Northampton Saints
Leeds v Northampton - ZP Preview
By Rich
November 14 2002
On Sunday a patched up makeshift Saints side, missing nearly a dozen first team players make the trip up the M1 to take on second placed Leeds in the Zurich Premiership. New boy Matt Lord might as well fly from New Zealand in his playing kit as he's straight on the bench as soon as he lands!
Leeds Tykes
Vs Northampton
Saints
Sunday 17th November 2002
Zurich Premiership
2.30pm Kick Off
Headingley
Last Season
Leeds 6 Saints 26
Saints 34 Leeds 14
History:
The Leeds R.U.F.C. did not come into being until 1991 with the merger of two clubs Headingley and Roundhay. Prior to that the other side to be known as Leeds was the League side now known as Leeds Rhinos all of this and lots more can be found in the Leeds rugby history section on the Independent Tykes site. The Leeds Tykes side was named after the merger of the Leeds Union and League clubs to form the world's first ever dual code club.
Saints first fixture with Headingley was in 1910 and they played them 51 times before the merger, the last fixture and Saints greatest winning margin being a 65-0 away win to the Saints. The vast majority of games were won by the Saints with 34 victories, Headingley won 16 and there was one 9-9 draw. The biggest win for Headingley came in the 1987-88 season with a 38-3 home victory. There was less of a history playing Roundhay with the first fixture in 1971 and a further 3 fixtures with the last being 1977. The playing record was 3 wins to Saints and 1 to Roundhay with no big scores registered by either side. Despite playing some of the Rugby League clubs before the breakaway Northern Union in 1895 I can't find any evidence of Saints playing the club that became the Leeds Rhinos.
The first match between Saints and Leeds the dual code club was the 108 point cup match in 2000 which ended Saints 73 Leeds 35
If you're going to the Game...
Check out the Independent Tykes excellent guide to Leeds
The following message was posted by Not-so-fat-Gav on the COYSDC messageboard. It sounds like good fun and it's for a worthy cause so why not give it your support:
"Hi Folks. For all those thousands of you that will be making the journey to Headingley, stop off at the Original Oak pub at around 12:30 - 1pm. Some members of the Leeds Tykes Supporters Association will be making idiots of themselves in aid of Children In Need. We'll be doing a "Feed The Buddha" marathon - spin-passing balls directly into the solar plexus of a player looking suspiciously like the Buddha of Bath. Sponsor us for as many balls as we can get in the guts! Give money generously to charity! Failing that, Drink Beer, and make at least the landlord happy! I Thank You, and look forward to meeting you all....."
check out the Leeds children in need discussions on their message board
The Original Oak pub is featured in the above guide to Leeds.
and of course check out the Leeds weather
If you can't make it...
There's live commentary on BBC Radio Northampton or live on the Internet via the Official site.
live audio link
ANNE O’RACKS STATS
Zurich Premiership matches
Played 2
Leeds Tykes Won 0 0%
Northampton Saints Won 2 100.0%
Drawn 0 0%
Biggest Win for Northampton Saints 34 - 14 16 Mar 2002
Leeds Tykes top try scorer vs Northampton Saints Dan Scarborough 2 tries
Leeds Tykes top points scorer vs Northampton Saints Dan Scarborough 10 points
Northampton Saints top try scorer vs Leeds Tykes John Leslie 1 tries
Northampton Saints top points scorer vs Leeds Tykes Paul Grayson 30 points
Previous Meetings
16 Mar 2002 Leeds Tykes vs Northampton Saints 14 - 34 Franklin's Gardens
16 Sep 2001 Leeds Tykes vs Northampton Saints 6 - 26 Headingley
Finally have a good time. I can't make the game or join in the chat room match discussions due to work...Sunday rugby eh!!!
Sunday 17th November 2002
Zurich Premiership
2.30pm Kick Off
Headingley
This Sunday the heavily depleted Saints go north to take
on this season's surprise package Leeds Tykes. Leeds were saved last
season from relegation due to the RFU's refusal to allow Rotherham to be
promoted. That is all ancient history now and the Tykes have taken their second
chance so well that only Gloucester sit above them in the
Zurich Premiership Table
.
They have recruited very well over the summer taking England hooker Mark Regan from Bath, Argentinean wing Diego Albanese from Gloucester, the aptly named Samoan centre George Harder and Scotland prospect Gordon Ross. These players have added well to Phil Davies squad which already contained old head Braam van Straaten and exciting prospects such as England second row Tom Palmer. Wing/Full back Dan Scarborough was the premiership's top scorer last term and must be on Clive Woodward's list of players to keep tabs on.
The Tykes squad is on the whole very settled, compared to the Saints they are minimally disrupted by the Autumn internationals and they have the winning habit. Unlike last year this is a tough assignment for Wayne Smith's team.
Here are the Leeds match reports for the season so far from sportnetworks Independent Tykes site. It is interesting to note that Leeds already have the same number of league points after nine games as they achieved in the whole of last season.
They have recruited very well over the summer taking England hooker Mark Regan from Bath, Argentinean wing Diego Albanese from Gloucester, the aptly named Samoan centre George Harder and Scotland prospect Gordon Ross. These players have added well to Phil Davies squad which already contained old head Braam van Straaten and exciting prospects such as England second row Tom Palmer. Wing/Full back Dan Scarborough was the premiership's top scorer last term and must be on Clive Woodward's list of players to keep tabs on.
The Tykes squad is on the whole very settled, compared to the Saints they are minimally disrupted by the Autumn internationals and they have the winning habit. Unlike last year this is a tough assignment for Wayne Smith's team.
Here are the Leeds match reports for the season so far from sportnetworks Independent Tykes site. It is interesting to note that Leeds already have the same number of league points after nine games as they achieved in the whole of last season.
Leeds 26 Leicester 13
Leeds Tykes 41 Irish 16
Quins 23 - Tykes 33
Tykes 29 - Sharks 29
Falcons 27 – Tykes 20
Tykes 25 - Bristol 13
Bath 20 Leeds 22
Leeds Tykes 41 Irish 16
Quins 23 - Tykes 33
Tykes 29 - Sharks 29
Falcons 27 – Tykes 20
Tykes 25 - Bristol 13
Bath 20 Leeds 22
Wasps 27 Tykes 27
Team News:
Long term injury Johan Ackerman has sadly been released by the Saints after not recovering from his shoulder injury, he has been replaced by New Zealander Matt Lord , who even though not in the country yet will be on the bench on Sunday. The Saints injury list now contains Australian internationals Mark Connors and Peter Jorgenson. Scotland prop Mattie Stewart looks to be out of action until well after Christmas and now Grant Seely also has a knee injury. To compound the problems the Autumn internationals continue to deprive the Saints first team with another lock, Steve Williams away with Wales, Budge Pountney and Tom Smith are with Scotland, Matt Dawson, Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson are definite for England and just for good measure Robbie Morris has been called up to the England bench. If Morris plays less than 40 minutes for England he will be allowed to play for Saints on Sunday. The wisdom of playing ZP fixtures on International weekends continues to irritate Saints fans!
Saints
15 NICK BEAL
14 JON SLEIGHTHOLME
13 BRUCE REIHANA
12 JOHN LESLIE (capt)
11 ORIOL RIPOL
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 Johnny Howard
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen
4 Jon Phillips
5 Rob Hunter
6 ANDREW BLOWERS
7 Darren Fox
8 Mark Soden
Replacements:
16 Matt Miles
17 Kelvin Todd/Robbie Morris
18 Matt Lord
19 Simon Hepher
20 Ian Vass
21 James Brooks
22 Mark Tucker
There is no team news for Leeds as yet which, we are reliably informed, is standard practice for their coach Phil Davies!
Team News:
Long term injury Johan Ackerman has sadly been released by the Saints after not recovering from his shoulder injury, he has been replaced by New Zealander Matt Lord , who even though not in the country yet will be on the bench on Sunday. The Saints injury list now contains Australian internationals Mark Connors and Peter Jorgenson. Scotland prop Mattie Stewart looks to be out of action until well after Christmas and now Grant Seely also has a knee injury. To compound the problems the Autumn internationals continue to deprive the Saints first team with another lock, Steve Williams away with Wales, Budge Pountney and Tom Smith are with Scotland, Matt Dawson, Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson are definite for England and just for good measure Robbie Morris has been called up to the England bench. If Morris plays less than 40 minutes for England he will be allowed to play for Saints on Sunday. The wisdom of playing ZP fixtures on International weekends continues to irritate Saints fans!
Saints
15 NICK BEAL
14 JON SLEIGHTHOLME
13 BRUCE REIHANA
12 JOHN LESLIE (capt)
11 ORIOL RIPOL
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 Johnny Howard
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen
4 Jon Phillips
5 Rob Hunter
6 ANDREW BLOWERS
7 Darren Fox
8 Mark Soden
Replacements:
16 Matt Miles
17 Kelvin Todd/Robbie Morris
18 Matt Lord
19 Simon Hepher
20 Ian Vass
21 James Brooks
22 Mark Tucker
There is no team news for Leeds as yet which, we are reliably informed, is standard practice for their coach Phil Davies!
Last Season
Leeds 6 Saints 26
Saints 34 Leeds 14
History:
The Leeds R.U.F.C. did not come into being until 1991 with the merger of two clubs Headingley and Roundhay. Prior to that the other side to be known as Leeds was the League side now known as Leeds Rhinos all of this and lots more can be found in the Leeds rugby history section on the Independent Tykes site. The Leeds Tykes side was named after the merger of the Leeds Union and League clubs to form the world's first ever dual code club.
Saints first fixture with Headingley was in 1910 and they played them 51 times before the merger, the last fixture and Saints greatest winning margin being a 65-0 away win to the Saints. The vast majority of games were won by the Saints with 34 victories, Headingley won 16 and there was one 9-9 draw. The biggest win for Headingley came in the 1987-88 season with a 38-3 home victory. There was less of a history playing Roundhay with the first fixture in 1971 and a further 3 fixtures with the last being 1977. The playing record was 3 wins to Saints and 1 to Roundhay with no big scores registered by either side. Despite playing some of the Rugby League clubs before the breakaway Northern Union in 1895 I can't find any evidence of Saints playing the club that became the Leeds Rhinos.
The first match between Saints and Leeds the dual code club was the 108 point cup match in 2000 which ended Saints 73 Leeds 35
If you're going to the Game...
Check out the Independent Tykes excellent guide to Leeds
The following message was posted by Not-so-fat-Gav on the COYSDC messageboard. It sounds like good fun and it's for a worthy cause so why not give it your support:
"Hi Folks. For all those thousands of you that will be making the journey to Headingley, stop off at the Original Oak pub at around 12:30 - 1pm. Some members of the Leeds Tykes Supporters Association will be making idiots of themselves in aid of Children In Need. We'll be doing a "Feed The Buddha" marathon - spin-passing balls directly into the solar plexus of a player looking suspiciously like the Buddha of Bath. Sponsor us for as many balls as we can get in the guts! Give money generously to charity! Failing that, Drink Beer, and make at least the landlord happy! I Thank You, and look forward to meeting you all....."
check out the Leeds children in need discussions on their message board
The Original Oak pub is featured in the above guide to Leeds.
and of course check out the Leeds weather
If you can't make it...
There's live commentary on BBC Radio Northampton or live on the Internet via the Official site.
live audio link
ANNE O’RACKS STATS
Zurich Premiership matches
Played 2
Leeds Tykes Won 0 0%
Northampton Saints Won 2 100.0%
Drawn 0 0%
Biggest Win for Northampton Saints 34 - 14 16 Mar 2002
Leeds Tykes top try scorer vs Northampton Saints Dan Scarborough 2 tries
Leeds Tykes top points scorer vs Northampton Saints Dan Scarborough 10 points
Northampton Saints top try scorer vs Leeds Tykes John Leslie 1 tries
Northampton Saints top points scorer vs Leeds Tykes Paul Grayson 30 points
Previous Meetings
16 Mar 2002 Leeds Tykes vs Northampton Saints 14 - 34 Franklin's Gardens
16 Sep 2001 Leeds Tykes vs Northampton Saints 6 - 26 Headingley
Finally have a good time. I can't make the game or join in the chat room match discussions due to work...Sunday rugby eh!!!
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