On a day of extremes in the weather, Northampton Saints beat Exeter Chiefs in a very competitive match to guarantee promotion to the Guinness Premiership. The Chiefs produced a spirited display and will feel dissapointed they didn't come away with at least a losing bonus point.
Match Review
Saints 18 Chiefs 8
Firstly I'd like to thank the Saints supporters for their warm welcome. It's about the only thing that was warm at Franklin's Gardens, on a day that was sunny with occassional snow showers! I arrived at the ground in a stiff NNE wind but with the sun shining brightly, to be greeted by friendly Saints fans and stewards. It was almost too cold to drink the black stuff, but I managed to overcome this difficulty (The BBC cameraman has the evidence).
Seated in block Q of the Church's stand the wind drove directly towards me and so did the snow which followed it!
The Chiefs started the match brightly pinning Saints in their half and getting them to conceed early penalty chances, none of which was taken. Kicking was going to prove difficult for both sides throughout the game.
The snow which came in waves just added to the difficulties with the wind and it's to the credit of both sides that the ball was handled well.
Chiefs probably had the upper hand in the forwards and the lineout worked well and the Chiefs try came from a rolling maul.
Try! Chiefs, the balls in there somewhere.
The Saints backs were given better ball and showed how dynamic they can be with their three tries coming in open play.
Having said this the game was pretty even and the Chiefs will be after revenge when the sides meet at Twickenham on April 12th.
Good luck to Saints next year and we hope to meet again (in the Prem) after next season.
Really enjoyable day - weather - wot was that all about. I knew that they were Saintly and had devine intervention, esepcially when the snow started when we had the ball and brilliant sunshine when they had it. Blizzard at half time, whistle goes - completely disappears.
Although we might be close and competitive on the pitch with players, we have got a lot to learn about GP standards. It is clear that although close it was not close enough. I was more concerned about not getting our a*se kicked and humiliated like Bristol and Quins. It shows we have come a long way but the signings for next season are key. We didn't play 15 man rugby but we resorted to 8 man rugby and the differences in the backs was noticeable. I rate Chris Ashton but he didn't fire as I expected but no doubt he will wait for Twickers!!
No whistling from any one of the Saints fans when GK was kicking - shows the poor standards ND1 have when Albion or Pirates kick at SP and vice versa. The football and corporate elements definitely spoil it for the rest of us.
Glad to see the toilet Q's were about the same - definitely urinals are the order of the day for any extensions! And we still had to Q - good bit of realism for the moaners of SP.
Bar Q's - Nice big signs and people Q'ing rather than the rabble we end up with. Good to see GP prices at SP and FG
Looking forward to having ref link - interesting the comments about Dale on the website and his performaces GP refereeing a lot quicker but interestingly in the Pirates DVD he does explain to the players what is needed.
Stewarding - was better and more will be needed to cope with 14k at SP.
Mascot - well we will need one Bernie entertained the kids through out.
Now the big CRUNCH - the grandstand tickets £30 or £40 with NO concessions. The club will be seeing the £££'ss signs already but is there any of the SW club ready to pay that sort of money. Looks like a lot will be volunteering to become stewards over the coming seasons - better get my name down quick and avoid the stampede!!
Clearly the gap between ND1 and GP is huge and realistically it is easier coming down than going up. I would suggest that there are not many clubs that can do it and stay up?
I don't think for those of us who did travel to FG and saw the differences will feel comfortable with what we have at SP. I don't feel that we have and internal structure that is ready which means the Captain Mainwaring or LCprl Jones affect "Don't Panic, Don't Panic" will be ready for the next members meeting. When anyone assures me that they have a cunning plan, I think of Balbrick. Lets see and hear it for a change!
Congratulations to PDiddy and the boys they are arriving at the required standard. Well done to the Saints and their fans I had a good laugh in the bar especially when I told the one about meeting them in two years time when we are both competing in Europe and in a Twickers final!!
I add my thanks to the comms guy (Chris?) the stewards and the hospitality staff who made sure I got a reasonable filming position at the end of the ground. However, a big finger to the ITV cameraman who turned up at the last minute and insisted I shifted which meant all three of the Saints tries were scored behind the pillar obscuring my view.
I didn't appreciate his comment that the ITV pay huge amounts of money which was far more important than my silly little training video . . . Could somebody enlighten me to just how much ITV put into ND1?
My normally sunny disposition wasn't helped by the fact that condensation/snow played havoc with my camera so I lost the first five minutes of play - apologies to anyone who sees the (possible) highlights package next week at the Esher game.
Also: Mrs Videoman and her travelling band drank the bar dry of Baileys - note to Saints Bar Staff - if Mrs V. visits again, then a six pack of litre bottles of Baileys may be a good idea. I'll ensure there is ample warning of her ample presence!
Chris Wearmouth is the STAR who runs the Press side of the Saints, his Mum was running the press hospitality room!
If I think I know the ITV cameraman you refer to, (Gary) and if who I think it is, I would be very suprised if his attitude was as you suggested, he is a decent bloke.
OK - let's stop this right now. The guy wasn't that bad and I think he too was feeling a bit sore because the official gantry was full of Sky guys.
Let's draw a line - I don't want one of my throwaway lines to cause an upset. Let's face it - I was VERY irritated about mmissing the first five minutes, which ruined my 100% record of getting the action for the coaches in one way or another, so was getting narky about everything else!
Chaderexe there are concessions at FG for the over 65's e.g £30 tickets are £17.
Also the Stewards are paid at FG and they have taken their NVQ in stewardship which is what we are being asked to do next season. At the moment some of our stewards have had no training at all.
We do not get paid and if we want a seat we pay the differnce of ground price and seat price. We do get a free pasty and cup of coffee. Stewards are asked to be at the ground at 11.30am and keep their jackets on untill everyone has cleared the grandstand no matter what the weather is even a down poor like the game against Nottingham
We will need more stewards nest season as we will have the new covered stand at the south end. Stewart Kennedy is looking now for names for next season
Dear and Honourable Chiefs - What a great season we have had. I enjoyed my short stay at Sandy Park (windy, though).
It is good if you win, of course.
But Twickenham is another day, and every time in the last 20 years that I have been to the old Cabbage Patch with Saints, we have lost (I was in Canada when we won the Euro Cup, and could not make it make in time).
See you at Twickers on the big day...
*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*
Videoman, Tell him where to get off you were there 1st so tough luck, possession is 9 tenths of the law. Was the spot reserved for him? If so, was it indicated that it was?
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