bouncy...bouncy...
Saints v Leicester ZP Preview
bouncy...bouncy...
By Rich
November 7 2002
Despite the early kick off this East Midlands derby promises to be an exciting encounter. Whilst the home union players are away for the autumn internationals both teams can rely on quality southern hemisphere players such as Blowers, Connors, Kronfeld, Kafer and new boy Bruce Reihana.
bouncy...bouncy...
November 7 2002
Despite the early kick off this East Midlands derby promises to be an exciting encounter. Whilst the home union players are away for the autumn internationals both teams can rely on quality southern hemisphere players such as Blowers, Connors, Kronfeld, Kafer and new boy Bruce Reihana.
Northampton Saints Vs Leicester Tigers
Saturday 9th November 2002
Zurich Premiership
12.00pm Kick Off
Saturday 9th November 2002
Zurich Premiership
12.00pm Kick Off
For Saints fans this is traditionally THE fixture
of the season. The Quadruple English and double European champions are currently
third in the premiership and despite a slow start are still very much the
team to beat. The brand spanking new 12 600 capacity Franklin's Gardens
has been sold out for weeks. So why, why, why, why do the powers that be
have to devalue the biggest fixture (with apologies to Bath and Gloucester)
in the English club calendar by staging it on the same weekend as the autumn
internationals? This weekend Saints will be without Matt Dawson, Steve Thompson
and Ben Cohen (England) Mattie Stewart, Tom Smith and Budge Pountney (Scotland)
and Steve Williams (Wales) whilst Tigers will be without Tim Stimpson, Austin
Healey, Neil Back, Lewis Moody, Ben Kay, Martin Johnson (England) and Geordan
Murphy (Ireland). That piece of cud has been chewed extensively on the message
boards, so it becomes laborious to discuss it further here.
Zurich Premiership Table
Leicester have not been quite up to their usual standards so far this season and whilst the home league record remains intact their away form has been a source of worry in their part of the world and a glimmer of hope for all other Zurich premiership clubs. Here are the match reports from the Tigers Sportnetwork site:
History repeats as Tigers get mauled
Tigers 30 - Quins 6
Sale 29 Tigers 16
Leicester Tigers 52 Newcastle Falcons 9
Bristol 25 Leicester 20
Tigers scrape past Bath
Saracens 18 Tigers 26
Tigers 9 - Wasps 6
From these results alone it is easy to see that the form lines in this years championship race are all over the place! Both teams have lost away at Sale although Leicester did so more convincingly with Saints only losing with the last kick of the match. Leicester obliterated Newcastle a team that Saints stuttered past at FG. A 14 man Bristol beat the Tigers where Saints had previously been victorious. Leicester struggled past a plucky Bath side that Saints brushed aside without upping a beat. Then they go and beat Saracens at Vicarage Road where Saints were made to look very ordinary indeed and finally in abysmal conditions Tigers sneaked home against a Wasps side blown off the park by Saints at FG. My only conclusion is that form counts for nothing and Saturday's encounter will be as intriguing as it is passionate and exciting.
Team News:
Saints
15 NICK BEAL
14 JON SLEIGHTHOLME
13 Mark Tucker
12 JOHN LESLIE (capt)
11 ORIOL RIPOL
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 Johnny Howard
1 Robbie Morris
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen
4 Jon Phillips
5 MARK CONNORS
6 Grant Seely
7 ANDREW BLOWERS
8 Mark Soden
Replacements:
16 Matt Miles
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Rob Hunter
19 Darren Fox
20 Ian Vass
21 James Brooks
22 BRUCE REIHANA
There is still no official news from the Tigers camp but here's the latest Leicester Mercury.
Injuries and call ups deplete Tigers
Zurich Premiership Table
Leicester have not been quite up to their usual standards so far this season and whilst the home league record remains intact their away form has been a source of worry in their part of the world and a glimmer of hope for all other Zurich premiership clubs. Here are the match reports from the Tigers Sportnetwork site:
History repeats as Tigers get mauled
Tigers 30 - Quins 6
Sale 29 Tigers 16
Leicester Tigers 52 Newcastle Falcons 9
Bristol 25 Leicester 20
Tigers scrape past Bath
Saracens 18 Tigers 26
Tigers 9 - Wasps 6
From these results alone it is easy to see that the form lines in this years championship race are all over the place! Both teams have lost away at Sale although Leicester did so more convincingly with Saints only losing with the last kick of the match. Leicester obliterated Newcastle a team that Saints stuttered past at FG. A 14 man Bristol beat the Tigers where Saints had previously been victorious. Leicester struggled past a plucky Bath side that Saints brushed aside without upping a beat. Then they go and beat Saracens at Vicarage Road where Saints were made to look very ordinary indeed and finally in abysmal conditions Tigers sneaked home against a Wasps side blown off the park by Saints at FG. My only conclusion is that form counts for nothing and Saturday's encounter will be as intriguing as it is passionate and exciting.
