Northampton Saints
Saints V Falcons - The Man of the Match story
By Saint Tim
November 9 2010
I still have nightmares about the Falcons game at home two seasons ago where we were expected to win but got mugged in the first fifteen minutes as They ran in three quick tries. Would lightening strike twice? This was another game Saints were expected to win comfortably. But we were missing several key players who were off with England. Gulp!
Who was your MoTM as Saints beat Falcons at FG?
Well suffice to say from the question they didn’t. I am sure that Falcons looked at a pack shorn of Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and a back line missing Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and the talismanic Bruce Reihana and thought they had a chance. Fortunately the Saints pack had other ideas.
First however, if you would permit me, a little of my day! I was a little nervous that I might miss the game as I was flying in from South Africa on the last BA plane out of Jo’burg the night before. Due to land at 09:30 and an early kick off – it only required a small slip in proceedings and I would miss the match. To make it worse I was meeting someone from SA who I was taking to the game having already bought a ticket on his behalf – so I had season ticket money and real cash riding on BA. My worst nightmares were however just that nightmares, as the plane landed a few minutes early, the luggage was out within a reasonable time and the taxi driver was waiting. The M25 and M1 road works played ball and I managed to re introduce myself to the lovely lady and grab a cup of tea before heading to the station where I managed to meet my guest who had boarded the train at Euston. We had been to a couple of games together in SA and he has been to see Quins and SArries here in the UK but as yet is not attached to a UK club. So I gave him the tour, The members bar, with trophy cabinet, the team photos, the international shirts and the honours board. His comment – This is still a Rugby Club! I hope to have snared another for the cause.
Ok back to the game. As stated the Saints pack decided to lay down a marker for the rest of the season as they pushed a weak, and inept pack, all over the place. That for a long time the score was relatively close was somewhat of a mystery. I will remember to my dying day the sight of a pack being marched back from the half way line to the twenty two and I suspect that had the ball not bobbled out the pack a push over try was on the cards. To rub their noses in it again a maul went a similar distance. I am sure that the performance had Dorian West purring with delight. I am not so sure the backs thought the same as they didn’t get to see much of the ball as it was monopolised by the big boys. They were fortunate it was a pleasant day or frostbite might have been the order of the day. A comfortable win and a few markers laid down by the replacements for the illustrious internationals.
But let’s not get too carried Newcastle were awful. That they let a forward pack drive them all the way to the 22, before giving away a penalty, rather than infringing early on to leave a much harder penalty opportunity, was just naive. That we did not score a hatful more was due to too many errors at the key time. Indeed at half time with the score at only 10 – 3 it could have gone either way and then there was that drive!
I can see them scrapping away with Leeds for the drop with both teams doing their best to achieve last place.
So, who caught the eye?
Firstly a huge thank you to the 149 people who took the time to vote. This is the best of the season so far as you can see from the vote history below.
From a playing perspective we had two people tied in third place with 10% of the votes. These were Brett Sharman and Grieg Tonks. Brett was awarded the man of the match by the coaches but hey what do they know about rugby. He certainly had a good game but as he was all too honest about in the post match interviews there was one aspect which did not go as well as he hoped and that was the line out. It is extremely difficult for the hooker in this phase of any game. It is a team effort to get the ball in the right place just at the time that the jumper gets there – without it being intercepted. The Hooker though takes all the blame. It is a lonely place if the yips start to happen – close to that of the place kicker. That Brett was honest about his performance speaks volumes about the desire of this lad to get the top spot. Well done Brett.
Grieg Tonks was playing his second game in the starting shirt for Saints and his first at home. For a young lad he was always assured and on a day when the forwards stuck it up their shirts fo so long it was a surprise to see him popping up in mid field, cutting a nice angle and going over for his first (of hopefully many) tries in the Green Black and Gold. The try was wonderfully caught by Claire who as ever has provided the pictures for this report.
In second place with 11.4% was Stephen Myler. What to say about Stephen. He has an occasional bad day at the office kicking and he is suddenly on fatty Barnes radar to pick on. I do not know what kicking percentage Barnes had – in the amateur days when the pressure was less – but I bet it wasn’t always a good day for him. Today was a good day for Stephen – mind you most attempts at goal were from pretty much in front and the ball rarely made it to him (insert smiley here to show this is a joke!).
The stand out winner was however Brian – The Mooj – Mujati. Brian is learning from his oppo on the other side of the scrum that a prop doesn’t do pushing and shoving. I was told a story about Jason Leonard who once had severe words to say to a debutante who passed him the ball in open play. He took the offender to one side and said – look son, I am a Prop, I do pushing and shoving I don’t handle the ball! Well Sir Jase would not fit the mould of props we have at the gardens. Brian seems to have really settled in this year and this is his second victory of the season so going to the top of the leader board with Courtney. Well done Brian – there could be many more of these to come.
Full Result
Previous Winners
Vote History
Who wins?
It is interesting to note that the forwards are taking control of this in the same way that they ook control of the Falcons forwards.
Leaderboard
Players Used
So far after nine games we have four players who have started and played more than 40 minutes of each game. In total 23 players have been used. The interesting stat here is that Euan has so far only started one game and is now about to disappear to play for the sweaties.
An apology
An apology to Grieg Tonks – I could not resist the opportunity to include a picture of the other famous Tonks from the movies! This is the real picture. Well done young man. You are really going to make Ben work for his shirt back.
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Stumbleupon09/11/2010 17:45
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Saint til I die
Quote:Howlin
It would be an interesting exercise indeed to find out the kicking stats for a certain Mr Barnes...Smurf ?
The second part's easy - Smurf has a 100% kicking record. 0 attempts, 0 misses!
Photo Gallery
Thanks for your exellent effort.
That said one thing has always puzzled me - is the
" winning " player informed of our choice each week - or is the overall winner at the season end the only one informed about the outcome.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Photo Gallery
10/11/2010 15:24
what about sending the winning player a box/tin of biscuits of their choice along with a home-made A5 "certificate"? (sent via Barfly?) Then they can share biscuits with mates and pin up certificate on their locker.
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