Northampton Saints
Thoughts from the Chron 2nd April
By Chris Gleadell
April 2 2009
So near and yet so far. The 11-5 defeat by the Cardiff Blues at the Ricoh Stadium, Coventry on Saturday may have seen our interest in this years EDF Cup fizzle out but there was no disgrace in the defeat. The lads gave it their all but came up against a side who gave no quarter and in the end looking at the game overall the Welsh side probably deserved the victory, just.
Chris Gleadell's Thoughts from the Chron
2nd April 2009
Sitting behind the goal for a change I got a good view of just how well organized Cardiff were, while it was all brawn in the collisions mentally they certainly knew their business too. Some might argue we had better players in certain positions and were more battle hardened going into the game but collectively playing as a unit Cardiff were more than the sum of their parts and on the day that’s what won the day for them. Try as we might, apart from Joe Ansbro’s well taken score, we found it hard to break them down.
That’s taking nothing away from our defensive effort too though. But for the Jason Spice try it held firm all afternoon, snuffling out wave after wave of Blues attacks. In the end though, despite Saints gradually dominating in the scrum, and indeed in territory, there wasn’t the cutting edge to give that vital score. At the death a converted try would have sealed it but it was not to be so sadly we can put those dreams of Twickenham on the backburner for another season.
If support had been the deciding factor we would have won hands down. We may have been lucky with the choice of venue being only just down the road but I would guess with tickets being purchased from various outlets and Gold, Black and Green being dotted all around the ground there must have been around 7,000 Saints fans at the Ricoh.
Whilst we made ourselves heard at times it was hard to build anything like an atmosphere in what was a half empty stadium. Cardiff had a far smattering of support themselves and all credit to the Gloucester supporters that hung around for our game too but when all is said and done it was not a good advert for the concept of double-header semi finals. If neutral venues are to be used then perhaps the game should be held singularly at medium size grounds where near to full houses might be guaranteed rather than the banks of empty seating we saw on Saturday. The organizers may well have been right in claiming around 27,000 tickets sold but the vast majority just attended the game of their choice, which in itself added to the logistical problems as a lot of people wanted to leave when an equal amount of people wanted to get in. A rethink needed perhaps?
GLOUCESTER
So as one avenue closes to us we still have a shot of silverware and a Heineken Cup spot in the European Challenge Cup. We take on Connacht over Easter weekend so still have much to play for and we can put down a marker for that game in the Guinness Premiership clash with Gloucester at the Gardens on Saturday.
Clash is probably an apt description looking at the encounters of the past. I don’t know what it is about the Saints v Glous games but there always seems to be an added edge to affairs. That might seem strange as we seem to be very similar ‘traditional’ clubs and the supporters have the greatest respect for each other. The players probably do too but come the start of the game it has been gloves off toe to toe battles on more than a couple of occasions resulting in red cards, binnings and the odd lengthy ban.
With a couple of games played last night (Wednesday) by the weekend the GP will be a level playing field with all clubs having played 19 games. With just three games remaining the table should start to tell clubs exactly what they need to do in those last few fixtures to secure playoff and Heineken placings.
Whilst Gloucester are riding high at the moment such is the closeness of that league table that a loss on Saturday could see them down to sixth and not only out of the top four championship playoff spots but also possibly the last remaining Heineken Cup spot should Saints, Worcester, Sarries or Newcastle win the Euro Challenge Cup. So they will certainly be coming here all guns blazing for the result.
For Saints, well while we may have half an eye on that quarter final against Connacht it is not outside the realms of possibility that seventh place is still within reach. Losses for Sarries and Newcastle at the weekend might see us within a win of that seventh spot should we overcome Gloucester. Should we secure that place at season end then it is relying on an English side to progress further than Toulouse in the HC and London Irish winning the ECC should we fail in that competition.
So yes we do have to rely on factors elsewhere but if it all came down to an odd point lost we would be kicking ourselves. So on Saturday in my eyes we have to go for it, not only to lay down a marker for that Connacht game but to keep other options open. Looks like another battle might be on the cards!
Of course Saturday might also see the return of Carlos Spencer to the Gardens. As I said a few weeks ago I was sad to his departure from the Saints. Carlos was the all round entertainer and if he does play I will be happy to see him open his box of tricks once more but hope it is for the losing side. The last thing we need at the moment is for an old boy to come back and bite us on the behind.
FAREWELL LORDY
Talking of players leaving us it will be a sad day at season end when Matt Lord packs his bags and leaves the Saints. The story doing the rounds when Lordy joined the Saints in the 02/03 season was that he was back on the farm digging ditches in the New Zealand off season when he got a call from Wayne Smith asking if he was interested in coming to help out at the Saints for a while.
That’s taking nothing away from our defensive effort too though. But for the Jason Spice try it held firm all afternoon, snuffling out wave after wave of Blues attacks. In the end though, despite Saints gradually dominating in the scrum, and indeed in territory, there wasn’t the cutting edge to give that vital score. At the death a converted try would have sealed it but it was not to be so sadly we can put those dreams of Twickenham on the backburner for another season.
