Northampton Saints
News: Saints(3) fail to outfox tigers(11) in thriller derby
By St Marlowe
May 15 2011
A difficult report to write. Nuff said. Saints outmuscled, out cheated and under justiced.
Aviva Premiership Semi Final
Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints
Saturday 14th May, Welford Rd Magic Roundabout
KO 3:15
Tigers 11 Saints 3
At the first line out I watched, from my position high in the Holland and Barratt stand, Northampton legs being grabbed and attempts to tip the player over. “Same old Leicester” I shouted – “always ……” well, you know the rest. The Leicester supporter in front of me turned and fixed me with an icy stare. “His Team”? “Isn’t that the excuse given by all sides when they can’t compete with Leicester? ”
Well perhaps these Hobbits from the Shires out to take a long, hard look at the state of Rugby at Welford road, and feel a little less comfortable. These things do not just happen overnight. Starting with some of the most unprofessional behaviour towards the officials by a coaching team, to the intimidation of the Referee and Touch Judges, to pulling the decisions their way, to the visitors’ heads dropping as they cannot get anything like a fair “rub of the green” on the Leicester roundabout. These are things that happen every time Leicester plays at home. Not very sportsmanlike – but hey ho – you know how it’s going to be.
Yesterdays’ farce (and I only mean that in the manner of its officiating – the match was one of the finest competitions I have seen between two teams in a local derby) transcended any previous levels of intimidation and incompetence (and for one touch judge that is mild censure – he lied – in front of a TV audience, to change the game. If he wasn’t such an idiot, that would be called corruption – and in any other “sport” probably would be)
I thought I would feel differently today – but, in common with many others here, I don’t. I feel robbed. Robbed of not just a match, we may not have won, but a sort of love –hate East Midlands thing with Tigers. It will be a long, long time before I can enter into banter with supporters who applaud a thug – and I will use that word – who was allowed back into an arena with players who’s boots he is not yet adult enough to lick.
Some definitions
Thug
…a violent person, especially a criminal… (He is lucky the witnesses did not have him arrested)
Cheat
verb
act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage:
OFFSIDE AT THE MAUL
(a) The offside line. There are two offside lines parallel to the goal lines, one for each team. Each offside line runs through the hindmost foot of the hindmost player in the maul. If the hindmost foot of the hindmost player is on or behind the goal line, the offside line for the defending team is the goal line.
(b) A player must either join a maul, or retire behind the offside line immediately. If a player loiters at the side of a maul, the player is offside .
Sanction: Penalty kick on the offending team’s offside line
(c) Players joining the maul. Players joining a maul must do so from behind the foot of the hindmost team-mate in the maul. The player may join alongside this player. If the player joins the maul from the opponents’ side, or in front of the hindmost team-mate, the player is offside.
Sanction: Penalty kick on the offending team’s offside line
These are not discretionary laws Sir, they are what ensures that our game of “not Tiddlywinks” has some order. I watched all afternoon as you blatantly ignored them when transgressed by the home team, and sanctioned the visitors when they tried to “play the ref”.
I am not sure what to think about Wayne Barnes. From an unpromising beginning he rose to become a trusted (now there’s a word I would like to hear more of in relation to our officials) arbiter. His last few games have been awful. Perhaps the call of his law books will prove stronger that laws he has to remember and deal with “on his feet” – I doubt it though.
I will not dwell too much on Goodliffe. To lie in that manner is beyond the pale. He should be removed from any official connection with the sport.
I am always told – “Referees can’t win matches for you” – tell that to Leicester after the Tuilagi incident. Cockerill and his cronies must be well satisfied with their day’s work yesterday, for me it soured a really good match.
And so what of the game? The intensity was enormous. Both teams carried their kitchen sink onto the field and proceeded to throw it at the opposition from the first minute. No quarter asked or given. Intensity, passion, silly mistakes – all the things you expect from a local Derby. Until the events of above at 32 minutes that is. Saints heads started to drop after that. The pressure of an injustice felt can do two things, it either steels you for more action or it saps the energy. For Saints through the second half it sapped them. They were cramped at the end with Tigers supporters around me gleefully mocking Saints much vaunted fitness levels. For me it was the emotional drain that took their energy in the last 10. Well done Leicester – you deserved the win in that you made the best use of the opportunities you had.
There is no doubt that the feelings of hurt will be carried into next week’s match in Cardiff. I believe that the loss will harden the hearts of the team, and that they will take the intensity of the first half performance to the Leinster team and give them the shock of their lives. One thing is clear; the ref next week is one who watches most of the activity and referees both sides.
Up and Attem Saints.
Finally – for tis Monday tomorrow and we need to concentrate on next week –
Peter Wheeler wrote a very thoughtful piece in the week in which he explained why our rivalry was so good, and mutual respect between the too clubs so strong. Perhaps it should be mandatory reading for his team and his management. Not because it was about us, but because it was about Tigers. I was amazed at the number of texts I got from people I do not know well, and the visitors to this site from our rivals (who would not normally muddy their boots), showing their fury at the events of yesterday. Cockerill’s demeanour post match says it all really. The dignity with which Saints players and coaches handled the untoward events of the day made me feel very proud. As I said at the start of this, perhaps some Hobbits will take a long hard look……….
oh.. I doubt it – and the really sad thing is I no longer care.
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Before yesterday, the rivalry with our East Midlands neighbours was at the level of friendly banter and a sort of jealously of how they got away with what they do so well.
But yesterday changed all of that ! In my view and I tar both the supporters, their team and coaches with the same brush. They are a group of myopic, arrogant, morally indefensible bunch of reprobates. Who, like you, I will have real trouble entering into banter with in future.
