Northampton Saints
News: Castres denied by Saints Defence- Castres 12 Saints 23
By St Marlowe
January 23 2011
I have been at some cold venues, including a number in our sojourn in Div 1, but Stadium Phillipe Antoine in January takes the biscuit. Large flakes of snow on a metal clad arena in an industrial park are not conducive to warmth. However the blood thinning effect of hospitality in Castres bars will not have helped!
Heineken Cup Pool Stage 6
Castres Olympique v Northampton Saints
Stadium Phillipe Antoine 22nd January 2011
KO 19:45
Castres12 Saints 23
Castres Hospitality in La Cocina Bar (Photo Courtesy Stockers)
For those who travelled to the South of France, Castres was certainly the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights, although this rather attractive capital of the Tarn region can be very quiet at this time of year. Having spent an hour trying to find my hotel (The Renaissance - highly recommended) having driven from Toulouse on Friday evening - I can attest to the narrowness of the streets and the beauty of the buildings along the river.
OSB will tell you that every French town has a place “Jean Jaurès”, but Castres is the only one that can claim him as a true son, because the socialist leader, assassinated in 1914, was born here, and it is home to the museum that celebrates his life and work.
Arriving on Friday the first port of call was the Irish bar, where we gathered before venturing forth for some food. A good call, for on our return we were confronted by Messieurs Mallinder, Grayson, West and Grayson, ably protected by their minder Mr Shields. Copious amounts of AG were consumed, but our tour rules prevent naming of names, except to note that the coaching team remained upright and lucid, so it wasn’t them!!
Saturday duly dawned with a promise of sunshine and and dry conditions. Nothing was said, however about the thermometer dropping like a stone. By the time it came to depart for the ground, brass monkeys with high pitched voices were greatly in evidence. By the time we arrived at the ground, the snow had started - but thankfully not settled.
The travelling Saints were much in evidence, although the necessity to keep out the cold meant that green was not the dominant colour in the stands!
The side Castres fielded had a number of key changes from that which visited the Gardens last year, but no French side at home is weak, and this one was no exception. After some arial ping pong in the first 10 minutes, and scrappy play, Jon Clarke put Joe Ansbro through for the first try of the evening. Myler missed the conversion, and this was indicative of the kicking for the match. Castres hit back and in a drive for the line were held up (confirmed by the man upstairs), the first victory for a Saints defence that was to be crucial in winning the match. 10 minutes later, that rarest of creatures for the Saints - the drop goal - made an appearance as Myler made up for his earlier miss. Two minutes later, that man Ansbro made a break and through Calum Clark, Myler and finally Dowson, the second try of the night went to Saints. Myler converted and Saints were now 15-0 up. Castres However quickly struck back through Bernard who converted his own try, making it 7-15 at half time.
The temperature off the field was dropping like a stone, although ably encoraged by the Castres drums and the Saints choir the heat on the pitch was well and truly rising as the second half got under way. The Castres team showed what they were made of by placing the Saints line under threat and following some tough defending another attempt by Castres was held up and the the ball was beautifully turned over by Dowson. Great hands and that man Ansbro sent Saints hurtling at the Castres line, where Foden was on hand to touch down Saints third try. The conversion was again found wanting, but that was the try that broke Castres. They spent a long time in Saints 22, but the defence was just too much, and on a foray forward, 10 minutes from time, a penalty to Saints, kicked by Myler making the score 7-23. In the final minutes Saints again found their line uner threat, and in spite of a heroic hold up by Dowson, Castres scored a consolation try to make the score 12 -23. Saints and the travellers left the ground delighted. A home quarter final assured and an unbeaten run in the pools. Having read the reports and thankfully not having had to suffer the prattle of Barnes and co, I can assure all those who were not here that this was no pushover. Beating any French side at home is a good result, and this one was particularly dogged and quick. At times they played sevens against us, and this combined with the freezing temperature mage it a very tough match.
And so to the town to thaw out and consume more of the Black stuff. Once again your intrepid travelling supporters were treated to the presence of the Saints coaching team in the Irish pub, this time joined by the entire squad. A great evening of rugby rounded off by a good time in the pub.
Sore heads abounded in Castres this morning as some departed for Toulouse, leaving a few diehards to brave the stillness of a Castres Sunday in January. So quiet that no bars open to watch Perpignan thrash Scarletts. That and the current thriller at Adams ark having to be viewed in the solitude of hotel rooms!
In half an hour or so we will know who we face in the Quarter Final (looking like Ulster - well played Wasps), although I would not hold my breath for this to be at MK, the Ricoh being preferred by some of the coaching team.
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Stumbleupon23/01/2011 16:37
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Great report of a great weekend.
Bridesmaids no more.
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