Yorkshire Carnegie
The Final Countdown
Cup Winners
By Peter Creek
March 31 2010
On Easter Saturday the Saints come marching into town as the Guinness Premiership relegation scrap enters its last five games. Northampton, one does not need reminding, is one of the form teams of the GP and recently won the LV= Cup. The ‘Neegs have only two home games left so here is an opportunity to “do” one of the marquee clubs on our home beach. Is a home win likely? Whatever the outcome, the relegation issues will not be settled this weekend. The Leeds team has had an upsurge in form recently, making relegation less of a certainty and more of a four horse race. Last Saturday it lost for the first time in four games, giving the fans a timely reminder that nothing can be taken for granted. Indeed the 19-0 defeat meant that the trip back up the M5 was made without even a losing bonus point. Lbp’s could well be critical in deciding who drops into the abyss in May so it is important that our team gets at least one point from the game on Saturday.
By all accounts the break from GP rugby did not suit Leeds. Some of the old errors crept back into the play and there were issues with the scrummaging. However the management has what they see as their strongest side. Andy Gomersall played in the A team win over Leicester this week so everyone should be available. Saints, on the other hand, played against Glaws in the break and then had a close encounter with Wasps last weekend. Will that have affected them? In my opinion the Headingley Carnegie pitch will have a bigger influence on the outcome than Saints’ current form.
Northampton has really flourished under the guidance of Jim Mallinder. Jim hails from Halifax & went to Carnegie College before heading for leafy Cheshire. After a playing career where he was described as England’s best uncapped player he seamlessly moved into coaching. At Saints he has built a squad which has plenty of beef up front with lots of talented backs benefitting from the quality possession that the pack secures. Indeed many of the squad have achieved/are close to international recognition. Saints are 2 points behind leaders Leicester and 5 points ahead of Saracens in third. They will be coming for a win and undoubtedly hope to double their number of four-try bonus points.
The weather forecast this week is wet and wintry. This means that the pitch will be heavy. That will go some way to counter the Saints’ back play and means that whichever pack masters the conditions best will probably determine the outcome. That plus the performance of Chris White. If Leeds is not pinged out of the contest like it was at Kingsholm then there is every chance that the team will add to the 27 points currently accrued.
Where that leaves us in the GP league table depends on our fellow strugglers. Falcons play 2 games this week so could get 10 points and be safe. Sale meets Worcester on Friday night. This game is a major pointer as to this season’s departee to the Championship. If Sale win Wuss will, in my book, be favourite to go. A victory for the perennial dodgers will put the onus on Leeds to win at least one more game and so the pressure will be back on us. It is a big ask for our players but a win on Saturday will finally establish our burgeoning credentials as a worthy member of the Guinness Premiership.
I believe….
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31/03/2010 17:44
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Also Saints don't have a good record up at Headingley.
in about 1988 that gained promotion from the old national div 4 Hopefully Geraghty doesn't like really bad weather.
Really looking forward to the game, i believe too !
Pain is only temporary but victory is forever
