By Chris Gleadell
May 9 2003

So here it comes boys and girls, excitement all the way right down to the wire with a winner takes all clash against Leeds Tykes in the last game of the season (maybe) at the Gardens in a final ZP round that has more twists and turns than a barrel full of eels. PREVIEW

By 4:45 on Saturday Saints season will have been defined. There are still three ways forward, we could scrape third place if results go our way then face Wasps at Adams Park to earn the right for a tilt at the 'championship' against Glos at Twickers. We could, and this is the most likely option, finish fourth and earn an automatic place in next seasons Heineken Cup. Lastly (and please don't let this happen lads) we could end up in fifth or sixth and be in the wildcard play offs for a European place.

Simply (yeah right, simply?) if Sale pick up no points at all at Sarries and we win we slip into third place. If we score four tries we still have the luxury of allowing Sale one bonus point. If Sale prevail and we still win (or draw) we have secured fourth place and automatic Euro rugby in 2003/04. If this happens 'zee season is over for you Tommy'. If we lose to Leeds its fifth (or sixth if Tiggers win at Glos) and the wildcard playoffs........god forbid.

However all this qualification malarkey pales into insignificance against the real prize tomorrow. For the first time in quite a few years by teatime on Saturday we could be the undisputed, yes that's undisputed, top team in the Midlands. Yes Europe's nice but putting one over on the Tigers doesn't happen every year.................although of course from this years onwards it could be a regular thing ;-).
If you see me tomorrow night thats what i'll be celebrating!

And if you think the Saints end of seasons options are complicated just look at the rest of the ZP games on Saturday. To put it simply (that word again) its reminiscent of the schoolmaster in Pythons Meaning of Life...........
"Allright, settle down, settle down. Now before I begin the lesson will those of you who are playing in the match this afternoon move your clothes down onto the lower peg immediately after lunch before you write your letter home if you're not getting your hair cut unless you've got a younger brother who is going out this weekend as the guest of another boy in which case collect his note before lunch put it in your letter after your haircut and make sure he moves your clothes down onto the lower peg for you."

Better to just forget it before the headache sets in. I don't know about you but i'm just going to clear my mind with a glass of the black stuff, cheer on the Saints, and worry about the rest later. (But c'mon please Newcastle!).

All in all it looks like we could be in for one helluva afternoon and call me one eyed but I think the Franklins factor will play a major part and I expect us to edge it.

LEEDS

Well what a season so far for the Tykes. Under the tutelage of Phil Davies (why isn't he coaching Wales?) last seasons basement boys have pulled themselves up by the bootstraps to be a real force in the Zurich Prem this season. Sale bound Braam van Straaten is perhaps their only perceived 'star' but Davies has moulded together a team that in all honesty is far greater than the sum of their parts, something that Saints can probably look to emulate as we move forward.

Looking a cert for a playoff place a month or two back they have suffered lately from maybe not having the strength in depth that other clubs have had to fall back on and they have slipped to fifth. Still though a great leap forward on last years performance and still in with a shout for the big shakeup. A more than successful season already.

In the backs the likes of Albanese, Stanley and the hard running George Harder can cause any team all kinds of problems while the forwards contain a reborn Ronnie Regan, prospect Tom Palmer and the uncomprimising Isaac Feaunati.

This is the side Leeds have named for tomorrow.
15. Diego Albanese
14. George Harder
13. Tristan Davies
12. Braam van Straaten
11. Winston Stanley
10. Gordon Ross
9. Alan Dickens
1. Mike Shelley
2. Mark Regan
3. Matt Holt
4. Chris Murphy
5. Tom Palmer
6. Cameron Mather
7. Dan Hyde
8. Isaac Feaunati
Subs
16. Gavin Kerr
17. Rob Rawlinson
18. Stewart Campbell
19. Alix Popham
20. Derek Hegarty
21. Craig Emmerson
22. Chris Hall

SAINTS

The big news from the Saints camp is that Budge (far and away my Saint of the season) has failed a fitness test on a neck injury and sits this one out. Darren Fox moves to openside with 'Deso' Connors moving from the second row to openside. Andy Blowers, this week nominated for the ZP Player of the Season, continues at eight.

Steve Williams, left out by Wales this week, comes into the second row to partner arguably the find of the season, Matt Lord.

Its a Gardens farewell to Mattie Stewart who swaps the Nene for the Ouse for his early morning swims with a move down the road to Bedford. 'Sarge' lines up alongside England duo Wally Thompson and Robbie Morris.

