By Rich (& Chris) in the Archives
February 26 2003

Another cup trip back in time to one of my least favourite ever games at the Gardens: The semi final against Saracens in 1998. Following the glorious victory in the cup quarter final against Newcastle Saints had high hopes of reaching their second cup final. However a Sarries side packed with stars such as Francois Pienaar, Tony Diprose, Phillipe Sella, Richard Hill and Michael Lynagh had far different ideas. Sarries had become somewhat of a bogey side for Saints in recent seasons and after the Newcastle win everyone looked on this a

Sadly on that day Saints just weren't up to the task and were outclassed and outplayed by a rampant set of Sarries and as I recall we were also out sung on the terraces! I wonder what happened to the noisy fez heads, as they don't seem to go to Vicarage Road anymore! Sarries went on to win the cup that year and finish second in the league, their future looked incredibly bright as they had smashed the league attendance record with over 19,000 in for one game at Vicarage Road. After this particular game very few Saints fans would have predicted the epic cup battles of 2000 and 2002.


This is what Chris thought of the game at the time:

Onsong Singer Sinks Slipshod Saints
Saints 10 Saracens 25
Saturday March 28th 1998
Franklins Gardens
Tetley Bitter Cup Semi Final

The Saints crashed out of the Tetley Bitter at the hands of a Saracens side who completely dominated the proceedings. The home side appeared to be lacking any leadership or decision-making and sorely missed injured Captain Tim Rodber.

They failed to function in the scrum and the line out yet when the ball was let loose in the backs there was a succession of unforced turnovers and knockons.

Paul Grayson and Michael Lynagh exchanged early penalties before the visitors got their first try through Ryan Constable. Lynagh converted but the try seemed to raise the Saints game and they surged forward for the last quarter of the half

They were camped in the Sarries twenty-two but lack of decision making saw the ball sitting at the back of the scrum while the visitors wheeled the set piece and the clock ticked away. Just as it seem the Saints were about to level things up an infringement in the front row threw away any advantage that was gained.

Half time: Saints 3 Sarries 10.

Given the pressure exerted in those last few first half minutes there was hope that Saints would pull it back but the second half belonged to the visitors. They totally controlled all aspects of the game in the tight and the loose. Matt Singer added two further tries to add to Northampton's woe.

A late Saints rally resulted in a try for winger Jon Sleightholme which
Grayson converted but by then it was too little, too late and the Saints go another year without a Twickenham trip


Team
Ian Hunter
Gregor Townsend
Jon Sleightholme
Matt Allen
(Andy Northey 68)
Harvey Thorneycroft
Paul Grayson
Matt Dawson (Capt.)
Garry Pagel
Allen Clarke
(Chris Johnson 65)
Matt Stewart
(Matt Volland 74)
Jason Chandler
Jon Phillips
Don McKinnon
Budge Pountney
Grant Seeley

Saints Scorers

Jon Sleightholme..............................Try
Paul Grayson.........................Penalty
.............Conversion


Stephen Jones in the Sunday Times said:
"THE rugby world shifted on its axis yet again at a packed Franklin's Gardens
yesterday, when Saracens won what was conceivably the best victory in their
history to reach the final of the Tetley's Bitter Cup.
They proved in a ferociously difficult week for their team that, contrary to
what we know of rugby history, you can indeed buy in a club team, which will
fight for its life. Saracens must have been all but drained after the monumental clash with
Newcastle on Wednesday but here they were again, in front of uproarious
Northampton support and against one of the form clubs in British rugby.
Saracens competed wonderfully well, with a vast appetite and a superb defence,
and their right to go through to the final was absolutely deserved."

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So that's what could happen on Sunday if Saints aren't 100% on top of their game. Pray to the gods of rugby that this time round it's Irish that will be the rabbits frozen in the headlights!

COME ON YOU SAINTS!

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