GP Round 7

Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby

 22nd November 2008 KO 1pm Franklin's Gardens

The side initially announced by Jim Mallinder saw a return for Carlos Spencer at fly-half, with the ever impressive Stephen Myler at full back to make room for the Kiwi.  The late withdrawal of centre Chris Mayor, however, saw a slight shuffling of the backs with captain Bruce Reihana switching from the wing to the ever unlucky number 13 shirt, and local favourite Paul Diggin making the step up from the bench to the starting XV.  South African Juandre Kruger (or ‘Andre Cryer' as it's apparently pronounced) made his first start in a Saints jersey after impressing in his brief time on the field at Bristol.  The injury to Mayor and subsequent promotion of Diggin meant a spot on the bench for young Nick Greenhalgh.  

Perhaps the most important thing to note, however, was the appearance of Ben Foden and his hair, or lack thereof.  I suspect that someone might need to inform Heat magazine of this development!

Bath began proceedings, with the Saints playing the right way, and almost immediately the visitors were rewarded with a penalty following an infringement by the Saints at a scrum.  Butch James slotted the kick over the posts and Bath took an early 3-0 lead.  There were some early fisticuffs, much to the delight of the crowd, as Nick Banahan and Chris Aston got to know each other.  The touch judge thought nothing of it, however, much to the audience's displeasure - panto season is well and truly underway in Northampton it seems!  The first ten minutes were all Bath, and although James missed a kick at goal he soon made amends by putting the visitors 6-0 up after 12 minutes.

The home side were given the opportunity to take possession when they were awarded a scrum from the restart after a Bath knock-on.  Good work by Wilson and Spencer resulted in a penalty to the Saints, though the outcome was perhaps not as expected.  Bruce Reihana stepped up to attempt the kick at goal, despite the presence of Myler.  Myler, it seemed, was carrying a slight knock and did not feel up to the kick.  Rather predictably, perhaps, the penalty was missed and the score remained at 6-0.

The clearance to touch following the penalty was missed, and some good work from Diggin and Easter saw the Saints edge closer and closer to the Bath line.  New boy Kruger had a go too but was tackled short.  The ball was worked across the field into the hands of Paul Diggin who skipped along the touchline to score in the corner.  A now recovered Stephen Myler added the extras, and after the first fifteen minutes the Saints were ahead 7-6.

The crowd's jubilation was short lived, however, as Bath scored almost immediately.  They won the ball from the restart and worked it wide, stretching the Saints' defence.  Full back Cuthbert ran on to the ball at pace, and the last-ditch tackles of three Saintsmen were not enough to prevent him crossing the line.  James added the conversion, restoring the lead of the visitors to 7-13.

Bath kept testing the Saints by getting the ball to their rather large backs.  Banahan and Cuthbert kept Chris Ashton honest by constantly running at him, and it is all credit to the young wing that they did not get more reward for their efforts.  Another penalty from Butch James edged the visitors further in front, 7-16, but the Saints were unlucky not to score a try after some excellent work by Mark Easter.  The final pass was not quite good enough, though the Saints were rewarded with a penalty which Myler converted to close the gap to 10-16.

Chris Ashton saved an almost certain Bath try when Berne hesitated and was tackled short, but former Saints player Dan Browne scored from the resulting scrum, giving the visitors a commanding 10-21 lead shortly before half time.  There was just time, however, for the Saints to get back in the game.  Mark Easter took the restart, and the Saints attacked through Foden and Spencer.  The home side were awarded a penalty which Myler successfully converted, reducing the gap to 13-21 at the break.

The second half started along a similar vein to the first.  Bath went on the attack, and aided by some interesting interpretations of the breakdown by the referee, soon found themselves in a position to increase their lead.  Butch James missed the penalty, keeping the gap at eight points.

