By Chris Gleadell
September 16 2004

So two weeks into the new season and the Gold Black and Green bandwagon keeps trundling along at full tilt with maximum points gained to keep the Saints sitting pretty at the top of the table. The six tries at Quins kept that 100% record intact and although its early days, and as Alan Solomons stated the Zurich Premiership is a marathon not a sprint, there is an air of expectation and a heightening of the feelgood factor for Saints fans.

Despite an early setback of a Quins try on Saturday the lads soon upped the pace and from minute ten onwards it was one way traffiic and with four rapid scores the game was all but over by halftime. The front row steadied the ship, the second row built the platform while the back row was rampant all over the park. And the backs didn’t have a too bad day either! Every man played his part and then some.
Four players in my opinion come in for a special mention. Damien Browne looks like a real find. The young Irishman looks all the ‘back four’ player that Tim Rodber always threatened to be. He was dominant in the lineout whatever number he jumped at and in the lose he was a constant thorn in Quins side. Young Johnny Howard was thrown in at the deep end when Sharky Robinson went off early in the game but played a solid and enterprising game and certainly looks like he can hold his own at this level.

The other two players are Grant Seeley and Mark Tucker. Wayne Smith rejuvenated several Saints players careers during his stint in the Gardens hot seat, most notably Paul Grayson’s. From what I have seen so far this season Alan Solomons and his coaching team are doing the same for Mark and Grant. I must admit before the season started I had misgivings about our cover at centre should we lose Marc Stcherbina at anytime. However Mark has stepped up to the plate and looks every inch the long term solution.

Grant had probably one his best game in a Saints shirt on Saturday and as a natural No.8 complements the back row of Andy Blowers and Corne Krige. A confidence building run in the team could see him becoming the surprise package of the season and while England look to replace Dallaglio its not outside the realms of possibility that Grant’s in with a shout should he sustain this form.

LOOKING AHEAD

I’m sure the outcome of the game the last time Saints and Gloucester met at the Gardens will live long in people’s memories. Earlier in the week, obviously forgetting about the wonders of the internet, Glos player Andy Hazell told their local paper that the Gloucester team were coming to up to Northampton to ‘push the Saints all over the park’. Of course several Saints supporters saw the online version and alerted the club and the way the lads played I’m sure they all had a copy of the interview tucked in the pocket of their shorts.

They came out all guns blazing, dominating the game with a Chris Budgen pushover try almost taking the roof off the stands. This obviously riled Gloucester and after a few off the ball incidents, including Mr Hazell taking out Shane Drahm very late, a re-enactment of the Battle of Midway broke out just before half time. It’s still a mystery to me today why Mark Robinson was singled out for punishment with a red card but that in itself made the lads raise their game further and in a game that was the definitive game of two halves the lads fought a reargurad action that kept the visitors at bay till the 80 minutes was up.

Lets hope it’s a slightly easier ride on Saturday but Gloucester are one of those sides that either blow hot or cold whatever the season. They have two wins under their belt already but have yet to get in their stride so I’m expecting the lads to come away with the win but the bonus this time round may be a tall order. Unless of course Mr Hazell takes part in any interviews this week.

SAINTS WITH HEART III

A date for your diaries. The third annual Saints with Heart Walk takes place on the 16th October before the game against Sale.
A band of intrepid walkers will be setting off at first light along river and canal from Milton Keynes heading to the Gardens meeting up with a second group of walkers along the way at Stoke Bruerne. Having raised nearly £10,000 last time round for the British Heart Foundation we are aiming to beat that target this year and have called on supporters from all the other clubs to give the fund a boost.

We are going to have a shirt from every ZP club plus Bristol and Bedford sponsored to take part in the walk alongside the fifty or so people walking in Saints colours. Already Newcastle, Bath and London Irish have donated signed shirts to be used on the walk then auctioned while from Tigers Martin Johnson is supplying a signed framed shirt which he will personally present to the winner of a draw at a later date. We are also in negotiations with all other clubs to come up with similar offers, watch this space.

Maggie Barwell has generously offered to become patron of the walk this year and will again be taking part and theres a chance husband Keith may take part too, so if you wish to sponsor someone or want further details please contact me via the email address at the top of the page.

THE SOUND OF SILENCE

I have heard some of some daft ideas on motivating teams over the years but Steve Diamond’s idea of giving his side the edge at Saracens really caps the lot.

Before Sundays game against Worcester, on Diamonds instructions, the master of ceremonies asked all Sarries fans to greet the opposition onto the pitch with total silence. How unsporting is that? Now call me old fashioned but isn’t it the tradition to clap the opposition onto the pitch whoever they may be and by not doing so isn’t that a mark of disrespect?

To their credit the vast majority of Sarries fans are up in arms about this and rightly so because at the end of day it will reflect on them when they visit other ZP grounds.

I’m sure however I’m not the only one who thinks this may have exactly the opposite effect. Doesn’t disrespect from the opposition spur teams on that little bit more? Perhaps Steve Diamond should discuss the matter with a certain Andrew Hazell from Gloucester.