News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
By Nick Batley
April 19 2009
The last time I did a match report that wasn't dominated by flooding and pitchforks was two years ago, versus Sale Sharks, where I commented on the perceived notion that Saints played significantly better in the first half than the second half. It's nice to know that after spending most of the season's games at university, little has changed.
April 19 2009
The last time I did a match report that wasn't dominated by flooding and pitchforks was two years ago, versus Sale Sharks, where I commented on the perceived notion that Saints played significantly better in the first half than the second half. It's nice to know that after spending most of the season's games at university, little has changed.
Guinness Premiership Round 21
Northampton Saints v London Irish
Saturday 18th April - Franklin's Gardens
KO 3pm
I've been told by various sources (mainly my father) that the Saints were on a roll this season at home, having lost only one game in the last 25 months. Going on the first half, I believe that and so much more. But whilst the second half wasn't terrible, it wasn't perfect either, and I'd been led to believe that the second forty minutes were our strongest. Silly mistakes let an improved London Trish back into what seemed destined to be a trouncing after the first forty minutes. To be fair, the Exiles didn't kill the second half, so much as cut it up into little pieces and send them back to its next of kin. However unedifying a spectacle it creates, it's a perfectly understandable and legitimate tactic to take on (this is mainly to counter some of the nastier comments made by Saints fans, though we'll get onto stuff that actually may have been illegal later).
The game started at sunny o'clock, amidst the raft of Irish team changes that your reporter eventually gave up on covering. It all began cheerily enough for the Saints, with a lovely break by Foden and Myler, possibly showing off for the somewhat England-coach-like presence in the crowd. However, the Saints of old prevailed, and they eventually gave away a penalty from an easily scorable position.
Things got even worse on the good-to-poor scale as a promising break by Saints was cut short when a wayward Bruce pass found none other than Sailosi Tagicakibau, who despite the best efforts of our favourite pocket-sized bundle of energy, Diggin, breezed into the corner, to make the score a somewhat disconcerting 0-5 after three minutes.
However, things improved almost straight afterwards, when Foden was taken out off the ball (I have this noted down in BIG LETTERS, so it must have been quite emphatic), leaving Smyler to knock over the penalty.
In the programme today, there are the nominations for the Saints try of the season, which is a shame really, because the following could quite easily rank highly amongst them. After the Exiles scrum wheeled, the Saints were allowed the honour of the put in. Hartley burst through the Irish defence with the lack of subtlety he's become known for, offloading to Gray, some clever hands from Dickson sending a barrelling lock in the form of Juandre Kruger to scamper over the line, looking perfectly pleased with himself for scoring his first home try 
apparently. Stephen converted the perfectly simple conversion, and everything was tickety-boo after ten minutes at 10-5, even more so after our scrum crushed the Irish pack like a tin can, and the score was extended to 13-5.
With possession standing 113% to 2% in Saints' favour, it seemed time that Irish were allowed the ball for more than ten seconds, and have the ball they did. A fair few phases of play culminated in tall bundle of limbs Courtney Lawes being penalised, apparently for diving off his feet, allowing Delon Armitage (henceforth known as ‘Darmitage') to convert and move the score to 13-8. Clearly angered at the idea that the opposing team had the ball for more than ten seconds, the Saints pushed back straight away, with Euan Murray taking on the entire pack's job and squashing any resistance. A penalty, apparently for ‘playing the ball on the ground or something' was conceded by the Irish and Myler duly tapped it through.
After this, Northampton felt that they should camp down the opposing half, where they took on their usual tactic of making some brilliant breaks that are ruined about five metres short of the line. When the Saints got a penalty close to the try line and elected to take a scrum, you could sense a pushover from our frankly superior pack; sadly not. After two resets, the ball went out to our captain who celebrated with a knock-on. Gray was found offside somehow, and Darmitage was free to clear the resulting penalty.
Worry not though, for a try is on the horizon. With a ruck formed on the wing, Foden broke through, offloading to Lawes, who sprinted with ALL HIS MIGHT until he met Topsy Ojo; but fear thee not, for Dickson was on his shoulder to receive the ball and dive over on the wing. The conversion was missed, but the Sai
nts ended the half on an ultimately high note at 21-8.And it was to be the highest note they'd reach. London Irish are after all in the top four, and were "not gonna take anymore of this", much like John McClane, and some of the more cynical may say just as violently. In the first couple of minutes, the hideously unsurprising happened as Dylan got into a fight with Nick Kennedy, and had to go off almost immediately afterwards. Seemingly determined to get under the Saints' collective skin, the Exiles actually played well, niggling and disrupting everywhere they could, and occasionally being fairly petulant. Whatever, it got to the Saints, and mistakes are what happened.
