Northampton Saints
News: Fun in the Sun! HC 1/4 Final Saints 23 v 13 Ulster
By Jonathan Stockham
April 11 2011
Northampton Saints powered their way through to a home European Cup semi final on 1 May 2011 with a performance of increasing strength over 80 minutes against an Ulster team who started well but eventually succumbed to Saints forward power and commitment.
Fun in the Sun!
Heineken Cup – Quarter Final
MK Gardens, Sunday 10 April 2011.
Jonathan Stockham
So, a “home” tie at Milton Keynes. How was it for us? An impressive stadium with a top quality playing surface that, dare one say, even surpassed Piggy’s Patch for firmness and speed. Viewing lines from every part of the stadium were perfect. A friendly welcome from the stewards, some of ours and some of “theirs” and no real access problems as far as this correspondent was concerned. Much had been done to make the stadium look like home with a giant shirt on the pitch and another being passed over the crowd in the stands.
But, and it is a very big but, on a day when MK had its biggest ever attendance, getting a drink proved to be a major endurance test. Even an hour and a half before kick off, queues at the bars inside the stadium extended to over 45 minutes and to find, once the front of the queue had been reached, that not everything listed on the price list over the bar was in fact available (wine for example) did cause some loss of humour! After the match, bottled water was scarce and the tap water system seemed to have run dry. With only one bar outside the ground, a major rethink is needed before we return there in 3 weeks time.
However, to the game itself and a dream start for the home team. Ulster kicked off and the ball was well taken by Courtney Lawes. A good maul moved upfield and the ball was hoofed long upfield where a bad bounce fooled Ulster winger Trimble into knocking on 10 metres from his line. Saints won a free kick at the scrum, Lee Dickson tapped and ran and 3 phases later, Soane Tonga’uiha burst through the middle of a ruck and extended a seemingly never ending arm over the try line to touch down! Steve Myler added the conversion and, after 3 minutes, Saints were 7-0 ahead.
However, Ulster upped the ante for the rest of the first quarter and the deadly accurate boot of Ian Humphreys brought them back to within 1 point at 7-6 after 15 minutes. It could have been worse for Saints as Ulster attacked briskly from a penalty line out to put Danielli away for what would have been a try but for the final pass being forward.
Saints pack were starting to gain the upper hand as the half wore down with Brian Mujati rampaging around to good effect but, rather against the run of play, Ulster scored a try on 33 minutes. From a penalty line out on Saints’ 22, Danielli was nearly through again off an angled run but a couple of phases later Trimble ran the same move to breach the home defence. Humphreys added the extras and Ulster were 7-13 in front and their already vociferous travelling support upped the volume to the level called “worrying” by home fans.
Steve Myler knocked over a penalty to narrow the gap just before the break after a great solo run by Ben Foden and a powerful Saints scrum had seen Ulster pinged at the set piece 15 metres out.
Half Time, Saints 10, Ulster 13
Saints started the second half kicking towards the South Stand and down the slope (Ed – Stockers, you said you couldn’t get served at the bar!). Despite the heat, both teams hared up and down the paddock, chasing kicks in an aerial ping pong duel until The Mooj decided to hold on to the ball and surged forward, forcing Ulster to concede a penalty, which was nice of them as it was in a shady part of the ground. Myler brought the scores level with a kick from 30 metres out after 8 minutes of the half.
Stand Up Nick Johnson & Co! It was becoming apparent that the Saints were lasting the pace better than the visitors now and scrums were being won against the head, penalties conceded and the Ulster forwards getting niggly.
And then, a sublime piece of genius by Saints backs crafted a try of much beauty. Ulster kicked long for touch and Foden took a quick throw in to Myler. Instead of the usual return kick, Myler saw that Ashton had retreated back to support so passed instead and Foden and Ashton set off up the left wing, interpassing skilfully until Foden was tackled 15 metres short of the line. Fodes set the ball up for John Clarke to pick up and feed Lee Dickson who scampered in for a try, Myler adding the conversion.
Saints were back in front again after 56 minutes and looking stronger all the time. However, Ulster were still game and, despite strong Saints defence, went through the phases to free D’Arcy with an overlap outside him and an open line beckoning. Then, he dropped the ball! You kind of new it was going to be our day!
From the 5m scrum, Dickson box kicked upfield. The catch was taken by Danielli who was bustled into touch by Ashton. That determination was being shown throughout the team as the tackles got bigger, Ulster ball was being turned over and from a knock on, Saints had a scrum on halfway. A huge surge from the Saints pack won a penalty 45 m out which Myler slotted to widen the gap to 10 points with 15 minutes left.
The power of Saints game just kept intensifying as the half wore down. They were able to disrupt Ulster’s line out, win penalties as the visitors were pinged for various offences at ruck and maul and only Humphrey’s skill and quality kept Ulster in the hunt. All to no avail and as the crowd helpfully counted down the last 10 seconds, Dickson made ready to boot the ball high into the stands.
Saints now face Perpignan, again at MK Gardens on 1 May in the semi final. The team know they can play better still. They were able to wait until their superior fitness made the difference against Ulster and change their game plan in the second half to keep more ball in hand.
It is difficult to single out anyone for my Man of the Match but it is also difficult to argue with Sky’s choice of Courtney Lawes. Back to his very best in all aspects of the modern lock forward’s game he was ably assisted by the rest of the strong mobile pack. Dylan Hartley gets better all the time as a leader and player, his line out being virtually faultless on Sunday.
Finally, the almost telepathic bond between Foden and Ashton sliced the Ulster defence open several times. Happy days!
And a word for the officials. Romain Poite and his assistants ran the game very well and M. Poite’s understanding of the scrum is refreshing.
Thanks to all at MK for making the day so enjoyable and to the Ulster fans for their good humour and grace in defeat. They even brought their own army battalion with them, 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, safe home from Helmand Province.
Teams:
Northampton: Foden, Ashton, Clarke, Downey, Diggin, Myler, Dickson, Tonga'uiha, Hartley, Mujati, Lawes, Day, Dowson, Wood, Warren.
Replacements: Waller for Tonga'uiha (74), Sharman for Hartley (79), Mercey for Mujati (79), Clark for Dowson (74).
Ulster: D'Arcy, Trimble, Spence, Wallace, Danielli, Humphreys, Pienaar, Court, Best, Botha, Muller, Tuohy, Diack, Henry, Wannenburg.
Replacements: McAllister for Botha (70), I. Whitten for Muller (78), Barker for Tuohy (56), Faloon for Diack (62).
Att: 21,309
Ref: R Poite (FRFU)
Photos courtesey Simon Robinson
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon11/04/2011 18:13
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Regarding the playing surface I gather from a colleague who is an MK Dons STH that it is a mixture of natural and artificial turf with a mesh grid providing support.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
----------------------------------------
Please sponsor me for Saints with Heart [www.justgiving.com]
Quote:Flinstone Saint
Excellent, Stockers. How could you concentrate to take all those notes in the heat of the moment/day?
Goes like this Wilma, "Helen, who kicked that?" or "Helen,who made that tackle?"
I'd be in trouble without my Glamourous Assistant!
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
More Northampton Saints headlines
- End of season how the squad was used analysis
- This weeks rugby 1st - 5th July
- Weekend Rugby 27th/28th June
- Weekend Rugby 19th - 20th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 12th - 14th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 5th - 7th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 29th - 31st May 20206
- Weekend Rugby 22nd - 23rd May 2026
- Weekend Rugby 15th - 17th May 2026