By From the Archives
November 20 2002

In our second look back into the archive this week it September 1998 at FG. Lionel grabbed a brace to see Saints on their way but the day was marred by the sending off a newly honoured Member of the British Empire. Seeley Brace Saves Saints Blushes

By Chris G

Saints 25 Harlequins 6
Saturday 12th September 1998
Franklins Gardens
Allied Dunbar Premiership

The Saints flattered to deceive against 14 man Quins but finally
overcame the visitor by 4 tries to nil. Tim Rodber was outstanding and did his England claims no harm with Clive Woodward watching from the stands. Rodbers hits on Rory Jenkins and Gareth Llewellyn were memorable. Woodward still has worries over the form of Paul Grayson and an injury to England captain Matt Dawson.

Harlequins ,now playing under All Black legend Zinzan Brooke, were pressured by the Saints forwards early on but gained the first points with a John Schuster penalty. No sooner had these points been scored than the turning point in the game came when Jason Leonard was adjudged to have stamped on the head of Budge Poutney. After consulting his touchjudge referee Richard Goodliffe had no option but to send Leonard off.

Saints rallied against the 14 men side and after finally breaking them down they scored 15 unanswered points in the last six minutes of the half. Grayson kicked his first penalty of the day before Andy Northey and Ben Cohen combined to send Frenchmen David Dantiacq over for his first competitive try for the club.

A minute later the forwards got in on the act with the much improved Richard Metcalfe combining well with Garry Pagel to put Grant Seeley over just before the break. Grayson converted to give a half time score of Saints 15 Quins 3.

At this point it looked like the Saints were going to run riot but Quins came out for the second half and made a match of it. The home side were not helped when Dawson went off with a suspected strain early in the half. The Saints were pinned in their own section for the first thirty minutes of the second half, and with the frustration of little forward progress mistakes started to creep in. However being a man short told in the end for Quins and despite their efforts they only scored another Schuster penalty.

As in the first period Saints finally came alive again in the last ten minutes of the game.
Nick Beal thundered through the gap leaving Quins for dead. Federico Mendez collected the ball and continued the charge before Seeley moved up to score his second of the proceedings.
The try gave Saints added impetus and on the final minute Poutney surged through to score a deserved try.

The Saints have improved on last weeks display at Sarries, but at times they made hard work of breaking down a smaller side. However things are moving in the right direction and players such as Rodber, Seeley, Metcalfe and the underrated Martin Hynes proved that the Saints can and will go marching on


Team
N Beal; C Moir, D
Dantiacq, A Northey, M Cohen; P Grayson,
M Dawson (rep: J Bramhall 43min); G
Pagel, F Mendez, M Hynes (rep: M Volland
75), R Metcalfe, J Chandler (rep: J Phillips
61 mins), G Seeley, T Rodber, B Pountney


Saints Scorers

David Dantiacq.............Try
Grant Seeley...............Try (2)
Budge Poutney................Try

Paul Grayson.........Conversion