Thoughts from the Chron 8th January 2009

Well it was anything but pretty, in fact at times due to the oppositions antics it was almost enough to send you to sleep, but the lads ground out the win against Bristol on Saturday at the Gardens which could go a long way to securing our Guinness Premiership future. Whilst most of us want to be entertained as well as see our team prevail I think by the time the final whistle went the majority were just happy with the win however it came and the thought of getting back in the warm (Chico fans apart!).

Bristol may be in a precarious position but I am still trying to get my head round exactly what they came to Northampton to try and do at the weekend. A win for them would have put them within touching distance of us and put doubt in our minds going forward, it would also have lifted them off the bottom of the table consigning Newcastle to the relegation position. With this in mind I thought they would come out all guns blazing, but no. Someone mentioned on the morning of the game that we should expect the kitchen sink to be thrown at us, instead we got the half hearted lob of a dirty dishcloth.

I do not think I have ever seen a team so intent on running down the clock straight from the kick off, as time and time again huddled meetings and a slow amble to restart the game were held at just about every stoppage.  That might be all well and good in the last ten minutes of the game preserving a lead but they were still taking time to get to lineouts and scrums when they were losing, essentially wasting their own time when you thought when you thought they would be all out trying to cut the gap on a team just above them in the table. Whether it was an attempt at damage limitation or not it certainly looked like one.  Given our relative league positions it also looked like a lack of ambition and if I were a Bristol supporter I would be worried about the future of my club given that performance and gameplan.

I have never been one much for criticising referees - here in print at least - they do have a thankless task, but it has to be said Bristol were very lucky that Mr Wrigglesworth took ‘charge' on the day, in effect he played right into their hands. A stricter, in fact any other, referee would have pinged them off the park for their continual timewasting and constant backchat. He, more than anybody, ruined the game as a spectacle and on Saturday's showing there must be questions over his comepetence at this level.

Fair dues to Saints though, you can only play what is in front of you and it must have been very frustrating at times with the constant stop start of the game and the ineffectiveness of the referee to do anything about it. There must have been a temptation to take the law into their own hands at times but they just got their collective heads down and got on with the job and the side trying to play the rugby rather than anything but won through in the end.

For all the downs there were a few ups though as well as the final result.

It was clear that our favourite pantomime villain Mark Regan with his sneering glances to his opposite number, Dylan Hartley, was trying to get under the youngsters skin and provoke him. I have no doubt the old Dylan would have risen to it sooner or later and in the least let it effect his game, at worst he would probably have lamped him and the team would have to suffer the circumstances. Instead the new Dylan just ignored him leaving Regan looking increasingly like a caricature of his old self. The episode spoke volumes more about the young pretender than the old warhorse though and ‘Ronnie' might wonder just how much more he might have achieved if he had the temperament of Dylan at his age and got on with the job instead of a career peppered by instances that made him such a ‘favourite' with the Franklins Gardens crowd.

The big talking point though was of course the performance of Ben Foden. Starting at fullback in place of skipper Bruce Reihana he played a blinder setting up Paul Diggin's opening try before scoring a 50 metre scorcher of his own leaving defender after defender in his wake. Bruce by his own very high standards had not had the best couple of weeks form wise and the performance of young Mr Foden certainly laid down the challenge for the former All Black to rise too.

The two battling each other for the 15 shirt can only be good for the club.

LEICESTER

Saturday evening, it's a 5:00pm kickoff for the Sky cameras, sees another good reason to be back in the top flight, the local derby against the Tigers. It seems an awful long time since Andy Goode kicked us to death with five penalties in the 10-15 loss at home in the relegation season so it is good to welcome the auld enemy back over the border. A loss up at Welford Road at the start of October, where a late interception try made the 29-19 score a poor reflection of the effort put in will be something for the lads to aim to avenge. However as sometimes happens in these encounters the form book can go right out of the window. Who would have thought that later in that relegation campaign we would secure victory at high flying Tigers and it is a brave man who calls the result without any doubts. Perhaps this year even more so as on home and away form so far we look two relatively similar sides. Form says it could be very close (what price a draw?) but then like I said how often does form take a holiday in Saints v Tigers games but I am going to put my head above the parapet and say we are going to edge this, very hard fought, one to set us in good stead before we head off on our travels to Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup next week.

The Saints Supporters Club are donating the proceeds of the Match Day Tote to Tom Smiths Testimonial Fund. So they have asked that you help them by seeking out a Tote ticket seller and dipping your hands in your pocket to support Tom, who has been a long standing and loyal servant of the Saints

The cheque will be presented to Tom in the Rodber Suite after the match, where the SSC are also providing live music, in the form of The 2 Tones (previously known as Ska Trek). I am told those of you who remember them from last year will recall a fantastic evening of song and dance (and a beer or two), as they belted out Ska and 2 Tone classics from Madness, the Specials and many more. Admission is free to all supporters, everyone welcome. Sounds like a good night!

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• News: Thoughts from the Chron 1st January 2009
• Thoughts from the Chron 18th December
• News: Saints 30 v 8 Bristol - Match Report

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

Northampton Saints Poll