By Hippo and the Clan
February 18 2004

Strange one this. You’d expect nothing but joy at four points from the Vicarage. Keeps us in the hunt for a top three spot. A 40metre run from Robo-prop. (Loved the commentary of the moment from MacSaint). But then again did the news from Smudger of his return to NZ take the shine from the play?

Full Time

Sarries 18 - SAINTS 22 (but that doesn't tell the story)
more later.... Maverick

Yesterday was a terrible game - sorry to anyone else that went.
The ref was awful but seemed to favour us with some bizarre penalties in the 2nd half for us especially - not that I am complaining!
I thought Sarries fans would be more suited to a library than a rugby ground - it was silence until the Saints scored. Well done to eveyone in the South sand for completely outsinging the opposition.
If ever anyone wants a a reason why a rugby team should not play a football ground - go there.
Finally, Robbie Morris, take a bow........ Come in Number 10

But for the game - what a heartstopper. Not a classic in terms of performance - far too many errors by both sides for that, but grateful for the result, and excitement to the wire……….Complete nailbiter. Loved it! Big Rich

no-one wanted to leave at the end.not caused by excitement,but the crowd responded to the players.i thought the ref had called time,but the players neither celebrated or commiserated with each other-very confusing.
desbralass  enjoyed the nailbiter,though.....got a sore throat to prove it

First half both sides were rubbish, but we were slightly worse than Sarries. One change at half time (Beal on to full back, Bruce to wing, Tucker to 12, JL off - ok, one player change!) and for ten minutes it was sublime. Multi-phase possession to get Shine over, then (and this is totally true)...a forty metre sprint down the line by, er, Robbie (!), followed by a one-handed pass inside whilst being tackled for Bruce to take the ball the last ten metres to score. Nobody congratulated Bruce, they all ran to Robbie - and deservedly so.
From then on it was hanging on. Tommy Castanets was awesome, and if he'd stayed on for the full game Sarries would have won. Leyshon got booed off after signalling for time with Sarries two feet short. But if Little hadn't missed two easy penalties, they'd have won - they've only got themselves to blame. Mark H

I agree with WS, we were poor and rarely get a win when we play that badly. The last time we were so inept we got a good hiding at the Stoop.
A great game to watch, although it is hard to stomach watching so much ball turned over from our hands. I cannot believe it happened so often.
Apart from that we had the highlight of the season - Robbie Morris at pace on the wing and a deft inside pass to Brucie for a wonderful try. All the Saints players came over to Robbie to congratulate him. I thought we would go on from there but didnt, we went back.
We are so inconcisitent to watch, but Never, Ever boring. I love it. Hoddros

As far as the match went we started slowly and got slower. That's a bit unfair but from an unusual perspective from sitting behind the posts it was alarming to see so many gaps in our defence and to see so many static defenders. We hung around like tackle bags. Ultimately we gutsed it out and had a brilliant opening to the second half. The try opportunities were pretty even in the first half and we went in 10 - 8 down. We started the second half like a train. Focused, calm, relentless. Shane's try showed more composure than we sometimes see and was inevitable. Bruce's try contained some great cameos.  Laurie

The good, the bad and the downright ugly.

Leyshon was blinkin' awful again though - our new centre partnership at times seemed to be Budgen and Randell, he was so far offside. Still, I'll take four points away from home. Mark H

Can I say it now? Leyshon is simply clueless.
Such a warm welcome from the knowledgable Sarries supporters too - so glad I made the trip.  WMS

The (Saracens) commentators on the offy feed were really scathing about Leyshon - multiple Saints offsides being missed (particularly late on), and almost incandescent about the lack of a penalty try (not just a penalty) in the final move.  I think it was Kobus Visage (sp?) that was co-commentator - he went from being non-commital ("because I'm a player") to laying in by the end.  They felt it was a very poor refereeing display that should be reviewed by the powers that be. Shendy

