Northampton Saints
News: Stalemate at The Roundabout
By St Dormouse
October 6 2013
The cobwebs clear, the passion diluted, the excitement a memory so time to look back at yesterday’s humdinger of a match with a clear head. If you’d asked me before kickoff if I would accept a draw I would have bitten your mitt off but I have to say that by the end of proceedings I was left wondering what might have been.
LEICESTER TIGERS 19 – NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 19
SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2013
The Roundabout, Leicester
MATCH REPORT
The match started as I feared it might, controversy from the off as Sam Dickenson clattered into Scully with what Tigs will say was a swinging arm to the head and what Saints will say was a powerful hit that Scully fell into. Either way, Scully was helped off and the tone was duly set in the scrums as Tigers destroyed the Saints’ set piece. From the resulting lineout Dawson gave away another penalty which Flood missed. It wasn’t the last time that Saints were double penalized resulting in huge loss of territory and eventually points. As Tigers attacked again Luther showed that he is becoming a real class act by tackling and pinching Leicester ball which eventually led to Smyler knocking over 3 points.
Minutes later saints were awarded a penalty and from the lineout Leicester clearly collapsed the driving maul, not legally, ie as the player lands and the maul is formed but seconds later when Saints have marched forward 5 yards. Somehow the scrum is awarded to Tigs who then manufacture a penalty playing on Doyle’s knowledge that they clearly have a stronger scrum. It certainly wouldn’t be the last time Tigs played that card. Another ‘double penalty’ ended when Luther tackled Allen in midfield. The ref went upstairs asking “did the tackled player land on his shoulders/neck or his back” I presumed it was a yellow card or not decision but when the answer came “on his back” Doyle brandished yellow so it was actually a red or yellow decision from the start. Again Tigs (+the stripey one-eyed gob) will squeal “nasty Saint thug, tie him to the corner flag and shoot him” while Saints fans along with panellists Neil Back and Dayglo claim it was a hard tackle and part of the game. Certainly no nasty intent but Luther had a 10 minute break and Flood kicked the penalty. Another penalty from Smyler gave the lead back to Saints and he kicked another just as Luther was coming back on so the 10 minutes didn’t go too badly for us. Flood got another and the scrum is a mess giving Tigs field position and shots at goal. Mercy is being taken apart although the other much talked about scrap between Corbs and Cole is much more even. Although Tigs are stronger in the scrum in open play it is The Saints who are doing all the running and are clearly the better side. A chip through from Fodes is knocked on by George as the ball just wouldn’t bounce up for him and the resulting scrum gives away yet another penalty and another get out of jail for Tigs. As half time approaches the ref is clearly heard telling Dylan that he “chose not to hear that” so he is obviously getting irked by some of the decisions and needs to button it. 6-9 at half time and apart from the scrums Saints are good for their lead.
Flood put the restart straight into touch, the resulting scrum leads to normal service resumed but Flood misses with the shot at goal. Saints now begin possibly their best period of the game with forwards Manoa, Lawes and big Sam making great inroads into Leicester territory with backs Burrell and Pisi adding their weight, eventually leading to Corbs burrowing over. Myler converts and Saints are 16-6 up. More wonderful work from Saints making yards and passing well almost leads to Dickenson going over, taking 3 or 4 Tigers with him but the ball is held up. Unfortunately Doyle chooses this scrum to pretend he gives a damn about feeding and Tigs are given yet another get out of jail card. A poor clearance from Dickson is dropped by George and bounces off Dickenson who was clearly offside but Doyle and his officials with almost Fox like vision fail to spot the offence. Even if Tigs had only been given a scrum for accidental offside you would have expected them to get the scrum penalty so Saints really did get away with that one.
Saints at this stage had some defending to do as Tigs clearly have upped their game. Jim takes off the impressive Corbisiero and the not so impressive Tom mercy and we actually win a scrum penalty of our own which Smyler again slots restoring the 10 point lead after Flood had reduced the deficit.
Luther was taken off with what looked like a nasty arm/shoulder injury and replaced by Wilson. Jim says it is only a sore shoulder which we can only hope is true because once again Burrell has been magnificent in defence and attack. Along with Sam Dickenson he is really making a name for himself.
One wonders if at this stage Myler should be playing for territory and maybe drop goals but it is Tigers who are starting to dominate and Lawes is pinged for not rolling away while Callum Clark clearly and legally wrestles the ball from an isolated Leicester player. Lawes is carded as is Louis Deacon for swearing at the ref. Interesting one this. Surely if Deacon has reacted after the penalty has been awarded then shouldn’t it be reversed? Dylan thought so but Doyle didn’t and maybe things were evened up after the North/Dickenson incident earlier on as Flood gets the 3 points. Leicester are now on their customary last 20 rampage and after a very squint throw Youngs fools the Saints pack by playing a ball that everybody expected to be rumbled. A try for Slater converted meant it was 19 all with a few minutes on the clock. Saints fans must have been expecting the worse as the magnificent Tigers’ 16th man kick in, and for once the 16th man wasn’t the ref. Dylan gives away a free kick with a minute to go with a lineout mix up and of course Tigers choose the scrum which can only have one result. As expected the Saints’ scrum goes back at a great rate of knots, not another penalty try please, or a penalty in front of the posts, but somehow the ball squirts out and Saints clear to hold on for the draw. Breathless stuff.
So my thoughts? The Boys done good. Brilliant stuff from both Sams, Luther, Man of the match Courtney Lawes, Dickson and Steve Myler who’s kicking record is superb. Saints were the better team for large parts of the game but discipline again cost us dear. I have pinched Robby’s stats, I hope he doesn’t mind, to emphasise the problems we are having in that area. The fact that so many penalties are being given away at scrum time is a real worry.
Quote: It's not just about today, look at the discipline issue thus far this season...
15 at home to the Chuffs
10 away at quins
17 away at glaws
15 at home to Sale
18 away at tigers
is 75 in all matches.
I need say no more on that matter.
There are people who suggest a draw is a good result. Others suggest that the reason we can never beat Leicester is because we think like that. I can sympathize with both camps on that one.
As for the ref he was always in a difficult position given the history but I think on the whole he did ok, obviously missing squint feeds from both sides and the occasional dodgy decision. Some fans on the Leicester sites are complaining that the ref almost Foxed them out of the game but they are obviously not happy with the fact that we, for once in the last few years, had an official that wasn’t so far up Cockerill’s backside he emerges from the bald one’s gob stripey.
Europe for the next couple of weeks, I hope that Saints can continue the good work and build a side to compete with the best.
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Excellent report St D. Many thanks.
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"Dylan, I'll pretend I didn't hear that', this is our so-called reformed captain. Doesn't help with any discipline issues.
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Honours even - fair enough imo.
...
On the other controversies....
First tackle by Dickinson on Scully - didn't see much wrong with it at the time, looks bad on replay but was very low \ ducking in to it so no card for me. Think it would have been a penalty if the TMO was used and don't understand why the refs don't have a look when they've got a man knocked out on the pitch and aren't sure what's caused it.
Burrell tackle. Ref protocals since Warburton World Cup Semi red card (and before for close observers) have been crystal clear, in a non patronising manner I think you should be concerned that Lawes was in the paper (well the Mail...) the other day saying he didn't understand the decision. A good decision consistent with other in match TMO decisions.
Dissent issues. One refs are being very inconsistent on and a messy one, through Tiger eyes Dickson and Hartley were openly contesting many decisions but only a yellow card for Deacon and no penalties against or reversed for either side.
Final controversy...I don't think the ball was out of the last scrum, Dickson just took a 'hand of back' style gamble and got away with it. Well played to him.
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