I never thought I’d say this, but I am going to the Premiership Final and will have great pleasure in cheering on the Saracens, such was my disgust at the performance both on and off the field of the Leicester lot yesterday. They need to have a real good look at themselves and others too for the sake of our precious game.
Winning's not worth that much, is it ???
What a seed change roll on twickers and best of lcuk next week to you in cardiff- leinster are a much better team than leicestr so you will have your work cut out.
But apart from my anger at the obvious so well documented in your report - the ting i feel most is PRIDE
I am proud of our team who gave everything and more in contest wher the odds were stacked against them .
I am proud of individuals - two stand out .
Chris Ashton - who literally took it on the chin and still stood up to the bully ( ies ) and remained throughout a real man.
Dylan - whose 1000 yd stare past Castros sarcastic and cowardly slaps - spoke volumes about control discipline and fortitude.
TV coverage in particular is able to expose the incompetemce of officials to public scrutiny as never before. Sport has to address this - cricket is attempting to do so with the referral system. Its not perficet and doesnt rulle out all bad decisions but it does show a sport attempting to come to grips with the issue. Rugby cant just shrug its shoulders. I daresay when the officials review the game they will be somewhat aghast.
Having said all that its hard to say if it wouldve affected the result. It was a close game and couldve gone either way and I may be shot down for saying this but Tigers deserve their place in the final. If that doesnt make me a "fair minded" supporter in some peoples eyes I can live with that.
Agree with you Pete - the team went up another notch today in experience. They will be back next season and we are going to be a side other teams wont look forward to playing. Makes a change from the seasons leading up to relegation!
Pathetic.
Accusations of cheating, lying, incompetence and thuggery are not especially clever, whether the author, and mods, believes them to be true or not.
Should Mr S Barnes on the Sky web-site and the chap at ESPN (links elsewhere) be quaking in their boots as well?
Tiggs go back and listen to what Goodliffe said to Barnes. Then look at what happened. If he saw it he gave a different story. If he didn't see it he lied by saying he did.
He certainly did not tell the truth about what happened,
I didn't set out to be 'especially clever'. I set out to report what I saw and what I felt. If you as a Tigers supporter feel discomfited I have achieved my objective. But as I said in the report my days of good natured banter and cameraderie with tigers supporters will take some time to return - so tough! perhaps your concern for the proprieties should be directed at your foul mouthed coaching team - they will, I suspect need some support in justifying their actions. But as it is Leicester - I will not hold my breath.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:05:15:16:37:08 by St Marlowe.
The Manu incident was totally down to the Ref and his assistant nothing to do with Tigers bending the rules,the ref should have sent him off end off he didn't get over it.
The fact at every maul Saints entered from the side with one of your eyes shut you obviously did not see!!!! Oh the four late tackles in the first ten minutes on Tigers players they were no doubt legitimate and not cheating.
I suggest you get realistic every team bends the rules/cheats be it Wasps, Sarries, Glaws and even your Saintly Saints after yesterdays performance!
The fact that you were totally out played and only got in our 22 for 2% of the 2nd half says it all, suggest your team get some fitness training this week, because Leinster will put forty points on you on Saturday because your whole team looked knackered at the end of the game.
To summarise you were beaten by the better team who finished above you in the league by 13 points, who have a stronger squad and who don't whinge about losing their internationals when the six nations are on, the Saints fell apart during this period even though Tigers lost more internationals they still managed to go top of the table. Even more hilarious was your Chairman complaining about this injustice of playing internationals at the same time as league matches what a compete half whit as he was one of the chairman who voted for this the only team to vote against the proposal at the time was oh yes was the Tigers!!!!
But in SOME defence of the linesman, from where he was stood mightn't Ashton's shoves to Tuilagi have looked like punches? I think even Tuilagi's first pop at Ashton may have been a shove to the face rather than a punch (ie, with the hand rather than with the fist), but it's hard to tell. If the linesman believed that punches were thrown then he is not lying to say that they were, merely mistaken. Still a shocker of a refereeing decision, and terrible that the TMO or someone else who did have access to see the incident properly couldn't be involved.
Anyway, I'll be supporting Sarries at Twickers. Had we simply been outplayed yesterday then I'd have cheered on Tigers because they're in the East Midlands too, but Sarries are the only finalist that deserve to be there so get my support by default.
Quote:banbury
he fact that you were totally out played
Really?
Perhaps you'd better learn how to get past an unfit defence and TOTALLY OUTPLAY them by scoring the myriad tries to do that.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
I hate that even when Tigers fans do it, Its rugby, get on with it.
They have to watch every facet of a game at full speed.
With the benefit of a replay, we could say that the wrong decision was made but I do believe that Goodliffe reported what he thought he saw in real time, however mistaken he may have been.
I have just posted my match report and have tried to make it as even handed as I can. You can judge my success.
I do think, not surprisingly, that yours is a tad biased and mine is wholly objective and perfect.
Would like to thank you for the two WR games this season and wish you all the best for next week.
Jon.
Quote:With the benefit of a replay, we could say that the wrong decision was made but I do believe that Goodliffe reported what he thought he saw in real time, however mistaken he may have been.
Cant agree I am afraid - and neither does Stuart Barnes. - He didn't say "I thought I saw" he was totally confident in what he said.
it wasn't a split second event!
Thank you for your good wishes.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Hampshire Wasp - people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
The fight was away from the action and the ball was moved fast. And Jim, I completely share your view on the cricket referral system. That would have sorted it out.
To those other spectators who, having seen the endless replays, still think it's inconsequential or "nothing to do with Tigers bending the rules" - well, their position is indefensible.
I'm going to turn my thoughts to Cardiff and Leinster now. Leicester are out of the European Cup and are very lucky still to have a game to play.
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