Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers

 Guinness Premiership.  Round 15.  27 February  2010

Result:Northampton Saints 19, Leicester Tigers 9

By Dominic Newbould from Franklin's Gardens.

Tigers began smartly, with a clever grubber kick to start the game, but Saints were alert and showed their intent with a fine rolling maul. It was a device that had malfunctioned for Saints this season, but on this occasion it was flawless, and Saints cleared their lines. There followed some early probing which ended when Digger fumbled the ball into touch. A couple of phases later and a Leicester maul led to a penalty against Nacho for offside. Kick to corner, another maul - well disrupted by Nacho - and then Digger redeemed himself by pouncing on a loose ball and hoofing it well upfield, a kick that set the tone for the evening. What is more,  Digger was tripped by Parling as he began to chase the ball, which earned Saints a penalty. 3-0 after 8 minutes, and Smyler is looking good. Parling looks bad and is lucky to remain on the pitch.

"Rugby football is a game I can't claim absolutely to understand in all its niceties, if you know what I mean. I can follow the broad, general principles, of course. I mean to say, the main scheme is to work the ball down the field somehow and deposit it over the line at the other end. In order to squelch this program, each side is allowed to put in a certain amount of assault and battery and do things to its fellow man which, if done elsewhere, would result in 14 days without the option, coupled with some strong remarks from the Bench."
P. G. Wodehouse , Very Good, Jeeves (1930)

During the first quarter, it was Nacho who most resembled a character from P.G. Wodehouse, as he did everything within his power (and without the Laws) to deny ball to the opposition. Then Besty took over the mantle of sin, and his next two transgressions (handling in ruck) earned Tigers a couple of penalties: the first was missed but the second sailed over the bar and the scores were level.

But that was the last time Tigers were to score as Staunton lost his touch with the place kicks and Saints' aggressive defence negated all the cunning and artistry of our dear neighbours from north of the county line... Saints lost their first three lineouts to Tigers' stealing strategy, and looked - if not dismayed, very far from mayed - as the restarts spat along the sodden turf.

Then it was Smyler's turn to try the grubber restart, and a bout of aerial ping-pong ensued, only ended when a mighty clearance kick from Bruiser carried the length of the pitch, from well inside Saints 22 to the heart of the opposing 22. We were then treated to one of Digger's truck-like tackles, a mazy run, ball slipped to Bruce and a penalty won in front of the posts. 6-3.

Saints had started with such intensity and a sense of mission, that the game felt much more like an international than the tepid England-Ireland affair we had watched earlier in the afternoon. And 10 minutes before half-time, Newby was sent to the Sin-Bin after a rustic spear-tackle on Smyler: 9-3. And while the influential Newby was cooling his heels, Smyler knocked over his fourth penalty on the trot - all so easy compared with the week before.

It was clear by now that Saints were being more tigerish and providing Leicester with the opportunity to observe fine, enterprising rugby - but rugby that was also uncompromising. The front row was in the ascendant; the half-back partnership was working like clockwork; and the back three had all the kicks in their armoury. Tuilagi and Tuqiri were the main strike threats, but such was the attritional oomph of Saints' tackling that these two were never allowed to flourish.

Shortly after half-time, there was a loud (but premature) ejaculation of joy as Flash appeared to snake-charm his way over in the corner, only to be told he had been driven into touch. But moments later, it was the Captain, leading by fine example, who drove over a little closer to the posts. 19-3. David, sitting next to me in Church's, commented that Saints were playing with verve. "More like Veuve Clicqot", I said hopefully.

It was not until the 68^th minute, though, that Smyler missed his first kick, but Staunton was failing with all his kicks at goal (few though they were, with Saints behaving in saintly fashion under the stern gaze of Nigel Owens). With 10 minutes left on the clock, the replacements began to arrive in earnest, and Easter (Lobbe), Long (Sharman), Mayor (Downey), Dickson (Dickens) and - finally, replacing Myler at 10 - Tin-Tin came on to put the icing on the cake with a neat flourish. The game was tidied up and finished and Leicester were the more relieved to hear the final whistle.

Man of the match was Captain, Phil Dowson, who led by his commitment and non-stop energy throughout the game. But all members of the team earned their campaign medals twice over in this game and Tigers were quite simply blown away and sent packing back up the M1 - with nothing to brag about.

And another special mention must go to the 16^th man - the supporters - whose creative and musical voice accompanied the play throughout the afternoon and evening...

One of the best moments of the evening came when I bumped into Leicester's coach, Richard  Cockerill as he made his way home.

"A great game," said I.

"Not unless you're a Saints supporter", was his instant rejoinder.

"I am", I pointed out.

"Ah - well, keep walking", he grumbled...

Attendance: 13,538

PHOTOS from the match can be seen HERE

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