By Chris G
October 10 2002

With absolutely no apologies at all, on the eve of Saints 2000/2003 Heineken Cup campaign we look back to the biggest day in the clubs 120 years, May 2000 and the rest, as they say is history..... SAINTS EURO CHAMPS !

By Chris G
Date: 28/5/2000

Well it took 120 years coming but when it came it was well worth the wait. The Saints are now European Champions 1999 -2000. Having put the troubles of the last two weeks behind them they defied all those well known tipsters (Are you watching Stuart Barnes!!!) to lift the European crown.

In a game that few expected the Saints to win, the boys came good when it mattered and lifted the biggest club trophy in the world.
Cheered on by an estimated 25,000 supporters, in a crowd of nearly 69,000, the Saints dominated proceedings up front and should have had the game won in the first twenty minutes when several clear try scoring opportunities went begging.

However they didn't let it get to them and where as the Saints of old would probably have buckled, the 2000 vintage got on with the job in hand.
Again they relied on Larry 'The Boot' Grayson to steer them home with three kicks to secure the victory.

The Saints started like a train, taking the game to the Irish side, and totally disproving the pundits who said they would be too tired for the task ahead. Led by new Dad, and supposedly injured, Pat Lam they tore holes in the oppositions defence and as early as the second minute the Irish could stop the flow without impeding. Up steps Larry for his first kick, 3-0.

Now in the ascendancy the Saints pushed forward again and again. The back row and lock Tim Rodber, who had his best game ever in a Saints shirt, led the charge ably supported by Matt Allen, Allan Bateman and scrum half stand in Dom Malone.

Twice in the following minutes with the Irish line at their mercy and clear overlap advantage
tries went begging. First Ben Cohen knocked on, then Ali Hepher who might just have done enough to tour South Africa with England, passed to Matt Allens feet instead of his hands.

Twenty minutes gone and the possesion was 4 to 1 in the Saints favour but they still only led 3-0.
Finally Munster broke the siege and for the first time in the match got near the Saints 22.
The Saints defence held firm but Jason Holland saw a gap in the Gold Black n Green wall and kicked a superb drop goal. 3-3.

Momentarily, and for the first time in the match, the Saints were on the back foot and Keith Wood surged through only to be held up five metres short in the right hand corner. However four players commited themselves in the one tackle and with advantage in numbers the ball went wide to the left and openside David Wallace went in for the score. Ronan O'Gara failed with the conversion as he did with his four kicks of the day. It was Munsters last roll of the dice. 3-8.

Spurred into action the Saints hit back and again took control of the game. Again they threatened the Munster line until a high tackle on Allan Bateman gave Paul Grayson a chance to claw back some points. 6-8. Half time.

Sensing that they had to raise the tempo of the game the Irish side forced Saints back in the early second half encounters. A fine interception by Dom Malone who got three quarters of the way down the pitch before being hauled back by of all things a lock. Eddie Halvey looked like he might have saved Munsters day.

But Saints had other thoughts and found yet another gear to move up to. From a scrum in the Munster 22 Don McKinnon charged down an O'Gara clearance. The player panicked, fluffed the ball on the ground then killed it. Penalty. Grayson. 9-8.

The scoring may well have been over but the drama wasn't. Again and again the Saints defence held firm, with Garry Pagel outstanding. Then on 68 minutes from a tap penalty Mick Galwey brought down Dom Malone a yard into his run. The referee had no option but to bin the talismatic Irishman.

Again the Saints came back and started to win oppsition lineout ball. Tim Rodber having two superb takes. Then came what could have been the turning point of the match. Referee Joel Dume and his touch judge missed a knock on that all 68,441 spectators did not and from the subsequent breakdown the Irish gained a penalty.

With a minute to go it looked like all the efforts of the season had been in vain. O'Gara had the chance to put his side ahead and win the game and the European title for his province.
It wasn't to be. He edged the ball just wide, perhaps allowing a little bit too much for the wind. Now we all felt that maybe Saints name was on the cup.

The final few minutes were played out in a dream. Finally Mr Dume blew up for the end of match. Wild celebrations ensued. Not a dry eye in the house.

Hats must go off to Munster and their supporters.
Around forty thousand Munsterman were there to cheer on their team. Everyone we met after the game and long long into the night at Richmond give us their best wishes and congratulations.
They certainy know how to party !
They and their team were a credit to their province and country. Other sports supporters have a lot to learn from rugby.

And finally I'd just like to remind you all...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS, EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS 1999-2000

Teams:

Paul Grayson; Craig Moir, Allan Bateman, Matt Allen, Ben Cohen; Ali Hepher, Dom Malone (Jim Bramhall 73); Garry Pagel, Freddie Mendez, Matt Stewart (Martin Scelzo 67), Andy Newman (Jon Phillips 70), Tim Rodber, Don Mackinnon, Budge Pountney, Pat Lam (capt).

MUNSTER

D Crotty (K Keane 82); J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, K Wood, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), J Langford, E Halvey, D Wallace, A Foley.
Sin-bin: Galwey 65.


Referee: J Dumé (France).
Att: 68,441.