An all international backline starts with the 'Three Bees' at the back in Ben Cohen, Bruce Reihana and Nick Beal. Centre pairing Long John Leslie and Jorgy team up for possibly the last time while England pair Larry Grayson and Matt Dawson make up the back seven.

15 NICK BEAL
14 BRUCE REIHANA
13 PETER JORGENSEN
12 JOHN LESLIE - Skipper
11 BEN COHEN
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 MATT DAWSON
1 MATT STEWART
2 STEVE THOMPSON
3 ROBBIE MORRIS
4 STEVE WILLIAMS
5 Matt Lord
6 MARK CONNORS
7 Darren Fox
8 ANDREW BLOWERS

Subs:
16 Matt Miles
17 Chris Budgen
18 Rob Hunter
19 Grant Seely
20 James Brooks
21 Mark Tucker
22 ORIOL RIPOL

GOODBYE

As mentioned above its a Gardens farewell to Mattie Stwart and Peter Jorgensen, two internationals who have taken Northampton to their hearts.

Mattie joined us from Blackheath in the 90's and has been a mainstay of the team ever since and under Ian McGeechan forced his way into the Scottish side. He moves onto Bedford where there will be more than a few familiar faces to chew the cud over with.

Jorgy joined us from Australian RL at the start of last season and the former Wallaby, once he'd got the other game out his system, soon became a crowd favourite with his turn of speed, his crunching tackles, his knack of scoring important late late tries and of course his aeroplane impressions. In an interview this week Jorgy spoke of his sadness in leaving and i'm sure I speak for everyone when I say this is definitely a two way thing.

We wish Mattie and Jorgy, and any others who may be leaving, all the best for the future. Make sure you all give them a rousing send off.

BEFORE THE GAME

A few stalwarts from the site have organised the COYSDC Picnic on the back pitches tomorrow where you can come along to put names to faces (yes even us ugly ones), have a chat etc. All welcome. Bring something to drink and/or eat and you're in. Look out for a balloon or a banner for location and come join the party. For more details come over and ask on the message board.

AFTER THE GAME

The Saints Supporters Club have booked the band 'Streams of Whiskey' who will be playing in the main Tetleys Bar (thats the 'Rodbar' to you lot) after the game. (due to start around 5pm)

The SSC will be presenting their Player of the Season award during the band break.

HISTORY

Leeds R.U.F.C. did not come into being until 1991 with the merger of two clubs Headingley and Roundhay. Prior to that the other side to be known as Leeds was the League side now known as Leeds Rhinos. The Leeds Tykes side was named after the merger of the Leeds Union and League clubs to form the world's first ever dual code club.

Saints first fixture with Headingley was in 1910 and they played them 51 times before the merger, the last fixture and Saints greatest winning margin being a 65-0 away win. The vast majority of games were won by the Saints with 34 victories, Headingley won 16 and there was one 9-9 draw. The biggest win for Headingley came in the 1987-88 season with a 38-3 home victory.

There was less of a history playing Roundhay with the first fixture in 1971 and a further 3 fixtures with the last being 1977. The playing record was 3 wins to Saints and 1 to Roundhay with no big scores registered by either side. Despite playing some of the Rugby League clubs before the breakaway Northern Union in 1895there is no evidence of Saints playing the club that became the Leeds Rhinos.

The first match between Saints and Leeds the dual code club was the 108 point cup match in 2000 which ended Saints 73 Leeds 35. (see links at base of page). In Leeds first season in the top flight Saints did the double over the Tykes but the reborn outfit got there first win over us earlier this season.

This is how Mark H saw that game.

Tykes 27 - Saints 19

Match Report By Mark Hazell

Saints' pack scrambled for a bonus point at a cold and sometimes hostile Headingley. It may have been a 26-19 defeat, and a third reverse on the trot, but the point gained by Rob Hunter's late try may herald the turnaround in fortunes.


Saints' pack scrambled for a bonus point at a cold and sometimes hostile
The much-depleted Saints pack was boosted by the return of Robbie Morris
from the England bench (get well soon Trevor Woodman, we need a front row
for next Saturday), but it was a strong Leeds team that struck first in the
fifth minute. After a mess of a scrum just outside the Saints 22, John
Leslie was snagged and from the resultant turnover, Braam van Straaten's
kick through saw George Harder outpace Sleights in the dive for the ball.
The Leeds kicking machine converted for the 7-0 lead.

