Northampton Saints
Do Bears win in the Gardens? Not tonight say Saints
By Former Hollywood Saint
August 13 2011
So the cobwebs were dusted off the players, the Saints shirts hanging in the cupboard and the “I hate Wayne Barnes” signs. It was that time again to cheer out the Saints for the start of what could be a very good season.
Pre Season Friendly Match
Northampton Saints v Russia
Franklin's Gardens 12th August KO 7:30pm
Saints 54 Russia 19
Pressure was on everyone to make themselves known with new signings and Academy prospects wanting to stake their claim for the Gold, Black and Green shirt. One man obviously trying to do this by playing for the opposition – very cunning.
So once everyone had caught up with their neighbours it was time for the Saintly soldiers to knuckle down against World Cup minnows Russia. The Iron Curtain proving a tad tricky for Geoff as the team names that could cause a world record Scrabble score were read out. It must be said at this point that there weren’t any team sheets and I couldn’t write down what Geoff was saying. If I did then most of the names would be along the lines of Krgygsrtzzkrr...ov. So some guess work has to be done on my part (apologies if get these wrong).
A rather interesting rendition of the Russian national anthem was met by great cheers by the crowd and rightly so as the Russians merrily sung throughout the glitches in the PA system, not at all putting Northampton on the list of potential targets for military action by the Kremlin.
The Iron Curtain started the match with ferocity, hoping to prove their worth before the World Cup next month. They broke the line almost immediately before Saints getting their first of many turnovers and clearing the ball. After a few phases of play and some aerial bombardment straight out of Stalingrad, Mogensen set up a kick and chase, which he forced some quick thinking by the Russian back line.
The first score of the match was set in place by some great speed by Armstrong showing he is near his old best after being out for most of last year through injury. He was put through by Clarke and from the resulting tackle; the Saints were awarded a Penalty. This was duly kicked to touch as the Saints signalled a running game. The lineout was won and another penalty was awarded from the ruck that followed. Some set up play forced another penalty from which the Saints scrum opened up the Iron Curtain to reveal a Penalty Try. Ryan Lamb having the easiest of conversions to start his Saints tally.
The Iron Curtain drew themselves and pushed hard after the restart, with the winger Pastrychev being fed by the centre Headchev for some exciting play. Quick ball from the number 9 Poppinofftotheshops fed the back line and Pastrychev went in the corner exposing an overlap. Kicker Getov couldn’t replicate his kicking out of hand by pushing the conversion wide.
After another Saints attack, Referee Barnes had enough of the persistent infringements by the Russians by showing a Yellow, making number 8 Sodov, Sentov – sorry sent off. From the resulting passages of play, new boy Samu Manoa barrelled over for his debut try in a very convincing display by the American.
A few moments later – and the quickest 10 minutes in the World – Sodov rejoined the field. Obviously the time and space dimesional tear that appeared in Northampton this week was missed after the Riots took the news. More attacking play the Saints followed and was finished off by a side-step Quade Cooper would have been proud of when Mogensen jinked over the line to stretch Saints lead to 19-5 after 20 minutes.
Another attack lead by a huge break by Manoa set up a runaway try by first captain Phil Dowson which Lamb confidently converted to make it 26-5 and increasingly one sided.
The play calmed down score-wise for a while whilst there was good play from both sides. The Russian number 6 Getyerkitov proving to be a handful every time he was near the ball. Academy young gun Heywood was taken off for Andy Long after 30 minutes after a decent display considering his age. Heywood one of the many youngsters on display who were giving it their all and putting in some huge hits on the Russians. The first half ended with a final Russian attack after a couple of penalty kicks to the corner. Good build up ended with the big Number 5 Castov. Getov converting an easier conversion to make it 26-12 at the break.
A completely different Saints team came out for the second half – literally and quickly made their presence felt. A break by Wilson supported by Callum Clark led to a great pass from Tom May sending in fellow new signing Cesar Sampere speeding in for what could be the quickest debut try in Saints colours (about 90 seconds I made it). The last time that happened was a certain Chris Ashton.
More Saints attacks came to nothing as the Iron Curtain were allowed to clear their lines. Noah Cato made his presence felt with some all round skill involving great flashes of pace, great handling and some great defensive work. After some suspect Russian throwing and another hooking substitution – this time Sharman for Long – Saints attacked with another big scrum. The ball was fed out to Cato who bobbed and weaving to make some room, sprinted down the line only to throw a hoping pass to nobody. The ball was knocked on and the Russians were allowed to clear again. Soon after, another Cato sprint led to an inside pass to Nutley who fed second half Captain, Callum Clark to extend Saints lead to 40-12.
The Russians started coming off to a great round of applause with new comrades joining the battle with around 20 to go. Again the flanker Getyerkitov proving a handful and being by far the most dangerous Russian without a Kalashnikov. There was a period of encouraging Russian attack, making people think that they could cause a problem or two if some of the sides in their group don’t take them seriously (see Georgia vs. Ireland in 2007). The Russians broke the line after some poor handling again by Saints and were awarded a Penalty try of their own as Referee Barnes adjudged that the man was brought down without the ball, thus illegally stopping a certain try. The extras were added to bring it to 40-19.
Some more mistakes started to creep in from both sides, as well as in the middle by Barnes, as it is obvious that everyone is a bit rusty. The Mooj was hauled off after just 32 minutes on the field as the Saints carried on battering the Iron Curtain, only to come up short once more. After a Russian clearance went straight to the Saints back line, Paul Diggin broke through to feed Sampere who in turn helped Academy winger Charlie Sadler in to score on the right wing. Myler added the extras to make it 47-19. Although Sadler seemed to get a nasty knock on the elbow soon afterwards he showed signs of resilience to finish the match. There was one last chance for Saints to attack and it came from a kick and chase from Sadler, which was aided by the out of position Paul Diggin. After a penalty was given, Myler was either lucky or pin point accurate with his kick to touch. A maul quickly formed from the lineout and the Iron Curtain was again powerless to stop the rampaging Saintly mass from scoring again. Sorensen coming up with the ball. Myler converted whilst a yawning Barnes (yes we saw him yawning!) drew the match to a close. Final score 54-19 to the Saints.
Things to take away from the match: The Academy guys look great. We have a lot of talent coming through. The only thing is that we need to use it, and use it well. The new guys showed a lot of promise, sure there were some handling errors around the entire team but this is the first time out after a long break so we can forgive them for now. The Russians are an improving team and their number 6 was immense. Piggy’s patch looks in amazing condition as always. And last but not least – Wayne Barnes is still a pillock. No reason why, he just is. Here’s to the new season.
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Many thanks for that, FHS, much appreciated!
FHS.
“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
And my first post for months now. Lovely review of a midly enjoyable evening.
Just wait until Goodliffe returns to the Gardens!
FHS.
Does anyone have any idea why "Sendov" came back on again after only 5 minutes? Is it a special concession for friendlies?
What did you think of Vasily Artemiev? He was very busy and looked fit and physical...
Dom, media reports suggets Saints asked for him to be let back on so they could play against a full side. Of course you cant beleive everything you read......
I liked what I saw of Artemiev - he didnt get suckered by Cato's sidestep.
alive and well in Shrubbery Terrace
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