By Mav
November 21 2004

Blimey, where do you start? The problem I've always had in writing a match report (it doesn't happen often, I grant you) is how to get started.

Someone suggested that a good starting point is to think back to the game you've seen earlier in the day and then focus on one highlight of the match and start from there, but herein lays the problem, there were not any high points. If we thought that the first half of the Irish game was bad from a Saints perspective then, it has just got a whole lot worse.

Before I go any further, to any Worcester supporters or indeed to the general rugby reading public who may be dropping in for a nose, please do not take any of what may follow as a slight against the visiting team. Worcester was by quite a margin the best team on the park. They had a game plan, they stuck to it and they won. Worcester is a welcome addition to the Premiership, although they may have a limited game plan but they play it tough. Today they made it work. Saints today, were woeful.

 

During the week prior to the game the talk had been how this match could, perhaps, get our season back on track. Maybe nothing earth-shaking but here was a chance to put in a solid, secure performance, take the points and then take stock and look to the future.

 

Now, at this point, I am supposed to take you through the game, highlighting the good points, the near misses, the oohs, aahs and oomphs from the crowd - to tell you of how the team, even when chasing the game, were giving it everything they had in an effort to make that vital break, that one cutting inside pass to split the defence, that...you get the idea. What's the point? We all saw it, it was a shambles.

 

For the record, Worcester took the lead through a second minute penalty from Tommy Hayes. Grays (in a scrumcap, were his ears cold?) levelled the scores. Hayes kicked Worcester further in front after a lazy high tackle on Pat Sanderson gave them the chance to restore the advantage. With about 29 minutes on the clock Giscard Pieters scored the only try of the game, catching Saints cold and crossing in front of the Shrubbery Terrace. 11-3 to the visitors. Paul Grayson pulled the score back to 11-6 with a penalty but a drop goal (from Hayes) and a further penalty (Hayes again) made the Saints efforts in the last few minutes academic. It was game littered with Saints knock ons, fumbles and, it seemed from one player "Hey, I can't be bothered to catch that, let it bounce in open field..." Not a direct quote but you know who I mean. Chris Budgen should be a shoe-in for a third on the bounce man-of the-match win. At least he, along with Wylie, JC, Bruce and Stitch seemed to care today.

 

 A fortnight ago, Mark H wrote an impassioned plea to Keith Barwell as his   match report. Very eloquently, Mark eptomised what we must all be feeling; we have the club, the infrastructure and, I believe, we have the team to be a top three side. Not this season. The players are nervous, afraid of trying anything and afraid of making a mistake. So we are in the vicious circle. The more they try, the more errors they make, the more the heads drop, the less likely we are to score. For the whole of the second half I knew we wouldn't make that touch down. Don't ask me why, I just knew. Perhaps I've come resigned to another inept performance from the side that I call my own. It shouldn't be this way!

 

Look at Worcester. They know that they are going to have a tough year. At least their team are fighting their corner! I wish I could say the same for one or two of those who started in BG&G today. The whole ethos of this club used to be of selfish dedication to the Saints cause. Hey! In days gone by if we lost a game but had played well that would be, not right but, probably OK. We've not seen a losing performance like that all season.

 

It is obvious that Alan Solomans does not have the confidence of the players. In turn, is it too much of a leap to suggest that the players thought that one more loss wouldn't do them any harm if it led to a change of coach? Pure conjecture, of course, but that's the talk on the Terrace. Why play for a man whose methods you don't believe in if another loss would bring his downfall? It is not a palatable read for those of us who have, until this point, been in the "glass half full" brigade. If Mr Barwell hasn't realised the enormity of the situation by now, let me just run this one by you. The crowd today was a tad over 11,000. That's the crowd at the start of the match. By the time 80 minutes were up I would guess only about 7500 were left. The other 20% had already made for the exits. I have been vociferous in my calls for the faithful to stay until "no side" but not today. If it wasn't for the fact that a match report was needed and my own stubborn cussedness, I would have been out of the gate at about 70 minutes.

 

So here’s the rub. Solly has lost the dressing room. He probably lost it weeks ago. We know that Keith Barwell has spent more time at Franklin's Gardens in the last week than at any time during his stewardship of the club. We also know that Keith will make the right decisions for the good of this club. Indeed at the time writing, the deed may already have been done.

 

 

Until Monday, let's hope so.