Team News:
Saints
15 NICK BEAL
14 JON SLEIGHTHOLME
13 Mark Tucker
12 JOHN LESLIE (capt)
11 ORIOL RIPOL
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 Johnny Howard
1 Robbie Morris
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen
4 Jon Phillips
5 MARK CONNORS
6 Grant Seely
7 ANDREW BLOWERS
8 Mark Soden
Replacements:
16 Matt Miles
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Rob Hunter
19 Darren Fox
20 Ian Vass
21 James Brooks
22 BRUCE REIHANA
There is still no official news from the Tigers camp but here's the latest Leicester Mercury.
Injuries and call ups deplete Tigers
Not a bad Saints line up at all! 6 internationals start
for the Saints and Bruce Reihana on the bench.
The front row of Morris, Richmond and Budgen has a very solid look about it. Richmond does not have Thompsons power and pace but he is a scrapper and ball winner on the floor. Rather than making up for Wally's absence he could well make up for Budge Pountney in the 'dark arts' department. Connors and Phillips were by all accounts outstanding last week at Gloucester, so no worries there and the back three of Blowers, Soden and Seely will not be scared of their counterparts despite the presence of Josh Kronfeld.
In the backs Johnny Howard gets his deserved chance in place of the newly shy and retiring Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson provides an ever steadying influence at 10. Leslie and Tucker combined well last week at Castle Grim and the Tucker in particular seems to be hitting a vein of form. The back three of Ripol, Sleightholme and Beal is experienced, pacy and with Oriol keen to re-capture his wing spot, a little bit exciting. All three will be lifting their personal performances in a bid to keep Bruce Reihana on the bench.
All in all if this Saints side performs to it's potential and sticks to the Wayne Smith mantra of 'doing the simple things well' then there is no reason why the Saints can't succeed despite losing their big names.
Last Season
Saints 11 Tigers 21
Tigers 17 Saints 6
History:
Where do you want me to start? This is one of the oldest surviving fixtures in Saints history with the first match between these sides taking place in the 1894-95 season. These infamous 'mourning cards' were produced by both clubs in 1897. The Leicester followers produced a card following their victory stating:
The front row of Morris, Richmond and Budgen has a very solid look about it. Richmond does not have Thompsons power and pace but he is a scrapper and ball winner on the floor. Rather than making up for Wally's absence he could well make up for Budge Pountney in the 'dark arts' department. Connors and Phillips were by all accounts outstanding last week at Gloucester, so no worries there and the back three of Blowers, Soden and Seely will not be scared of their counterparts despite the presence of Josh Kronfeld.
In the backs Johnny Howard gets his deserved chance in place of the newly shy and retiring Matt Dawson and Paul Grayson provides an ever steadying influence at 10. Leslie and Tucker combined well last week at Castle Grim and the Tucker in particular seems to be hitting a vein of form. The back three of Ripol, Sleightholme and Beal is experienced, pacy and with Oriol keen to re-capture his wing spot, a little bit exciting. All three will be lifting their personal performances in a bid to keep Bruce Reihana on the bench.
All in all if this Saints side performs to it's potential and sticks to the Wayne Smith mantra of 'doing the simple things well' then there is no reason why the Saints can't succeed despite losing their big names.
Last Season
Saints 11 Tigers 21
Tigers 17 Saints 6
History:
Where do you want me to start? This is one of the oldest surviving fixtures in Saints history with the first match between these sides taking place in the 1894-95 season. These infamous 'mourning cards' were produced by both clubs in 1897. The Leicester followers produced a card following their victory stating:
IN MEMORY OF THE
NORTHAMPTON F.C.
who perished after a 'Severe Mauling'
by
THE " LEICESTER TIGERS "
SATURDAY, OCT.6th, 1897.
GAME TO THE "LAST"
NORTHAMPTON F.C.
who perished after a 'Severe Mauling'
by
THE " LEICESTER TIGERS "
SATURDAY, OCT.6th, 1897.