Three minutes later it was 10 after a penalty for offside. From the
resultant kick-off, Saints finally had a (relatively) prolonged spell of
pressure and forced their own penalty. Normally, Larry would kick the
straightforward three points, but this time, however, he went for a
cross-kick that Scarborough knocked on for a scrum in the corner. Somehow,
with the pack not yet performing and the Leeds defence very "in-your-face",
the ball ended up back on the halfway line where Leslie knocked on. From
the scrum, fly half Davies broke the line, and sent Scarborough in for his
eighth try of the season in the corner. A missed conversion meant that it
was 15-0 after just 16 minutes, and a severe beating was very much on the
cards.

With the penalty count against both teams rising, Saints came back into the
game on 24 minutes with a Larry penalty right in front, but from the small
foothold, another Van Straaten penalty for AB holding on restored the 15
point lead.

A minute before half time, Larry kicked again to make the score 18-6, but
then another encroachment saw Van Straaten attempt a kick from a yard inside
his own half. Much to the disgust of the Leeds fans around me, the ball
dropped just short, but I'd have taken a 12 point half time deficit after 15
minutes.

The kick up the backside was visible. Saints came out like hats on wheels
in the second half, and when Darren Fox stole an overthrown Leeds lineout,
he managed to force a penalty - 18-9 - and then another Tykes transgression
saw the margin reduced to six. Just when it looked like the most unlikely
of comebacks was beginning to roll, another penalty against AB, this time
for not rolling away, took Van Straaten's tally for the day to eleven
points.

Simon Hepher then came on for Darren Fox, with Rob Hunter moving to the
back row, but four minutes later the game was effectively won, when Hall
went over in the corner from a kick through. The Saints defence definitely
looked square throughout the game, and to concede two very similar tries
will surely mean an interesting time at training this week. The conversion
from the touchline was missed, but with 19 minutes to go, the score was
26-12.

The pack, which had played well in the loose, then stepped up a gear and
were rewarded for doing so. After three consecutive lineouts resulted in
penalties against Leeds, a fourth led to Tom Palmer being binned for pulling
JP down. It was a necessary but unpopular decision with the home crowd, and
whilst Saints fans wondered why a penalty try hadn't been awarded by referee
Roy Maybank, the pack got up and drove over the Leeds line, only for the
ball to be held up. The 5m scrum saw the much-needed try arrive though,
with Rob Hunter coming off the back and falling over the line. Larry
converted from out wide - let's just say that it wasn't exactly quiet (very,
very noisy in fact) whilst the kick was being taken.

And then came the moment that probably cost Saints a shot at the draw. A
long Larry kick saw Scarborough knock on in front of his feet deep in his own
22, but with both referee and touch judge 50 yards away, the signal that the
ball had been knocked backwards was given, and the Tykes escaped with a
lineout in Saints half. A shocking decision in keeping with the sort of
luck Saints have had late in games this season, but in fairness to the
referee, it was just about the only thing he got wrong all afternoon.

From the resulting lineout, a poor pass decision from Johnny Howard saw the
ball fed back to Sleights rather than Larry for the clearance and with the
kick being badly sliced the pressure was back on. JP, suffering from bad
cramps, was replaced by Matt Lord, and despite the pack rumbling again, the
ball could not quite be forced into a decent attacking position, and Tykes
took the win. The players and fans celebrated as if they had won a trophy
(not yet), rather than having beaten a severely under strength team.

The youngsters in the Saints shirts grew up big-time, which bodes well for
the future: unfortunately, in my opinion, certain of the senior players did
not perform and were anonymous when really needed. Ripol looks bereft of
confidence; Larry's kicking from hand has been better; and John Leslie
disappeared after the knock-on that led to the second Leeds try. I don't
like criticising players, as they do a job that I couldn't, but as a
supporter you at least expect some pride in personal performance to be
shown. Some of that was missing today. As a result, my man of the match is
someone who always plays with pride. JP may be getting near 300 games, but
he plays every one like it's his last, and drove the young pack on to
achieve a better result than any of us could have expected or hoped for.


AND FINALLY.................

The last word goes to WMS to sum up this weeks games.

And now the end is near..............

So we've come to the end of the season
With issues, as yet, unresolved
We've all still got something to play for
And each Zippee team's still involved.

There's Gloucester v Tiggers for starters
It depends which team Glaws choose to field
Let's hope it's a really good strong 'un
To put Tigs in the Bic Biro Shield.

