume! Welcome back Big Man!

Saints immediately benefited from the injection of Murray-ness as they attacked Quins' line. Myler chipped to touch 5 metres out after Clarke had made ground and stayed on his feet well in contact. Quins won the line out and cleared to touch but a quick thinking Chris Ashton delivered a quick line out. Saints hurtled forward, spinning the ball left and then back right for Tonga'uhia to surge onwards and feed JuandreKruger to roar over for the try and straight into the arms of one of the Quins forwards who'd been niggling him all match! Poetic justice!

Myler missed the conversion but Saints were beginning to look comfortable at 19-3 with 21 minutes gone.

Scott Gray replaced Neil Best who'd been a major force in the first half and Comeonyousaints sponsored Joe Gray replaced Brett Sharman at hooker soon after.

Quins attacked but were penalised for holding on in Saints 22. Myler's kick did not find touch but Quins up and under in reply was cleanly marked by Foden. His kick from the mark was blown back by the strong breeze to give Quins a line out on Saints 22. Clean catch, along the line and Drauninui was over easily for a try to which Nick Evans added the extras to close the gap to 19-10 with 10 minutes left to play

Eeek!

Although Myler kicked off straight into touch, Saints then gave themselves a kick up the backside and took the game to the visitors. Quins mauls were disrupted and mistakes resulted. A penalty to Saints was kicked to touch 10 metres out from Quins line. Saints won the ball but just as their pick and drive game seemed to be going nowhere, replacement scrum half Alan Dickens nipped round the blind side in front of the Tetley's Stand to deliver a well timed pass to Soane for a thunderous canter over the line for try number three in the corner just as he'd been picked for Man of the Match! Lovely!

And to add the final polish, Myler slotted the conversion from the touchline to leave the Saints well ahead at 26-10 which is just as well as Saints gifted an interception try to Drauninui as they looked for the bonus point try with 10 seconds left. Evans added the conversion to bring the final score to 26-17.

Saints pack had the better game, obviously to the annoyance of their opponents. The back row were everywhere and Dowson, as captain, led from the front. Saints backs looked threatening whenever they had the ball but also knew when to call the mark or kick for touch and settle things down if necessary. Quins had several chances but lacked the final touch or were undone by clever defence and their own indisciplne or errors. On another day it could have been a lot closer.

Still, four points for Saints and no crumbs for the visitors makes for a good days work and some enjoyable running rugby.

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