Northampton Saints
News Mighty Saints march over feisty Falcons
By Tracy Goncalves
October 30 2010
There are three things we cry about in life, things that are lost, things that are found, and things that are magnificent – this week was one of those when we had all three. First we cried that all our England internationals were being lost to Martin Johnson, then we cried when we found out who the man in the middle was…….and this afternoon, we cried again as the Saints blessed us with another mighty magnificent performance.
Aviva Premiership Round 6
Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons
Saturday 30th October 2010
Franklin's Gardens KO 2:30pm
Northampton Saints 34 - Newcastle Falcons 13
So with face stuffed full of pasty and a hip flask itching to be quaffed, I sat just before kick-off having a little snigger as I recalled my friend’s son ask (some years ago), “if this is Newcastle Gosforth, what happened to Gos-third, second and first?” – fifteen years later I still don’t have an answer! Watching them warm up I remembered two years ago, feeling overly confident that we would beat them easily…err WRONG! A little worry that was hanging around my head but then worse was to come as (lurker) Lock Forward decided to tell me that he couldn’t walk through his usual lucky turnstile, we were doomed.
So let’s get the iffy moments out of the way, yes the lineout wasn’t faultless, OK Digger had a little mishap with the line at his mercy, there were a few butter finger moments and may be the officials didn’t have their specs on all the time or the set square out, but on the whole that was probably it.
Credit where credit’s due – Falcons were dogged in attack and defence, they didn’t give up, they played some good rugby and they contained the Saints for far longer than I would have liked. Jimmy Gopperth put the visitors in front with a penalty taken out wide despite Saints total domination of the first half (I still have a crick in my neck from facing the same direction for 45 minutes). Myler’s game management was superb throughout the match and it wasn’t long before he drew the Saints level. Wave after wave of Saints attack was repelled by a tenacious Falcons defence and it was only after a TV match official denied try from Christian Day, did we really see the first crack in the Falcons defence, finally being undone by a very well worked Lee Dickson try with a Falcon in the bin.
The most magnificent part of the game was the very mighty pack. Time and time again they bullied and bossed, driving the visitors backwards at the scrum at a rate of knots, in one instance marching them back 40 meters. The Mooj was easily my man of the match, terrific in the loose and the set piece, but it would be unfair to single out one player – they were all a marauding mass of menace just waiting to unleash their torrent of force and skill on anyone who dared to darken their doorstep.
Halftime came with the scoreboard displaying a non-flattering 10-3 score line.
Expecting – as we are – a blistering Saints start to the second half and a quick try or two, it was actually our northern friends who seemed to get the better start, but the Saints managed to step up through the gears as the visitors tired and two tries from Ansbro and Tonks looked like to have done the trick until Falcons scored one themselves (coincidently just as I got a text to say that Exeter were leading at halftime – disappointment turned to happiness). The next 20 minutes were a bit messy and turnover city by both clubs, but the Saints were far and away on top, pressing forward, stretching falcons across the pitch, asking tough and torrid questions of their mental strength as well as their physical ability, but it was a case of butter fingers that kept denying that crucial fourth try. In fact, I was writing this report in my head thinking about how to nullify the “we should have got a bonus point” whingers when Downey got his intercepted four inch try and saved me the trouble!
Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other and today we saw both in vast quantities from young Saints who stepped up to the mark and showed that they’re not just bench warmers. A special mention to Greg Tonks who showed that he has Bealesque hoofs down the pitch or so high that the ball comes back after travelling twice round the international space station.
Finally some congratulations; Greg Tonks on his first try and Piggy Powell for becoming a grandpa and a special mention to the X46 bus who was driving down the Welly road at 16:45 today, running three sets of red lights – with two on pedestrian crossings – it’s not big or clever, you muppet.
There is only one optimist. He has been here since man has been on this earth, and that is man himself. If we hadn't had such a magnificent optimism to carry us through all these things, we wouldn't be here. We have survived it on our optimism.
As I write this, the Saints sit proudly on top of the world premiership – long may it continue!
COME ON YOU SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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funny, clever, honest
i really liked it!
It also makes me think - and realise - that we should praise Paul Grayson for his patience with Smyler, whose game was excellent today: confidence returned. And heap massive praise on Dorien West for designing a pack to take on all-comers...
Thanks for the compliments - makes doing it worthwhile Good report Tracy.
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