Northampton Saints v Doncaster Knights

National Division 1.  Round 7.  13 October  2007

 
Result: Northampton Saints 39, Doncaster Knights 17

 

By Jonathan Stockham from Franklins Gardens.

And Doncaster started the contest on Piggy's Perfect Patch with a first twenty minutes that showed why they sit near the top of ND1. Only a brilliant close in tackle by Tom Smith as the Knights went for the line and a couple of penalty misses by visiting fly half Mark Woodrow kept the lid on the score although the Knights did open their account after 18 minutes when Saints lost the ball and Woodrow chipped over to the right wing. Saints' James Downey found himself on guard duty but was wrong footed as Justin Bishop collected the chip and put Simon Grainger in for the opening try, Woodrow adding the conversion. 0 -7 after 18 minutes.

 

Steve Myler replaced Barry Everitt at this point and his early touch finders were missing their target, giving Doncaster the opportunity to counter attack. However, the Saints pack had decided that a half time team talk about their parentage, anatomical near-impossibilities and their future employment by forwards coach Nobby West was not what they wanted to hear and  so upped their work rate and aggression. A strong maul from a line out got them into Knight's territory until the ball was lost forward but moments later Neil Starling in his first start since his injury lay-off showed his potential for the next series of "Strictly Come Dancing" by waltzing through several tackles to feed the ball to Spencer, then Tupai and on to Reihana, who turned inside Bishop to score. Myler recovered well from an off the ball elbow to the face to slot the conversion. 32 minutes, 7 - 7.

 

Myler added another 3 points shortly after when Saints called the mark in their 22 metre area, took the kick quickly and charged up field to win a penalty 40 metres out. 35 minutes, 10 - 7.

 

Doncaster counter attacked to try to retake the lead but a chip through went long over the dead ball line. So, a drop out at the 22 metre line to Saints, which Tom Smith decided to take with a short tap kick over the line and, before Knights could react, the ball was in the hands of Chris Ashton with some space and 70 metres to go. And go he did, in the best Road Runner fashion but still with the Knights full back Wes Davies to beat. He didn't just beat him, he turned him inside out, back to front and upside down with his high speed side steps to dot down under the posts. Even King Carlos had to saunter upfield to congratulate the youngster on his sixth try for the club. 17 - 7 as the first half ended and the Saints starting to get the upper hand.

 

Saints started the second half playing towards the South Stand and Myler had an early penalty opportunity after Bishop was finally spotted offside by ref Dave Pearson. Unfortunately the kick was pushed to the right of the posts.

 

A few minutes of nothing other than equally shared tedium suddenly burst into life with Saints using possession from a scrum to feed Myler who spotted an opportunity on his right wing. The naysayers in the Church's stand groaned at "kicking away possession again" but the ball was taken, right in front of them, at speed, by Ashton who made progress before a great pass inside to Carlos sent the Kiwi in for the try. Myler added the conversion and a healthy lead was being built up by Saints at 24 - 7.

 

Unfortunately, Ashton's next touch was less savoury, as he was yellow carded for a dangerous shoulder charge, making no attempt to us his arms in the tackle. He seemed to forget that what is OK in the 13 man code isn't lawful in Union and a bit of back chat to Dave Pearson as he walked off received a further warning the card could easily become red if he wasn't careful!

 

Doncaster took the 3 points from the resulting penalty. 24 - 10, after 11 minutes.

 

In the interests of equity, Doncaster had Sean Tomes yellow carded a few minutes later to even the numbers up. Tomes had stamped on a player at a ruck, Barry Stewart had taken exception, the pushing rapidly became punches and the dogs of war were quickly unleashed as both packs weighed in. The original part of the bout between Tomes and Stewart spilled over the advertising hoardings until they were prised apart by team mates. Big boys game, big boys rules.

 

As the final quarter began, Saints were getting into their belligerent stride and another try soon followed. Saints chipped through to the right where Hopley took the ball on and his back row compadres of Toops and Foxy kept the move going towards the try line. Doncaster tried to kill it at a ruck short of the line but, with Pearson playing advantage, Carlos worked the ball out to the left wing where Paul Shields was lurking. He kept the momentum going and passed inside to Damo Browne who was not going to be stopped by the fractured Knights defence as he thundered over for a very well worked try and the vital bonus point. Myler missed the conversion but Saints were surely safe now at 29 - 10 with 18 minutes left.

 

Doncaster now had another go at reducing the deficit and were very nearly over Saints try line after a move from a 5 metre line out was denied when Pearson judged that the try had come after a double movement. The visitors were soon back in Saints half and tapped a quick penalty to send Scott Gray over at the posts, Woodrow adding the extras. 29 - 17 after 29 minutes.

 

Carlos left for a well earned rest and replacement Seam Lamont, fresh from World Cup duty with Scotland took up position on the left wing, Bruce moving to full back.

 

Saints came back and won a penalty right in front of the posts on 35 minutes. Myler opted for the kick at goal, which earned a few boos around the ground and the comment from Dave Pearson, "I thought that would be popular!"

 

As the game wore down, Doncaster never gave up and kept attacking. Tenacious defence by Saints kept them at bay until Knights rushed a move, dropped the ball and turned over possession. The ball was whipped out to the left wing where Sean was unmarked and able to jog home for his first try of the season after breaking clear of any covering defence. Myler converted in the last act of the match although Bishop had to have a moan at Dave Pearson that the try came from a forward pass. "Why ruin a great try!" replied the ref.

 

 

 

So, final score 39 - 17, a valuable bonus point secured and no league points for Saints' closest rivals in ND1. Considering the quality of the opposition, who to their credit never stopped playing and had some players of real quality in their ranks, a good performance from Saints. The backs are playing with some flair and the combination of Carlos and Bruce, together now with Sean in the back three could prove deadly. The problem is how to fit in the talents of Ashton, Paul Diggin and the Academy lads. Plenty of opportunity for squad rotation.

 

Up front there are several selection headaches for Jim and Nobby as they pick from strength and with Dylan now available to play, if selected, alongside Tom and Euan Murray / Barry Stewart, we should have a real chance of beating the other strong men of ND1, Exeter, away from home next month.

 

Teams: 

 

Spencer; Ashton, Starling, Downey, Reihana (capt): Everitt, Vass: Smith, Shields, Starling, Browne, Rae, Tupai, Fox, Hopley. 

Reps: Tonga'uiha, Ward, Rudzki, Lord, Brake, Myler, Lamont;

 

Doncaster Knights - W Davies; Bishop, Hunt, Davey, Van Vuuren; Woodrow, Nicoud; T Davies, Boden, Tau, Tomes, Kenworthy, Grainger, Gray, Wilson (capt).

Reps:Rawson, Griffiths, Luke, Cook, Carter, List, Jones

 

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