GAME TO THE "LAST"
It appears that the news of Saints death was in fact
premature and they exacted their revenge just a few weeks later and produced
a mourning card of their own:
Death of Leicester Tigers
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS, NORTHAMPTON,
November 20th, 1897 (Jubilee)
_______________________
The Resurrection of the Saints
The "Tigers" came from Leicester Town
Assured that the "Saints" they were going to down;
But the "Saints" on the grass were a little too tough,
And the funeral cards are giving them snuff.
R.I.P.
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS, NORTHAMPTON,
November 20th, 1897 (Jubilee)
_______________________
The Resurrection of the Saints
The "Tigers" came from Leicester Town
Assured that the "Saints" they were going to down;
But the "Saints" on the grass were a little too tough,
And the funeral cards are giving them snuff.
R.I.P.
So competition has obviously been fierce for a very
long time.(I see WMS poetry has improved since then too.) This week in our
look back in time we re-call the cup quarter final of 1990.
Northampton Saints 23 - Leicester Tigers 7
Pilkington Cup Quarter Final
24th February 1990
Franklin's Gardens
Pilkington Cup Quarter Final
24th February 1990
Franklin's Gardens
This game was never even meant to be close, the second
division leaders and cup no-hopers versus the cup giants and last seasons
losing finalists Leicester. Well that's the glory of sport as every dog has
it's day. This was Saints finest hour since the gang of seven took control
of the club and started it's quest to put Saints back where they belong as
one of English rugby's elite clubs.
The hero of the hour on this day was undoubtedly John Steele with five penalties and a try for himself a personal haul of 19 points on an evil day for kickers to ply their trade. The Gardens, although decidedly smaller than today's ultra modern stadium was packed to the rafters and the pitch was certainly not up to Piggy's standards.
Against the wind in the first half it was the Tigers who began play 'like hats on wheels'. Their forwards took control and Liley kicked them into a 0-3 lead as early as three minutes. Thankfully for the Saints that was a tide that quickly turned with 'Tinman' kicking the Saints back into the match and then into the lead. Leicester weren't worried of course, they'd have the wind in the second half and with Cusworth et al they would surely run away with it in the second half.
Not a bit of it! Saints forwards including captain Gary Pearce, new boy Tim Rodber and saints physio Phil Pask, grew in confidence throughout the match. They had the better in the loose and were dominating the line out too. Steele kept kicking the points despite the wind and Elkington sniped at scrum half inspiring Nigel Starmer-Smith to comment "Elkington is burrowing like the Franklin's Garden's mole"
Late in the match Leicester's line was breached, first by Nick Dyte, who defected to Quins the next season and was never seen again and then Steele himself, not noted for his running, produced a delightful loop around to score.
Leicester managed a consolation try through Barry Evans but it was too little too late. The final whistle took the home faithful into delirium. The Saints were Alive!
SCORERS: Northampton: Tries: Dyte, Steele. Penalty goals: Steele (5).
Leicester: Try: Evans. Penalty goal: Liley.
NORTHAMPTON: I Hunter; F Packman, J Thame, D Woodrow (rep: P Moss), B Ward; J
Steele, D Elkington; V Pocklington, D Frankland, G Pearce, T Rodber, C Hall, N
Dyte, P Pask, P Alston.
LEICESTER: J Liley; B Evans, T Buttimore, I Bates, R Underwood; L Cusworth, S
Kenney; S Redfern, T Thacker, W Richardson, J Wells, A Gissing, M Poole, I
Smith, S Povoas.
If you're going to the Game...
Keep an eye on the Northampton weather
northampton weather
Also check out the BBC ground guide it is slightly out of date as Franklins Gardens is now a three sided horseshoe stadium with a 12 600 capacity and the pasties are surely worth more than 7. Other than that it tells you all you need to know!
BBC guide to Franklin’s Gardens
If you can't make it...
There's live commentary on BBC Radio Northampton or live on the Internet via the Official site.