Amongst a tall unidentified man (we're not even sure he was playing for either team) pushing over Dickson about fifty feet away from the ball, and Roger Wilson being helped from the pitch, the Irish eventually put some good moves together, and a penalty in the 57th minute gave the first points of the half.
Ultimately, little happened. Downey returned from what was apparently a blood injury, but I doubt actually was. Darmitage missed a penalty due to an onslaught of Dixie Horns from The Dukes of Hazzard. Our mandatory OAP replaced Tanga'uiha, and Danaher felt that the time was ripe to punch Dickson hard in the face a few times, causing him to walk down the yellow card road.
This didn't exactly deter the Irish though, who in fact profited from Danaher's absence. A penalty in front of the posts that seemed to be for a combination of going off their feet and not rolling away was duly converted by Darmitage. As Irish pressure increased, so did Saints errors. Needless knock-ons and kicks that went straight out became part of the Northampton wallpaper. They simply couldn't wrestle the ball from the Irish, cheered on by the now more vocal travelling support, who were drowned out by pointless booing. Nevertheless, another penalty was converted and with the score at 21-17, I was reminded horribly of three years ago, when we stole a game we deserved to lose in the last minute. Against whom? The Exiles, of course.
Of course, the game had to go to the final seconds, mainly so we could count down the last ten seconds. Irish got a penalty and kick it down into the corner, where I thought the Saints of old would prevail (hey, I'm a cynic) and concede. It wasn't to be. The throw-in wasn't straight; Saints got a scrum, a penalty and then a kick into the stands. 21-17.
It was by no means a beautiful game, at some points downright dirty, but we won in the face of some strong Irish tactics (some legal, some certainly illegal). The first half was astounding, and it was only a couple of foolish mistakes that didn't allow us to score more. It was, I have to say, a vast improvement on the Saints I seem to remember, and that can only be a good thing. Play like the first half and we're in the Heineken Cup. Play like it next season, and who knows, we could try and remember what its like to be title contenders again...
Photographs courtesy Simons Robinson and Hendy
Bookmark or share this story with:
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponRelated Articles:
News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)
Date: 19/04/2009 17:22
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: St. Nick (IP Logged)
Date: 19/04/2009 18:07
I would like to point out, having watched the ITV4 highlights, I may have been wrong on a few occasions, and for that I apologise
Supporting from afar in Canterbury
Supporting from afar in Canterbury
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: Saint Tim (IP Logged)
Date: 19/04/2009 18:36
I just missed the highlights. Did they show much of our game?
Good report by the way.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Good report by the way.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: St. Nick (IP Logged)
Date: 19/04/2009 19:40
They actually went fairly in depth, interviews 'n' all.
The thing that got Danaher sent off was perhaps a bit petty, but not sure it desrved a yellow
The thing that got Danaher sent off was perhaps a bit petty, but not sure it desrved a yellow
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: Saint Tim (IP Logged)
Date: 19/04/2009 20:05
I will have to wait fot it to be on-line.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad (IP Logged)
Date: 19/04/2009 21:15
Still a good report Nick
“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.”
“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.”
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: Saint Dom (IP Logged)
Date: 20/04/2009 09:49
A good report Nick - it's always difficult to account for "a game of two halves" - but this was a classic. Our scrum "crushed the Irish pack like a tin can" just about sums it up. It would be asking for too much to expect it to happen throughout the second half as well...
Didn't spot London Trish, though - where was she sitting?!
Didn't spot London Trish, though - where was she sitting?!
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: Phil. (IP Logged)
Date: 20/04/2009 10:59
A fine read, Nick!
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: ChrisG (IP Logged)
Date: 20/04/2009 11:22
Yep top reporting Nick.
Re: News: Saints overcome feisty London Irish fightback 21 17
Posted by: Wee Jim (IP Logged)
Date: 20/04/2009 12:09
Excellent reporting Nick!
More Northampton Saints headlines
- News: Thoughts from the Chron 18th March 2010
- News: LV= CUP FINAL: Saints vs Gloucester - Match Preview
- News: Saints Seal Semi, Send Sarries South Seeking Salvation
- News: Thoughts from the Chron 11th March 2010
- News: LV= Cup (SF): Northampton Saints vs Saracens - Preview
- Supporting on all fronts
- News: Life's a Beach as Saints leave Sale Dune and Out
- News: Thoughts from the Chron 4th March 2010
- News: GP: Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview