By Chris Gleadell
October 27 2005

In the lead up to Saints game against Bristol at the Memorial Ground on Sunday in the Pool One, European Challenge Cup, we look back at a couple of previous encounters. The clubs first met in the 1900-01 season with a 17-8 win for the Saints. Bristol won their first game of the series in the 1920-21 season with a 25-3 victory at home.

The teams over a hundred times with honours fairly even although in recent times it has been the Saints who have held sway. However the first we look back on didn't go our way but hey 'lifes a beach'.

Saints edged out by Bristol at Memorial beach.
Bristol 32 Saints 24
By Chris G

Well boys and girls that’s it for another season. Instead of another jolly jaunt to Twickers next week its the sun kissed beaches of the Maldives or Camber Sands instead for all those Gold, Black n Green inclined after the defeat at Bristols very own sun kissed inland beach on Saturday.

It was maybe a game too far for the Saints as the patchwork Jimmies army travelled to Bristol in the hope of a quick return to HQ but at the end of the day the home side, who had a Heineken Cup place in sight just had the edge at the death of an entertaining game dominated by one man, Felipe Contepomi.

The Saints, playing in shorts that Dale Winton would blush at, started well with Larry having the better of early penalty exchanges with Contepomi putting Northampton ahead at 6-3. But then the Argentine upped a gear and after fine work by England youngster Christophers Contepomi hopped and skipped through a gap to run to an empty seat (one of many) in row eight of the stand behind the goal. Unfortunately for Saints he popped the ball down in the try area enroute.

The conversion gave Bristol a 10-5 lead but the Saints almost made amends straight away. Craig Moir with the tryline in site hesitated and was bundled into touch and the home side breathed again. The Saints though had the bit between their teeth and after the two flyhalves exchanged further penalties the Saints finally got their just rewards.

A short break from midfield was taken on by front row England tourists Steve Thompson and Robbie Morris. 'Wally' and 'Roboprop' caused mayhem in a Bristol pack that was visibly wilting. As the young dynamic duo were held up short the Saints player of the year Andy Blowers, after a quick interchange in the backs, took the play on over the Bristol line for the score and the lead returning to the visitors yet again.

In the dying moments of the half Contepomi hit a further long range pen to again switch the lead one more time and send the home side in 16-14 at the break. It was still all there to play for.

Indeed after the break it was Bristol who surged into a commanding lead.
After the initial break from David Rees, it was that man Contepomi again who skipped through the Saints defence to go over for the score celebrated in true Buddhist style in the end zone. OMMMMM!

The Saints though rallied and hit back upfront and Bristol again had problems holding back the Gold Black and Green tide and but for a cruncher of a tackle on Nick Beal by yes that Argentine man again, the visitors could have closed the gap and start to edge away but the home defence held firm

In the end though it was one Saint too many for the Bristol defenders and McCarthy hauled back Craig Moir well after the ball had gone. Referee Chris White asked Mr McCarthy to sit the game out a while as the Saints upped another gear and stormed back into the lead with tries in quick succession from Grant Seely and a second from the, yet again, outstanding Hurricane Blowers.

At 24-23 up the Saints had Twickenham in their sight but the home side realised the predicament they were in. A matter of one point stood between their season being an unexpected success or another abject mundane disappointment.

To their eternal credit Bristol rallied and hit back with three late penalties, punctuated by Long John Leslie being dispatched to the bin and a totally legal Rees try disallowed in the closing minutes to seal the game, a trip to HQ and a Heineken place.

In truth the home side just about deserved it but all credit to the Saints for fighting every inch of the way in a game many pundits gave them little chance in. Indeed a couple of missed chances early on down the flank could have put a total different reflection on the game. The spirit though had all the hallmarks of how far the club has come since the arrival of Wayne Smith in December.

Now it’s a summer of rest and recuperation and one helluva season to look forward too in twelve weeks time.

And heres how Stockers saw the same game.

Stockers reflects on the trip to Bristol
Bristol 32 Saints 24
By Stockers

On a day which was almost too warm for cricket, let alone rugby, Saints travelled to Bristol for the Zurich Championship semi final and the chance of a second Twickenham final. This, in a season which had looked so dismal prior to the signing of ex All Blacks coach, Wayne Smith.

Several hundred of the faithful Saints following had struggled through heavy Bank Holiday traffic to reach the Memorial Ground which had an appearance not unlike the beach at Weston super Mare, such was the amount of sand on the pitch. All that was missing were the donkeys.

Fortunately, the Saints “donkeys” (and I use that term affectionately) were present and took the game up front to a Bristol side who had ample motivation to achieve victory. Qualification for the Heineken Cup for the first time ever was the main prize at stake for the Shoguns, but the chance of that Twickenham final for a side who had despatched Tigers in the previous round must also have been high on the team’s agenda.

If ever Keith Barwell and Malcolm Pearce sit down for lunch together, the two must be tempted to discuss merging the two sides on show yesterday. The dogged determination of the Saints pack allied to the cutting inciveness of the Bristol backs would produce one of the most complete teams in the Premiership.

Whilst the Saints pack had the better of the set scrums and their pick and drive game looked as productive as ever in gaining hard yards, the Northampton backs looked thoroughly indecisive. More than once they were caught in defence, dithering about amongst themselves, offloading short range passes, when a clearance kick was the only sensible option.

Only Craig Moir, in one of his best displays of the season, seemed to want to prove to Wayne Smith that he should be in the squad next season.

Nick Beal had one of those days when he must wonder if there is an easier way to make a living. At one moment thrilling with his pace on the counter attack, the next frustrating with sheer inability to give a decent pass or to clear the ball safely in defence.

The centres looked very second class compared to the Bristol midfield and often only a scrambling defence prevented Shoguns from rattling up a cricket score. James Brooks didn’t see much action on the wing and one wonders why Smith failed to bring on Joe Shaw at all or to reshuffle the back division to produce a more positive feel to proceedings. One wonders if the pack are actually talking to their higher numbered colleagues yet!

Whilst the pack didn’t seem to miss Tom Smith too badly, the news that Matt Dawson was absent with a leg strain was greeted before kick off with a look of resignation by most Saints fans. The lack of quality in depth at scrum half is something which the club must address before next season.

And Larry, normally Mr Dependable with the boot, had a bad day at the office as well. The Saints kicking coach would do well to take lessons from the Bristol no 10. Felipe Comtepomi. The Argentinean half back was the star of the show. There were no signs that this particular international, nor his fellow countryman and half back partner Pichot were saving themselves for their nation’s forthcoming test matches against England. They were crucial parts of a Bristol team effort where collective will and undying team spirit prevailed in a match where the Bristol pack were under pressure. Except, of course, in the line out.

On a windy day, Saints yet again persisted with long throws to the tail which were adjudged not straight or to the front where the Shoguns jumpers often disrupted Saints throw in. It’s a familiar sounding failure. Next season must be better in this vital area.

All in all, a tired looking end of season performance from the Saints, many of whom look as though the summer rest has not come too soon. The usual suspects tried their best. Robbie Morris had a good all round game, Wally was strong in the loose but poor in the line out. Grant Seely, like Craig Moir, re-posted his cv with Wayne Smith and both had excellent individual games, Moir only being denied a probable try due to a professional foul by Bristol hooker McCarthy which lead to him being sin binned. Andy Blowers was again dominant in a good all round performance by the pack who kept Saints in the game for long periods.

Wayne Smith will now know only too well which areas of his squad need rebuilding during the summer and beyond. As Keith Barwell has said, the same treatment as the Main Stand is undergoing will be applied to the team. It is a pity that some players on view yesterday did not re-apply for their jobs as effectively as they might.

Finally, happier times, Rich looks back on a victory.

Saints second half storm sinks Bristol
Bristol 27 Saints 37
By Rich May 9 2002

The Saints took a step closer to Europe this evening with a good win in a ‘ding-dong’ battle down at the Memorial stadium and now a win against Newcastle will secure at least 5th place in the Zurich premiership and possibly set up a revenge mission with our friends at London Irish.

A ferocious start from both sides saw Robbie Morris go to the sin bin with only 5 minutes gone. To the Saints credit they weathered the storm and by the time Morris returned it was 3-3 as Contepomi and Larry the boot traded penalties.

Bristol missed a clear scoring chance as the game ebbed and flowed before Contepomi restored their lead to 6-3 on 24 minutes.

Then Saints sprung to life. A solid line out led to some good driving and Andy Blowers appeared through a hole in the defence to score from 10 metres out. Grayson converted to take the score to 6-10 on 27 minutes.

That was the good Saints. The team we all know and love but then the bad saints reared their head! With the next meaningful passage of play Rees scored for Bristol to regain the lead 11-10 and then four minutes later Pichot popped over from a good attacking scrum, after a clever Contepomi kick had given the home side an excellent field position. Contepomi converted and the score was 18-10 after 33 minutes.

Saints once again gathered themselves (I told you it was ding-dong) and Grayson pulled 3 back in the 38th minute after some cynical penalty giving by Bristol. However it was another Saint in the bin on 40 minutes as Blowers was shown yellow. Contepomi kicked the resulting penalty to give a half time score of 21-13.

After half time the 14 man saints made an excellent start as Bristol were again content to give away the three points. Grayson kicked the PG’s on 44 and 49 minutes to take the score to 21-19 and sandwiched between these kicks Ben Cohen came on for Nick Beal.

Bristol increased the lead to 24-19 when Contepomi kicked another penalty but this way short lived. Dawson replaced Malone and then good attacking from Saints saw Contepomi shown yellow and Grayson reduce the deficit to 24-22 on 56 minutes.

Like the Saints Bristol were determined not to let the shortage of manpower tell an indeed Pichot’s intelligent drop goal restored the 5 point gap to 27-22 just a minute later.

Saints however had their tails up and could sense victory. Tries from the impressive Joe Shaw in the 69th minute and from captain Budge in the 72nd minute killed Bristol off with the score at 27-37. Saints pushed hard for the bonus point but it just wouldn’t happen.

Shaw’s try was from the patient build up play we all know the Saints can produce but Budge’s was something a bit more rare for our boys in the gold, black and green. Bristol had a good attacking lineout in Saints territory, which they secured, but Contepomi knocked on, Grayson recovered the ball as referee White played advantage and the Saints swept downfield. Bristol recovered to stop the breakaway but Budge completed the job with one of his trademark burrows.

Final words on the match must go to Jorgy and his amazing tackling. In one gersplatterating big hit he left poor Higgins out cold for Bristol and himself in a completely dazed and disorientated state. To most people’s amazement the big-hearted Aussie tried to play on and indeed made further tackles before being relieved of duty. To the last of the doubters, I think this proves he’s added Black to his gold and green.
So to Sunday and with a successful season still there to play for, I for one am looking forward to my trip to the Gardens.

Job Done – Come on you Saints!