The Saints attacked once more through Paul Diggin, and although a high tackle on the winger by Butch James went unpunished the Saints had the last laugh as Mark Easter picked up a loose ball to score in the far corner.  Stephen Myler added the conversion, taking the Saints to within one point of the visitors, 20-21.

The Saints soon had an opportunity to take the lead when an excellent chip and chase by Foden saw Ashton and Downey inches away from scoring.  I suspect if the TMO had been present he may well have awarded Downey his second try in as many games, but it was not to be.  The Saints kept at it, but the ball was lost forward and Bath were given the chance to clear their lines.  

The next few minutes saw some frantic work by the Saints, but the ball remained stubbornly on the wrong side of the try line.  Carlos Spencer missed an attempt at a drop goal, and a kick and chase by Chris Ashton almost saw Bruce Reihana cross for a try.  The captain was denied, and the follow up by Tom Smith was also deemed to have been held up over the line.  Once again Bath managed to clear the ball, but only as far as Stephen Myler who launched a drop goal from somewhere near Kettering.  Or the halfway line, but either way it was impressive!  The score gave the Saints a 23-21 lead after just over 20 minutes of the second half, and the crowd began to realise that the Saints were on the front foot.

Myler was soon involved again as he and Diggin took the ball in to the Bath 22.  Mark Hopley and Tom Smith kept possession as the ball eventually found its way to a lurking Tiny, who crashed over in the corner for the Saints' third try.  The conversion was missed, but the score had stretched the lead to seven, 28-21.

The Saints kept the pressure on, but a wayward drop goal attempt by Paul Diggin gave possession back to the visitors.  Bath worked their way forward through a penalty and line out, and created enough space for Jonny Faamatuainu to find his way over the line.  James added the conversion, and with eight minutes to go the scores were level at 28 all.

Although either side was capable of winning it looked as though the Saints would be the most likely to do so as they worked their way up the field with the ball.  An attempted drop goal by Carlos Spencer drifted wide, but the Saints soon had the ball back and were ready for another chance.  The forwards kept the ball moving towards the Bath line, and both Spencer and Myler began throwing grass in the air to test the wind.  It was not to be, however, as the referee penalised the Saints and gave Bath the opportunity to put the ball in to touch and end the game

It is no mean feat to hold the league leaders to a draw.  Indeed, if you'd asked me at full time last week what I'd have liked to get from this week I think I'd have settled for a losing bonus point.  However, the Saints were unlucky to come away from this game without 5 points.  The home side had almost all of the possession in the second half, and certainly almost all of the territory.  Indeed, I'd suggest that both Downey and Smith crossed the line, although I suspect Bath might argue that that was not the case!

Paul Diggin should have played himself into contention for a starting spot next week, even if he did start this game by default after Mayor became the latest victim of the curse of the 13 shirt.  Myler had a good game at full back, and although Chris Ashton still isn't perhaps his old self he looked a lot more with it than he did last week.  Reihana and Downey looked solid in the centre, although it obviously isn't the right place for Bruce's attacking ability to shine.  Spencer and Foden linked well at half back, and the forwards did well against what looked like a much larger Bath pack.  

Bath moved the ball well in the backs, and looked dangerous when given the opportunity to run at the Saints.  Banahan and Cuthbert are huge for backs (Cuthbert is only 21, 6'5" and nearly 16 stone, while Banahan is a year older, two inches taller and over 2 stone heavier),  and will cause any defence problems at full tilt.  Although their forward were weakened by the absence of Mears and Stevens they disrupted the scrums and lineouts to great effect, and won a number of penalties at the breakdown.  If they can keep their heads when the going gets tough I think Bath will be there or there abouts come the end of the season (how's that for sticking my neck out?!).

Stephen Myler was awarded the man of the match prize, but personally I'd give it (ahem) to Mark Easter.  He's only just coming back from a long lay-off and is playing out of position but he seemed to be the first to the ball on many occasions and made good ground every time he took the ball forward.  His try was well deserved after an afternoon of hard work.

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