If support had been the deciding factor we would have won hands down. We may have been lucky with the choice of venue being only just down the road but I would guess with tickets being purchased from various outlets and Gold, Black and Green being dotted all around the ground there must have been around 7,000 Saints fans at the Ricoh.
Whilst we made ourselves heard at times it was hard to build anything like an atmosphere in what was a half empty stadium. Cardiff had a far smattering of support themselves and all credit to the Gloucester supporters that hung around for our game too but when all is said and done it was not a good advert for the concept of double-header semi finals. If neutral venues are to be used then perhaps the game should be held singularly at medium size grounds where near to full houses might be guaranteed rather than the banks of empty seating we saw on Saturday. The organizers may well have been right in claiming around 27,000 tickets sold but the vast majority just attended the game of their choice, which in itself added to the logistical problems as a lot of people wanted to leave when an equal amount of people wanted to get in. A rethink needed perhaps?
GLOUCESTER
So as one avenue closes to us we still have a shot of silverware and a Heineken Cup spot in the European Challenge Cup. We take on Connacht over Easter weekend so still have much to play for and we can put down a marker for that game in the Guinness Premiership clash with Gloucester at the Gardens on Saturday.
Clash is probably an apt description looking at the encounters of the past. I don’t know what it is about the Saints v Glous games but there always seems to be an added edge to affairs. That might seem strange as we seem to be very similar ‘traditional’ clubs and the supporters have the greatest respect for each other. The players probably do too but come the start of the game it has been gloves off toe to toe battles on more than a couple of occasions resulting in red cards, binnings and the odd lengthy ban.
With a couple of games played last night (Wednesday) by the weekend the GP will be a level playing field with all clubs having played 19 games. With just three games remaining the table should start to tell clubs exactly what they need to do in those last few fixtures to secure playoff and Heineken placings.
Whilst Gloucester are riding high at the moment such is the closeness of that league table that a loss on Saturday could see them down to sixth and not only out of the top four championship playoff spots but also possibly the last remaining Heineken Cup spot should Saints, Worcester, Sarries or Newcastle win the Euro Challenge Cup. So they will certainly be coming here all guns blazing for the result.
For Saints, well while we may have half an eye on that quarter final against Connacht it is not outside the realms of possibility that seventh place is still within reach. Losses for Sarries and Newcastle at the weekend might see us within a win of that seventh spot should we overcome Gloucester. Should we secure that place at season end then it is relying on an English side to progress further than Toulouse in the HC and London Irish winning the ECC should we fail in that competition.
So yes we do have to rely on factors elsewhere but if it all came down to an odd point lost we would be kicking ourselves. So on Saturday in my eyes we have to go for it, not only to lay down a marker for that Connacht game but to keep other options open. Looks like another battle might be on the cards!
Of course Saturday might also see the return of Carlos Spencer to the Gardens. As I said a few weeks ago I was sad to his departure from the Saints. Carlos was the all round entertainer and if he does play I will be happy to see him open his box of tricks once more but hope it is for the losing side. The last thing we need at the moment is for an old boy to come back and bite us on the behind.
FAREWELL LORDY
Talking of players leaving us it will be a sad day at season end when Matt Lord packs his bags and leaves the Saints. The story doing the rounds when Lordy joined the Saints in the 02/03 season was that he was back on the farm digging ditches in the New Zealand off season when he got a call from Wayne Smith asking if he was interested in coming to help out at the Saints for a while.
He was at the Gardens within a few days and playing that weekend. Now whether than tale is true or not Lordy has been digging in for Saints ever since and has not only become part of the furniture but a firm favourite with supporters. A quiet unassuming chap he quickly won over the Franklins faithful and there were more than a few cries of ‘Gew orn Lordy’ if he found himself with ball in hand in space galloping for the line. Of course try scoring wasn’t his thing, just two scores in 154 appearances, but at the heart of the forwards he was a mainstay always in the thick of things and it is for that that we’ll remember him most. To go back to the digging theme he’s the kind of man you would want with you in the trenches.
Every year comeonyousaints.com runs an end of season poll, one of the questions is ‘Who most epitomizes being a Saint?’ Every year Lordy comes very high in the vote and quite rightly so. Good guy, we’ll miss him.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponThoughts from the Chron 2nd April
Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 02/04/2009 23:37
ComeOnYouSaints.com
02/04/2009 23:37
02/04/2009 23:37
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
And an apology for Lordy, in the Chron version the 'polished professional' Kiwi polish bit wasn't anything to do with me.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
Northampton Saints News 24/7
More Northampton Saints headlines
- End of season how the squad was used analysis
- This weeks rugby 1st - 5th July
- Weekend Rugby 27th/28th June
- Weekend Rugby 19th - 20th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 12th - 14th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 5th - 7th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 29th - 31st May 20206
- Weekend Rugby 22nd - 23rd May 2026
- Weekend Rugby 15th - 17th May 2026