Initial Gut reactions

 

I'd like to be the first to say well done to all the fans at the gardens,
YOU WERE FANTASTIC…………i was pleased to see the boys come back out after the game and give you their thanks. A great win, a great fight, a great team, a band of brothers, who fought for their shirts, their fans, their club, and each other.  Rob Richmond

 

....well I wasn't expecting it! I haven't read any other posts yet I don't want to be diluted by the thoughts of others but flip me that was bloody brilliant! Rich St Joe & Niamh’s dad

 

That's the loudest I have heard it at FG for years. I have no voice left. Memorable day that we'll remember for a long time.  Mark H

 

well done to all Saints fans,I also have no voice left.what a way to get a sore throat! desbralass

 

Oooooh it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up just thinking about that game. Claire Jones

Wonderful performance. It has took me nearly an hour to calm down   The shirt will be proudly worn round Cornwall tonight. Neal Roff

 

That was awesome wasnt it saint.dave

Players' commitment and heart - awesome!!! Sheer bloody minded determination to win in spite of the ref. Never been so proud to be a Saints fan tonight. Good on you boys! James Simons-Boswell

 

Fighting

Right let's get the fight out of the way! Sorry Sharky - you had to go - flying in fists waving is not on - no matter what was happening to Drahm. But Robin Goodliffe - how many times did Andy Hazell have to transgress? Both Dr T and I agreed with Dewi Morris that either both teams were penalised or neither. Claire Jones

 

Just timed it. Andy Hazell had been back on the field for five seconds before getting involved again.
Robinson had to go.
Drahm probably should have gone.
Macrae should have gone.
Eustace was probably fortunate to get a yellow.
Hazell should not play another game of rugby before the end of January. Mark H

 

I have just heard Smudgers comments on the radio on the way home I am sure he said something like "Robinson ran in to join a meeting" was a great understatement. Saint.dave

 

Having watched the video I'm disappointed that the incident didn't show Chris Budgeon getting punched by two Glos players immediately before the others kicked off.  Carole Thacker

 

I've just seen it on TV.  There's no doubt that Drahm was targetted. Hazell should have had yellow. As for the brawl,it's nonsense to suggest that 2 from each side should have gone and if Dewi Morris's comments lead to more Saints being cited then it's a joke. Gloucester wanted to break our game up. Cheesey

we also won the fight. sharky, be proud. i'm certainly proud of you.sharky was only looking out for his mate. the ref had himself to blame, as they started it, and it was obvious to me that it was aimed at shane. it's all very well the ref saying "i'll take care of it" , but he was off the play , he lost control and failed to protect our player from a cynical attempt to take him out which spread over about 15 mins of the match.   as for Eustace - i'm glad we didn't sign him. what a pussy. a lock having to be rescued by the ref from a scrumhalf  broonie

 

With you Broonie.  I was taught from a very young age (By two ex Saints and England internationals) that in this game you look out for your mates. I was proud of Tim Rodber when he walked in SA and I'm proud of Sharky today. WMS

Oh dear, I'm going to hate myself for writing this but here goes.  Nope, I can't agree broonie - all I saw were some 'professional' sportsmen losing it. I'm not going to regard any player as a true Saint because he can throw a punch. And yes Robinson did throw a punch, several in fact and he didn't need to run in as he did - Hazell would more probably have been sent off because his actions would have been more clearly seen by the touch judge.  The real Saintsmen were the 13 players on the pitch in the second half who played their hearts out against a side who should have played our lads off the park. I watched the most spirited 40 minutes of Saints rugby I have ever seen led by a captain who over and over again put his body on the line. That's being a true Saint!   Claire Jones

Pride restored and a message sent to the rest of the League - the Saints now do what all front rows are taught - we never take a step backwards! Paul Flatt

 

Violence in the game is wrong but when it kicks off you don't stand there watching your mates take a beating. There are only two people I would cite for heinous crimes, Messrs Hazel and Goodliffe. Hazel really should not have been on the pitch to score that try. Howlin

 

The Game

That was the best start I've seen from a Saints team all season - we went at 'em and stayed at 'em. Blowers put in some crunching tackles, Drahm was sublime and it put Glos on the back foot. When they did get the ball we played them horizontally across the park over and over again until they made a mistake - it was magnificent! Our lineout was safe, secure, set up attacks time and time again. Our scrum held and when we turned them is the second half our living room was a cacophony of noise!  The defence at the end was outstanding - no panic……  Claire Jones

 

We certainly got the best deal "hands-down" with Aussie no. 10's with our Shane compared to Macrae....I wouldn't want that guy in a Saints shirt in a million years! BBF