As I left the ground heading for the pub, I got talking to a chap, neutral by his own admission, who declared it to be the worst refereeing performance he'd ever seen.
I had to agree. Leyson was worse than awful, missing infringements by both sides, clueless about offside laws, blind to knock ons, no knowledge about scrumaging, and basically, having watched him influence games two weeks running, he should not even be allowed to ref on the racecourse on a sunday morning, IMHO. Big Rich

And I am not even getting involved in the referee debate. Leyshon, Spayshon. But we do need to get better refs in the ZP if we want rugby to develop and improve. Has there been a worse year for officials? That said, I remember a bad year in the 50s. Laurie

The Six

Just give it to Fox. By a mile the best Saint out there today. Large

Foxy chasing down Castanets when he was through - that boy is going to be so good - sorry - he already is. WMS

Drahm (if only for kicking under extreme influence of hooter) Smurfomatic

But I'd agree with Large - Foxy by a mile, and having watched Worzel Gummidge's performance in Rome, Fox for England! Big Rich

Robbie has played two good games on the trot IMHO. Never mind the sprint down the wing (St_atusque he ain't no more) for Bruiser's try, he put in some good cover defence work as well.  Chicken is growing in confidence and impact every week.  Thought AB looked a bit off the pace at the start.  Foxy is filling the great man's boots well. According to a Sarries man we spoke to after the game, "your 7 was offside and laying all over the ball all the time."
Played to the whistle and obviously listened to Uncle Budge St. Bart

The view from the other side.

Factually incorrect in it's most. Foxy stayed the course, Sharky didn't.
'Inncoent' Ibanez was raking Foxy's head with his boot with the ball about 2' away and the touchjudge about 2m (yes the same one who said Sharky ran 30m to land a punch)
Yes ref was poor, yes he was poor last week, missing things on both sides, but you would hardly call him biased.
Taste of sour milk I feel from Sarries, who probably deserved more but when you are at the bottom that's the way things go. It's harder to win the close games.
Two comments to me from Sarries fans leaving the stand, "You will win the league if he refs for you every week" and "how much did you pay him"
Quite funny really. Big Bird

Pots and Kettles, - apart from using Foxy's head as a studrest, Ibanez was constantly in at the side and his hands were covered in mud.
Yes, Leyshon was p*** poor, but Sarries were not robbed by the ref, - anymore than we profited.  Jeez, you'd think they were all angels....... St Marlowes

Roboprop in motion.

Rheihana “I will probably be dropped”

Post match quote from Brucie in response to what he thought about Robbie (the new winger's) run Big Bird

 Most exhilerating thing I've seen this season. Mark H

 It's been mentioned in a few other posts already, but I thought I'd add my recollection of our 3rd try yesterday.

Eyes to Brain: We've got a break on down the right touchline.
Brain to Eyes: Brilliant.

Eyes to Brain: Our guy's made 40 metres. He's left their winger for dead.
Brain to Eyes: Even better.

Eyes to Brain: He's thrown a perfect inside pass to Bruce. It's a try.

Brain to
Vocal Cords: Celebratory scream required

Vocal Cords: Yeeeeeeeeeesss !!!

Eyes to Brain: That was Robbie Morris.
Brain to Eyes: Say again.
For a second there I thought you said Robbie Morris.

Eyes to Brain: Yes. That was Robbie Morris.
Brain to Eyes: You're having a laugh aren't you.

Eyes to Brain: No really, it was Robbie Morris.

Brain: Mental note: Must book optician's appointment tomorrow. MacSaint

Macsaint...watching the passes along the line...then saw who the last man was,said to me other arf "oh no it's Robbie"and then as no one seemed to want to tackle him,went from oh no to gew orn Robbie in milliseconds,then that sublime pass to air bruce had me and a few others on our feet screaming and cheering as if we'd won the ZP title!priceless....well done Robbie lad   desbralass

 Robbie rightly gets the credit but it started with a great little drive by Chicken, low and strong. When the ball ended up on the right wing there was Robbie. A hand off, that's OK but who are you passing to. A side step, wow, where did that come from. Robbie at real pace going for the line and only one person to beat. Right I've done my bit so let's give the backs a chance. Swift inside pass to Bruce and I'll stay here and milk the applause and the congratulations of my mates. Laurie