By From the Archives
September 4 2002

In our second look at Saints v Falcons encounters in the run up to game we go back to March 1999. The Saints were starting to put the form together that would see them be a major force the following season. Newcastle had no answer as Saints ran in a total of nine tries. Super Saints Step Up Nine Gears
Saturday 27th March1999
Saints 57 Newcastle 16

NEWCASTLE took a streetwise approach and decided that, should they still be in contact after an hour, Jonny Wilkinson, Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir would be brought into action to try to capture the result.

It proved to be a forlorn hope. After 61 minutes Northampton had scored the seventh of their nine tries and were on the way to their biggest win in the premiership this season. "We have had a bad time at home in the mud," said Tim Rodber, the captain. "That shows what we can do on a fast, dry pitch."

Newcastle had barely a sniff of the ball in the second half, which they began only 19-16 behind. But once Nick Beal had split the Newcastle defence from 40 metres out in the first key move of the half, Northampton could see where they were going, and confidence, pace and quality of finishing rose in equal measure.

Four tries were scored from close range and the finishing flourish was even more spectacular, with Beal running in from halfway and Ben Cohen, equally effective in striking from deep, touching down to end a sequence of play which Newcastle had begun with a tap penalty on their 22.

Northampton keep a distant pressure on Leicester and have established a plateau of style on which they can build. "Whatever level you are at, pace kills," said coach Ian McGeechan, whose players had laboured for three hours without a try before this game.

Freddy Mendez, the Argentinian hooker, had a pulsating day. Commanding and secure on the ball, he deserved his two tries for sheer persistance. Pat Lam was equally effective in Northampton's remorseless search for a wide and fast game and Matt Dawson was given the possession to fire a back division to which Matt Allen made a strong contribution.

Newcastle's first-half performance underlined the developing skill of Hall Charlton at scrum-half and Peter Massey at full-back. But Newcastle could be forgiven for having one eye on the league match against London Scottish on Wednesday, the other on the Cup semi-final against Richmond next Saturday. There was no coming back at Northampton's compelling urgency and the sin-binning of Garath Archer (surprise, surprise) merely added to Newcastle's problems.

Team
Nick Beal; Craig Moir, Andy Northey, Matt Allen, Ben Cohen; Ali Hepher, Matt Dawson; Matt Volland, Freddie Mendez (Steve Walter 77min), Matt Stewart, Richard Metcalfe (Jon Phillips 40min), Tim Rodber (capt), Don Mackinnon ( Grant Seely 46min), Budge Pountney, Pat Lam.

Saints Scorers

Federico Mendez......................Try (2)
Benjamin Cohen................Try (2)
Richard Metcalfe..................Try
Matthew Allen ....................Try
Matthew Dawson.....................Try
Anthony Poutney.......................Try
Nicholas Beal.......................Try
Matthew Dawson................Conversion (6)

A repeat on Saturday would put a few nerves to rest, don't you think?