ComeOnYouSaints.com - Thoughts from the Chron 23rd April

Thoughts from the Chron 23rd April

By Chris Gleadell
April 24 2009
Another fine sunny day at the Gardens and another fine victory over one of the Guinness Premiership's top sides, London Irish. It may have been the proverbial game of two halves but Saints had enough in the tank to hold off a spirited second half Exiles fightback after dominating proceedings in the first period.

Thoughts from the Chron 23rd April 2008

In that first forty minutes, despite suffering an early breakaway try scored by Sailosi Tagicakibau the team regrouped and took the game to the visitors. The scrum was on top form, especially the front row, and two well taken tries, one from man of the match Juandre Kruger and another from Lee Dickson, the second set up with a fine off load from Courtney Lawes, plus the boot of Stephen Myler gave Saints enough of breathing space to hold Irish at bay in the second half.

So as the league season draws to a close this Saturday it leaves the Saints having beaten every Guinness Premiership side at least once bar the Newcastle side that took our long standing home record and Bath who recorded that ‘arguable' draw here at the Gardens.

If someone had offered you just one home GP loss at the start of September I am sure most of us would have bitten their hands off so you have to put this years home campaign down in the job well done column. And who knows a week tomorrow (Fri 1st May) we might round off the Gardens season by qualifying for a final too!

As returnees to the top flight you only have to look at some of those names above us in the table to see how far the squad have come this season. For the last couple of months perhaps even more so when you look at those wins over Sale, Gloucester and Irish and things certainly look good for the future.
With the squad being strengthened further with the likes of Shane Geraghty and Phil Dowson, and maybe a couple more to come, we look well set for a tilt at the next step up in the Guinness Premiership as we try to consolidate a top six, or fingers crossed a top four, place in time to come.

The season is not over yet though, we potentially still have three games to play starting with a trip north to Stockport on Saturday to take on Sale Sharks as the GP proper comes to a close. A quick glance down the table tells you that Sale still have a slim chance of hitting the top four and the championship playoffs. Their cause wasn't helped when a mix up over ex-Saint Dave Ward's registration meant they lost a vital point which means it's a four try bonus point winning game for them (and other games going their way) or nothing. Saints on the other hand can secure the seventh place they currently occupy with a victory of their own hoping that Wasps do not record a five pointer themselves as they take on freefalling Gloucester at Adams Park. There may be a few more twists and turns yet on Saturday afternoon and I am sure there will be a few ears plugged into results elsewhere as the games progress.

With the European Challenge Cup semi final against Saracens just six days later there must be a temptation to rest a few players but Big Jim and his team have to juggle momentum with fitness though it would be good to see finish our first season back in the GP with a flourish.

It could be a good day out. The weather is predicted to be good, two teams still with something to play for (at least at three o'clock) and the home support saying goodbye to a few notable names including local folk hero Sebastian Chabal. I'm looking forward to it!

LIONS

Congratulations to Euan Murray on being the single Saint in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa over the summer. As every pundit and supporter has been picking their own selections over the last few weeks the names Ben Foden and to a lesser degree Dylan Hartley have featured in a few but when Ian McGeechan named the squad on Tuesday Euan was our sole representative. On his form this year it's a well deserved choice.

I have always thought Geech the master tactician and he will have picked a squad best suited to fit his gameplan in beating the Springboks. However on first reading there were a few names that might have raised an eyebrow of two and not for them being maverick choices. Whilst it is good to see the likes of Lee Halfpenny get the nod you do wonder what the likes of Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley and Phil Vickery will bring to the party on this years form. Of course all three play for Wasps who McGeechan coaches. Those with long memories will remember him getting lambasted by all for picking too many Saints the last time the Lions toured there a dozen years ago, and look what happened then. He has been getting the same stick this time round, especially from other clubs supporters but I have a sneaking feeling once he gets them all together as a group he might just prove an awful lot of people wrong. Time will tell.

WANDERERS

It was not just the 1st XV hitting the heights over the last week the second string were doing the business too. On Monday night down at Henley the Wanderers won their first leg of their Guinness A League final against Wasps 26-10. The result was all the more remarkable because the Saints were down to thirteen men at one stage but hung on defensively by their fingertips. And not only a well done to the team but to all those supporters who found their way to Henley on Monday too. A Wasps supporter commented this week that it was like an home game for the away team as the travellers made themselves heard. Of course it is not all over yet. The Wanderers defend that sixteen point lead in the second leg at the Gardens on Monday night. Kickoff is 7:30 and if you can get along to give them your support.

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Chris Gleadell's thoughts from the Chron 23rd April

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 23/04/2009 23:32

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