By Barfly
December 17 2004

One of my abiding memories of primary school assemblies, aside from the numb bum that would take an age to ease, is the blue book of hymns, of which only three would be used in rotation, including “From the old to the new”. A bit like this Saturday’s Powergen Cup tie against Bedford Blues, in fact.

A bit like this Saturday’s Powergen Cup tie against Bedford Blues, in fact. Memories aplenty will be flooding Franklin’s Gardens as we welcome JP, Matt Allen, Mattie Stewart, Craig Moir, Chris Johnson – to name but a few – to their spiritual home.

A month ago the visitors would have well fancied their chances. As we all know, Saints looked down and out, and there for the taking. However, that was before Captain Budge and his sidekick Larry the Great came to the rescue. The win and performances against Toulouse have shown that the spirit
of the Saintsman is back with a vengeance, and the Blues’ task looks a little more difficult.

Even so, a full-strength Bedford – to whom I will return to in a little while, don’t worry – will face a Northampton side shorn of stars. Andrew Blowers (mild concussion), Ben Cohen (sprained ankle), Corne Krige (neck) and Matt Lord have joined Selborne Boome (knee), Tom Smith (knee), Robbie
Kempson (neck and back), James Ross (neck and back) and Bruce Reihana (hamstring) on Uncle Cliff’s treatment couch, and have collectively forced Budge to name a much-changed 22.

Here it is…

15. Neil Starling
14. John Rudd
13. Mark Tucker
12. Marc Stcherbina
11. Wylie Human
10. Paul Grayson
9. Johnny Howard
1. Brett Sturgess
2. Steve Thompson (capt)
3. Robbie Morris
4. Ed O’Donoghue
5. Damien Browne
6. Grant Seely
7. Brett McNamee
8. Mark Soden

Reps
16. Dan Richmond
17. Chris Budgen
18. Simon Emms
19. Johan Van Wyk
20. Mark Robinson
21. Shane Drahm
22. Jon Clarke

Starling returns from England 7s duty to make his Saints debut and should feel more at home running from deep than the limited space he’s found himself in the Wanderers centres. McNamee also makes his full debut in a back-row of number eights. New signing Simon Emms, a former Llanelli and Bath prop, could also make his debut off a bench featuring four front-rowers but not fellow newcomer, Scottish international flanker Ross Beattie. Chris Budgen takes a well-deserved breather from the starting side, replaced by Brett Sturgess, and Tucker and Grayson make their returns from injury.

The main concern could be about the pace in the back-row, or rather the lack of it. Look for Soden and Seely to swap places on defensive scrums, where Soden’s more explosive acceleration is more likely to put the Bedford midfield under pressure. On the other hand, pace out wide shouldn’t be a
problem, especially against the aging Moir and Ben Whetstone, and if the ball can be whipped along the line, then we could be in for some good entertainment.

Bedford’s season has been of the proverbial up-and-down variety, when good wins at home have been offset by their long trips down the M5 to leave them in the upper half of the National League 1 table. Actually, that they are still competing at this level is a story in itself.

It is a long story that you can read about on the Goldington Road clubhouse wall, but there is a hort version, which I will tell you now.

When professionalism was at its insane start, Bedford received massive investment from Frank Warren’s Sports Network, and reached the Premiership. Unfortunately, Warren became caught up in a lawsuit with Don King, had his assets frozen, and was forced to pull out of the club. There followed a
number of ‘rescue packages’, notably one from John Gurney, notorious from his portrayal on the BBC’s ‘Trouble at the Top’ episode on Luton Town. Well, before he attempted to run Luton into the ground, Gurney had arrived at Bedford’s door, was welcomed in, and promptly took the Blues to death’s door. Only a collective trust of supporters and businessmen were enough to pull Bedford from the brink to where they find themselves now.

So how many of the Bedford side need an introduction? Glance down the line-up and see…

1. Matt Volland
2. Chris Johnson
3. Matt Stewart
4. Jon Phillips
5. Arthur Brenton
6. Nic Strauss
7. Ben Lewitt
8. Junior Paramore
9. Ian Vass
10. Ali Hepher
11. Craig Moir
12. Matt Allen (capt)
13. Mike Staten
14. Ben Whetstone
15. Leigh Hinton

Reserves
16. Joe Ross
17. Soane Tonga’uiha
18. Andy Phillips
19. Shaun Brady
20. Dom Malone
21. Ed Binham
22. James Hinkins

Not many, obviously. The squad is a useful mix of youth and experience, with the Saints veterans joined by Junior Paramore and Ben Whetstone – both favourites with the Blues supporters – as well as the likes of Ian Vass and Ed Binham, let go by Northampton still in their twenties.

So who should we look out for? On last Saturday’s evidence against Coventry, a game Bedford won 26-16 and which, in lieu of a trip on the Toulouse junket, I wrapped up warm and went to, centre Mike Staten and full-back Leigh Hinton – the latter providing some incisive running. The match-up
between Ian Vass and his Saints replacement Johnny Howard should be fascinating. Vass was his usual bullocking self, scored a powerful try and provided good service to Ali Hepher and the backs. The mercurial Hepher had a quiet game against Coventry, but flashes of brilliance are still possible,
and a lot will depend on how much space he is given by the Saints back-row.

However, my one to watch is Soane Tonga’uika, who will come off the bench to great effect. A 21 year-old prop from the South Seas, weighing in at a jaw-dropping 22 stone, Tonga’uika started last weekend, took three men with him every time he carried the ball, and was noticeable more by his
absence in the last half-hour. If the game is tight with 20 minutes to go, watch for him to be sent on as the ultimate impact player.

The Bedford team and supporters are realistic about their chances, and recognise the gulf that exists between the Premiership and the National League. Consequently, though they will be looking for a good performance, they are treating the game as one of enjoyment, and this could be their
biggest asset. The pressure is off them, and they could spring a surprise and send the 2050 official travelling fans home happy. There will probably be more Blues at the Gardens than that, as this was Bedford’s allocation, and it is more than likely that a few more will make the trip.

But on last weekend’s evidence, the gulf in fitness should tell, and there should be a comfortable margin in the Saints favour by four o’clock on Saturday.

“Four o’clock?” I hear you cry? Yes, because, and I now will turn to capital letters to save repeating myself, KICK-OFF IS AT TWO O’CLOCK!!!!!!!! Why, I don’t know, because the BBC have decided in their infinite and well-renowned wisdom to screen the Leicester/Gloucester walk-over instead of the much more interesting matches that feature League 1 sides. Still, hey-ho, and we can catch the last half-hour from Welford Road on the telly. Yippee.