live audio link
ANNE O’RACKS STATS
Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership
Played 20
Northampton Saints Won 5 25.0%
Leicester Tigers Won 14 70.0%
Drawn 1 5.0%
Biggest Win for Northampton Saints 46 - 24 11 Sep 1999
Biggest Win for Leicester Tigers 36 - 9 08 Jan 1994
Northampton Saints top try scorer vs Leicester Tigers Tim Rodber 3 tries
Northampton Saints top points scorer vs Leicester Tigers Paul Grayson 148 points
Leicester Tigers top try scorer vs Northampton Saints Neil Back 6 tries
Leicester Tigers top points scorer vs Northampton Saints Jez Harris 58 points
Previous Meetings
23 Feb 2002 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 6 - 17 Welford Road
13 Oct 2001 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 11 - 21 Franklin's Gardens
05 May 2001 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 13 - 17 Welford Road
10 Mar 2001 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 9 - 12 Franklin's Gardens
02 Sep 2000 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 19 - 33 Welford Road
29 Apr 2000 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 21 - 26 Welford Road
11 Sep 1999 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 46 - 24 Franklin's Gardens
13 Mar 1999 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 15 - 22 Franklin's Gardens
19 Sep 1998 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 25 - 35 Welford Road
07 Mar 1998 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 15 - 15 Welford Road
The hero of the hour on this day was undoubtedly John Steele with five penalties and a try for himself a personal haul of 19 points on an evil day for kickers to ply their trade. The Gardens, although decidedly smaller than today's ultra modern stadium was packed to the rafters and the pitch was certainly not up to Piggy's standards.
Against the wind in the first half it was the Tigers who began play 'like hats on wheels'. Their forwards took control and Liley kicked them into a 0-3 lead as early as three minutes. Thankfully for the Saints that was a tide that quickly turned with 'Tinman' kicking the Saints back into the match and then into the lead. Leicester weren't worried of course, they'd have the wind in the second half and with Cusworth et al they would surely run away with it in the second half.
Not a bit of it! Saints forwards including captain Gary Pearce, new boy Tim Rodber and saints physio Phil Pask, grew in confidence throughout the match. They had the better in the loose and were dominating the line out too. Steele kept kicking the points despite the wind and Elkington sniped at scrum half inspiring Nigel Starmer-Smith to comment "Elkington is burrowing like the Franklin's Garden's mole"
Late in the match Leicester's line was breached, first by Nick Dyte, who defected to Quins the next season and was never seen again and then Steele himself, not noted for his running, produced a delightful loop around to score.
Leicester managed a consolation try through Barry Evans but it was too little too late. The final whistle took the home faithful into delirium. The Saints were Alive!
SCORERS: Northampton: Tries: Dyte, Steele. Penalty goals: Steele (5).
Leicester: Try: Evans. Penalty goal: Liley.
NORTHAMPTON: I Hunter; F Packman, J Thame, D Woodrow (rep: P Moss), B Ward; J
Steele, D Elkington; V Pocklington, D Frankland, G Pearce, T Rodber, C Hall, N
Dyte, P Pask, P Alston.
LEICESTER: J Liley; B Evans, T Buttimore, I Bates, R Underwood; L Cusworth, S
Kenney; S Redfern, T Thacker, W Richardson, J Wells, A Gissing, M Poole, I
Smith, S Povoas.
If you're going to the Game...
Keep an eye on the Northampton weather
northampton weather
Also check out the BBC ground guide it is slightly out of date as Franklins Gardens is now a three sided horseshoe stadium with a 12 600 capacity and the pasties are surely worth more than 7. Other than that it tells you all you need to know!
BBC guide to Franklin’s Gardens
If you can't make it...
There's live commentary on BBC Radio Northampton or live on the Internet via the Official site.
live audio link
ANNE O’RACKS STATS
Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership
Played 20
Northampton Saints Won 5 25.0%
Leicester Tigers Won 14 70.0%
Drawn 1 5.0%
Biggest Win for Northampton Saints 46 - 24 11 Sep 1999
Biggest Win for Leicester Tigers 36 - 9 08 Jan 1994
Northampton Saints top try scorer vs Leicester Tigers Tim Rodber 3 tries
Northampton Saints top points scorer vs Leicester Tigers Paul Grayson 148 points
Leicester Tigers top try scorer vs Northampton Saints Neil Back 6 tries
Leicester Tigers top points scorer vs Northampton Saints Jez Harris 58 points
Previous Meetings
23 Feb 2002 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 6 - 17 Welford Road
13 Oct 2001 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 11 - 21 Franklin's Gardens
05 May 2001 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 13 - 17 Welford Road
10 Mar 2001 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 9 - 12 Franklin's Gardens
02 Sep 2000 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 19 - 33 Welford Road
29 Apr 2000 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 21 - 26 Welford Road
11 Sep 1999 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 46 - 24 Franklin's Gardens
13 Mar 1999 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 15 - 22 Franklin's Gardens
19 Sep 1998 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 25 - 35 Welford Road
07 Mar 1998 Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers 15 - 15 Welford Road
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