 

..a monumental display of sheer guts and determination and refusal to take a step back from a bunch of bullies who showed their true qualities when they were getting a stuffing.
I don't think at the moment that I want a vote for MOTM today, they all deserve it!
Well done Saints, you've made me very proud.  Stockers

 

All the Saints players for such a wonderful attacking performance while we had 15 men on the park.  2) All the Saints players for such a stirling defensive performance after the ref had tried to make Glaws more competitive by reducing our numbers. Biggysaint

The Gloucester Fans

 

Gloucester fans just confirmed what I thought about them. Mark H

 

there are indeed some very civilized glaws fans.  i had a nice chat with both of them in the bar broonie

 

It's a minority. The vast bulk of Glaws fans are knowledgeable and committed fans who know how to behave. They will always be welcome at FG but it would be better if they leave their lunatic fringe behind.  It's the Glaws team and their coaches who should be taking a long hard look in the mirror this morning   Stockers

 

As a proud Glaws supporter of many years I too deplore the very small minority who give us a bad name. In reality their numbers are probably no more than 10 & how many travelled yesterday- 1000?  I enjoy Frankenstein Gardens & admire the improvements but every team has its idiots. When I came for the pre-season game I felt that the wrong elements had crept into the Saints ranks - I recall one bearded "moron" who had as much knowledge of rugby as a hedgehog.  Pricey

 

Yes well said I suppose there are dodgy elements in all clubs - even Saints!! The real winner yesterday was rugby what a day! what a game! Bravo again Saints!  Saintsby

 

Glaws tactics seemed to be 'we can't win, so lets do some damage'. Their fans were terrible, shouting during all kicks, one was nearly ejected by stewards, one nearly linched, but it made the points sweeter. JAMES SIMONS-BOSWELL

 

By the end of the game the Glaws lad sitting alongside me had accepted that Air Smudge is the one, true Rugby God and that the Jimmies are simply the most awesome group of lads on this planet. My missionary work complete, we shook hands and agreed to meet at Castle Grim for the return bout when he could try to convert me. Very nice bloke who (if he can stand sitting next to me) is alright in my book. WMS

 

The Glos fans in D Block near me were completely biggoted for the first half. A knowledgeable few started disowning them, but another southern comfort soon persuaded the rest we were just out playing them everywhere! Phil177

 

All the true Glaws fans who were thoroughly embarassed by some of their colleagues (fans) one-eyed behaviour, not to mention the Ryanesque behaviour of the Glaws pack when being out manoevred in lineout, scrum, ruck and maul in the first half. Biggysaint

 

The ref – yellow cards what are they for?

 

Drahm had been targeted because of he was kicking Gloucesater to death. If referee's are not prepared to protect creative players at the hand's of thugs then we may as well give up.
The yellow card is supposed to be a sanction against persistent technical offending, not a licence for thugs, or referee's to hedge their bets. Saint Andrew

 

Bring in more Tech if it can be seen to help, but remember, yellow cards were brought in for technical offences, and look at them now. Alan T

 

Best bit was the ref saying that eustace started it with a punch........so I'm giving him a yellow!!!!!!Must be another new rule! JAMES SIMONS-BOSWELL

 

) The ref for penalising Glaws forwards repeatedly for infringing in the first and for pinging Tucks (1st offence?) and AB with yellow cards. I won't comment on the red card until I've taken a deep breath but how Hazel and some others escaped a red I don't know. Cynical initiated thuggery doesn't rate anything other than a red. I sincerely hope the citing officer takes a good hard look at this one, as a ref who cannot stop a player being beaten up off the ball, or protect him in any way, is probably mightily relieved when a player(s) comes to his rescue to sort it out for him. Biggysaint

 

That drive

 

Sorry but this thread made me laugh so much I really just had to include certain elements…..

 

That we used to push Glaws over for our try?
I think that we started somewhere near the Sturidge didn't we? JAMES SIMONS-BOSWELL

 

Lets start the bidding at 22 yards....by the time Glos next come to FG it'll be from our 22 alan T

 

I've heard of a complaint in Kings Heath of a seething mass of gold black and green holding up traffic there shortly after three today... Mark H

 

Great great Uncle Richard in Northumberland (yes there's two of us) reckons it was catapaulted from Witley Bay! Rich St Joe & Niamh’s dad

 

Captain's Log, stardate 1st November 2003. There's Saints on the starboard bow.  Captain James T Kirk

 

We shall examine your driving technique and if we considerate it valueable, you will be assimilated. The Borg collective

 

And so on……