By Ben_D
February 24 2013

On a bitterrly cold afteroon in Febbruary, the Franklin's Faithful descended on the Gardens, together with a Noisy contigent of supporters from our west country opponents. With the opposion on a roll, and missin five of our first choice players,  the hosts could be forgiven for feeling somewhat apprehensive. BenD tells the story........

Aviva Premiership Round 16

Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby

Saturday 23rd February 2013

Franklin's Gardens KO 3pm

Score: Saints 25 Bath 23

It was nearly seven o’clock when I strode away from the Gardens with the warm glow of a Rugby double hit coursing through my veins. True, the second Red Rose score was of a purer, more refined variety but the preceding Premiership brand whilst more vulgar, less defined and more frayed at the edges served to remind me why I love this game; because when it’s played with character it is second to none.

With support as reticent as a Romanian abattoir owner, Northampton Saints today put some meat back on to the bones of a rapidly thinning charm. Whether it was the resolution of Stephen Myler’s future (announced earlier this week) or something else, Saints seem to have restored some pride. Yet if we’re honest Bath were as complicit in their downfall as much as Saints were responsible for adding some resolve to their performance.

Bath, worthy of their form were direct, powerful and determined, their pack has progressed impressively since the start of the season. Whilst behind them the wily Stringer, the shot bolt Abendanon and Tom Biggs fizzed about like potassium on a field of water.

On reflection Bath will rue several chances not least a knock on beyond the Saints try line with half time pending and which would have put them 11 - 16 up. But perhaps even more significantly the decision to kick a penalty four minutes before that, when the Bath scrum had Northampton inspecting the quality of the turf at ground zero.

Saints set piece struggled all day. Lineouts in the first half were a no go area as Bath took pretty much everything from Haywood’s wayward throws  and functionality was only just about restored with the introduction of McMillan before half time. The Scrum too struggled to cope and halfway through the second half conceded a swiftly awarded penalty try to put Bath back in the hunt.

It was Saints play in the loose however which compensated for the set piece woe as Bath failed to commit enough resource to the breakdown, were overpowered and forced in to supplying Myler with a rich source of penalties. Northampton, tough to contain though rarely accurate, were rewarded for their determination when Jamie Elliot secured the only try of the first half after retrieving a stray pass from behind him and scuttling over in the corner.

Stephen Myler more assured of himself and Dickson who came with an extra 10% on the day,  disseminated confidence, first to the side and eventually to the faithful, who during the second half were drawn in to an absorbing confrontation by belief rather than the unnatural and laboured pleas for noise. So much so that when Alex Waller threw an interception pass with thirteen minutes to go and Bath took the lead for the first time since the fourth minute, you somehow knew Northampton were capable of pulling the iron from the fire. A diving Elliot, ably abetted by Waldouck and Foden duly obliged. The Gardens erupted.

There was still time for wobble, and Myler’s post finding conversion and the set piece weakness volunteered to test even the strongest conviction. Bath threw the scullery basin at Northampton but Elliot’s try remained the irrevocable character witness.

“judge the miracle by feel, not size” is a line from Born Again by Badly Drawn Boy. This result, far from the best I’ve seen was certainly the best I’ve felt for a while. 

Alan Dickens & Tom Mercey Say:-

News: Elliot Pulls Plug on Profligate Bath

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 24/02/2013 09:44

ComeOnYouSaints.com
24/02/2013 09:44

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tedge
24/02/2013 09:57

That's the game I saw Ben - cheers !

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St Marlowe
24/02/2013 10:00

Thanks Ben - your last 2 sentences sum it up for me!

David L

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

- Live wrong and preposterously

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St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
24/02/2013 11:07

And me, very well done mate!

No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.

Dryathlon

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
24/02/2013 13:02

Well reported - give me the 'vulgar Premiership brand' any day!


*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*

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riverlodge
24/02/2013 20:01

great report, really empathetically written.

im usually glass half empty, but i have to say - daisyless lineout and tighthead scrum apart - i thought that bath also had a couple of lucky breaks. wally thankfully will never be an international fly half and throw interception passes, and their score from when biggs scragged wilson to touch from the lineout im sure james would avoid 8 times out of 10.

a good, nervy, cold day. felt like my club again, not just the result. dont you all think we WANTED it so much, for the team and for Saints?

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