Northampton Saints
News: Edinburgh provide a lively challenge - but in vain
By Jonathan Stockham
October 17 2010
In a game played at 100 mph, Northampton Saints, cheered on by a huge travelling support that seemed to outnumber the locals, worked out how to counter the threat of a highly mobile Edinburgh team to bring home 4 valuable away points in this European Pool match at Murrayfield Stadium.
Heineken Cup 2010/2011
Pool 1, Round 2. Saturday 16 October 2010
Edinburgh 27, Northampton Saints 31.
On a fine early autumn day with no breeze and on an immaculate playing surface, Edinburgh and Saints kicked off at lunchtime due to TV scheduling. Saints fans had travelled by trains, planes and automobiles to get to Edinburgh in force and the Gold Black and Green was much in evidence on the streets and bars of Edinburgh as kick off time approached.
Saints preferred Steve Myler to start at 10 and new boy Greg Tonks stepped up to cover full back in the absence of Ben Foden. Paul Diggin replaced the injured Bruce Reihana but, otherwise, Saints had a familiar look about the side.
Under the control of French referee Jerome Garces, Edinburgh kicked off and tested the Saints defence immediately, leading to an early penalty award to the home side for whom Scotland internationalist Chris Patterson was unlikely to miss from 30 metres out.
Saints soon got back up the other end of the pitch and a line out was secured by Roger Wilson. The Saints pack mauled towards the home try line and skipper Dylan Hartley emerged as the try scorer. Myler added the conversion to put Saints into an early lead at 3-7 after 7 minutes. Not for long however!
Edinburgh's restart was taken well by Phil Dowson but an aimless kick by Myler lead to a swift counter attack by Edinburgh, a move finished off by prop Alan Jacobson under the posts. The easy conversion by Patterson returned the lead to the home team at 10-7.
By now the Saints scrum was getting into gear and showing its dominance at the set piece, leading to a penalty shot at goal from 45 metres which Myler slotted superbly to level the scores after 22 minutes. The scorers were being kept busy as Edinburgh retook the lead 5 minutes later following Saints ball being turned over at a ruck. Edinburgh kept the ball alive and tremendous interpassing, almost like 7's, down the right led to a try by No8 Talei. Paterson's kicks are virtually guaranteed, so 17-10 to Edinburgh with 13 minutes to go to half time.
Saints closed the gap with a Myler penalty but Edinburgh scored another quality try by centre Ben Cairns after good work by Paterson and live wire lock Frazer McKenzie. Extras added by Paterson and Saints were starting to drift at 24-13.
Myler edged Saints a little closer with another penalty won by hard work from the pack, mauling to within 15 metres of the Edinburgh posts. However, a gap of more than one score was looking uncomfortable as half time approached and Edinburgh proving to be a right handful around the pitch. They were stringing phases together in attack, recycling and offloading quickly and keeping the ball away from Saints' forwards. However, dogged defence by Saints and strong scrummaging won a penalty which Myler kicked for a line out on halfway.
The catch was taken and the ball worked infield. Strong running by Roger Wilson led to a try for James Downey after an angled run for the goal area. Myler added the extras to narrow the gap to 24-21 at half time.
The second half was a bit less productive in points but not in excitement. Saints had worked out what needed doing to counter the high tempo style of Edinburgh although a penalty against Hartley (in at the side of a ruck) allowed the home team to stretch the gap to 6 points after 8 minutes. Saints nearly took the lead from the restart but Chris Ashton dropped the ball over the try line after a strong run from Christian Day.
From the scrum 5 to Edinburgh, Saints were gifted the ball and held on through the phases for Diggin to scoot over in the left corner. A superb kick from out wide by Myler moved Saints into a narrow lead at 27 - 28 with 27 minutes to go.
Myler eased Saints further ahead as the final quarter started when Edinburgh failed to release as the Saints pack scrapped forward.
Edinburgh threw everything they had at Saints who defended as though their lives depended on it. Lawes and Wilson led the defensive effort putting in some awesome tackles, reducing Edinburgh to working along the gain line rather than over it. The home team were being forced into making mistakes and turn over ball to Saints relieved the pressure on more than one occasion. The whole Saints 15 were keeping the opposition at bay but the pack particularly were huge.
As the clock ticked down, there was no way through for Edinburgh and raucous cheers greeted every Saints tackle. Another big hit forced Edinburgh to knock on and Myler hoofed the ball high into the West Stand to seal the victory.
Frantic, enjoyable rugby from both teams. Edinburgh emerged with much credit but Saints had the composure to work themselves back from a deficit of 11 points to counter the threat of the home side and emerge victorious.
There will be much dancing in the bars of Edinburgh tonight!
(As indeed there was!! - Ed)
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David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:10:17:23:07:12 by St Marlowe.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
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Tetleys Block F E143
A great report, Stockers, although Helen must have given you all the detail because I only saw you with your head in your notes. The trials of the scribe.
Just back from a great week away, by the way. Brilliant game.
Really enjoyable game and great to see how we adapted mid-game and prevailed with the win. If you told me we would only concede 3pts in the last hour after that first 30 mins, I would have struggled to believe it. Credit to Edinburgh too, they looked like Toulouse at times, and not just because of their kit!
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