It's sad how the mighty have fallen
An' I'll tell you - I really do miss
The 'superior' chat on their website
So take pity and don't take the p...

Now Glaws think it's time to take over
The mantle of ruling the roost
To this quaint, picturesque part of England
They have certainly given a boost.

But Uncle Tom's pockets are empty,
Their star men returning to France:
Though deserving of this season's triumph
A 'one season wonder' perchance?

***********************************************

The Weatherfield Wags down at Sarries
Need a vict'ry or they might miss out
On the play offs - Now that would be tragic:
Less a Shark - more a sorry old trout.

It seems that they're off to new waters -
Hopes for shoals down in old Stockport Bay
Accomp'nied by new ticket prices
That the fans aren't too happy to pay.

It's been a bad year for the Camel
And Buck has behaved like a chump
He criticised all those around him
And he's given the players the hump.

Old Broken's decided to leave 'em -
To Quins for a new chance to shine
The poor misguided young fella
Knows he'll always be second in line.

But they've still got their gizmos and gadgets
An exhuberant, jolly DJ
The Starlights, half time entertainment.
Shame they've got no-one left who can play.

There's a problem that's really much greater
Concerning our Bactrian chums
For Large, coming out of the closet
Joining Saints in their far northern slums.

***********************************************

Summer's coming: and with it the insects
Are swarming, they really are pests.
Hibernating for most of the Winter
Now up there with Ingerland's best.

They've built a new nest down at Wycombe
For Jimmies that's not very far.
I haven't had chance yet to see it
But I'm told not go in the car.

They've a game, Saturday, 'gainst the cake-boys
The toffs, monied Chaps called the Quins
They'll be there, in their cast off Chef's trousers
Saying 'Yah!' and supping their gins.

Those colourful chaps, through the Wildcard
For the Heiny might just qualify.
But this season, like so many others
The Harlequins punch bowl is dry.

Categoric'ly though he denies it
Sicknote's orf to French pastures new
He's plain sick of the National Health Service
And in France there's a much shorter queue.

**********************************************

Now it's getting quite tight at the bottom
And I'm not here referring to piles
But if Barf take the drop from the Zippee
The land will be wall to wall smiles.

Though we all have respect for their hist'ry
Their home - the premiership pits
Set in a gorgeous location
It's a shame that it's filled up by twits -

Who seem to think God was a Bathman
And to win, their team has devine right.
To sit back and watch them all whinging -
Is an unforgetable sight.

So if Falcons beat 'em on Sat'dee
The 'old farts' might yet fight the urge
To kick poor old Barf out the Zippee
If they don't - into Bristol they'll merge.

The Falcons - a team resurrected
Their messiah a player called Jon.
If he plays they are almost unbeaten
but they lose every match when he's gone.

************************************************

There's a really big match at the Mad Jet
Where the contest will surely decide
In the coldest and barest of stadiums
The prem's number 12; the worst side.

But none of us wants to lose Bristol
We don't want the Irish to drop
Especially since Venter is going
But how can they both miss the chop?

Now if we were ever so naughty
There's a game plan we could all suggest
It's cheating, I know but the outcome
Would surely provide what is best.

If they both score 4 tries: get a bonus,
The game ends in a 20 each draw
It wouldn't matter what Barf do
'Cos 'PLOP!' they'd be through the trapdoor.

Of course, I would not condone cheating
But you must admit, it's a thought
It'd give dear old Barf their come uppance
And prove that old Briss can't be bought.

************************************************

What's written above is preamble
Now we come to the hub of the plot
'Cos Air Jimmies play Leeds at the Gardens
For the others we don't give a jot.

Now the Tykes are getting too cocky
To the 'big' league they think they belong.
They've had good results, no denying
But Sat'dee we'll show 'em they're wrong.

'Cos air lads are a might disappointed
That there's no silverware in the case
For our final game of the season
Poor Leeds'll be sunk without trace.

And who knows, we might still make the playoffs
And our friends, down the road with the humps
Might just go and do us a favour
They might, for us Saints, come up trumps.

But Whatever your thoughts or your feelings
As another year draws to a close
And we all start to dream of the future
With all of its joys and its woes.

Remember, this site never closes
I'll be here all summer through
At comeonyousaints with our playmates
But first we've a bit of a DO!

So get yourself down to the picnic
Imbibe of a bev'rage or two
Then get yourself inside the Gardens
And remember - THE JIMMIES NEED YOU!

COME ON YOU SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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