Northampton Saints
News: Saints break European duck in Christmas quacker
By Howlin'
December 18 2011
I guess more people would read this report if I included unfounded rumours regarding players impending departures. Particularly if their motivation was greed and their destination was the arch villain’s lair.
Going by the hits and responses to such articles on the message board recently, this would be a sure fire hit as posters fall over each other in their rampant desire to exude outrage or despair in equal measure. Even the Sky coverage included a montage on the “guilty” party and as Morris apologised for the bit players gestures to the camera perhaps he should have apologised more profusely for his banal and inaccurate commentary or the crass media coverage of our beloved sport that leads numerous gullible observers down the path of celebrity worship and condemnation.
Perhaps you prefer to snipe from the sidelines. Bemoaning every defeat, demanding player replacement of sanction after every error. Perhaps you demand victory at every turn, castigate the management for their every error, that you of course could foresee. Then maybe this report is not for you. Because today, dear reader, whisper it softly, Saints WON.
Ah, but maybe, just maybe you are not a Johnny come lately or a rabid consumer of pap. Perhaps you are one of the few dyed in the wool supporters who attended the dead rubber between Northampton Saints and Castres. Perhaps you are a supporter who actually loves the game of rugby and makes up their own mind about what they see on the pitch. Perhaps……
HEINEKEN CUP Pool 1 Round 4
Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique
Sunday 18th Deccember 2011 Franklin's Gardens KO 3pm
Then come with me to a stage set in Franklin’s Gardens. The sun was low in the sky blinding many in the Tetleys who were still able to open their eyes following their pre Christmas lunches and celebrations. The dastardly French entered stage right …boooo! The glorious Saints entered stage left ….hurraah ! The village idiot; monsieur de Clancy simply entered and spent most of the time trying to spoil our entertainment….aaaahhh. (note to know it alls, is it OK for me to criticise the ref when the Saints win ?? Because if it is then I thought he was almost as inconsistent as last week )
Mr de Clancy “ He knocked it on” The crowd “ Oh no he didn’t !! Oh what fun we had playing that game .
Mr Morris “the Saints are rubbish they keep making mistakes” The crowd “oh no they don’t” apart from a small minority that ooh and ahh as Myler only just makes touch with the first penalty and a couple of dodgy passes are picked up at the players bootlaces.
Those nasty French continue to confound as the gallant Saints try with all their might to breach the castle walls. But all they have to show at the interval is a Myler penalty to lead three nil. Old Pete captures the mood during a brief interview in the foyer “If I’m going to catch hypothermia , I want to see something interesting before I do” I’m sure something interesting happened in the first half of the performance. Later on TV I see Sarge applauding it whilst his mum is checking her lottery numbers.
So to the second half. Those nasty French commit dastardly deeds….booooo. Monsiuer de Clancy awards the suitable penalties and Saints soar ahead 12 nil. Hurraaah !!
Then those evil French show how cruel they can be as a kick for touch takes out Shaddo’s guinness boooo ! Some members of the audience laugh cruelly as he tries to lick the ball clean before it is returned to the pitch (somewhat expertly by the way by your truly) . This is indeed war. The glorious Saints ,…..hurrraaaahh! respond with vigour and in a magnificent finale score five tremendous tries to secure a resounding 45 to nil victory for the good guys and send those dastardly French back to garlic land with their snails between their legs….extra big Hurraah!! Samu Manoa is man of the match…..”Oh no he’s not” Although magnificent as a stand in number eight, I thought Courts did enough in his time on the stage or even PDJ to deserve honours and of course prince Foden (swoon) was his usual illustrious self. (did you know he’s just got engaged to Una ? No really. Yeah, wicked innit?) Just because this level of performance is expected , it doesn’t mean it should not be rewarded. Now if he said he was leaving I would be upset.
A return to winning ways. Many bit part players earned their spurs. One cannot help thinking however that this was a dress rehearsal. The main show is next week in front of a packed house. Whatever you think of today……”it’s behind you”
TIMELINE
8mins CO Miss pen Bernard
12mins SAINTS Pen Myler 3-0
22mins CO Yellow card Roussel
HALF-TIME SAINTS 3 CASTRES 0
44mins SAINTS Pen Myler 6-0
47mins SAINTS Pen Myler 9-0
51mins SAINTS Pen Myler 12-0
59mins CO Miss pen Bernard
61mins SAINTS Try Foden Con Myler 19-0
67mins SAINTS Try Artemyev Con Myler 26-0
70mins SAINTS Try Haywood Con Myler 33-0
77mins SAINTS Try Tonks 38-0
79mins SAINTS Try Foden Con Myler 45-0
FULL-TIME SAINTS 45 CASTRES 0
and the ugly sisters thought:
Martin Roberts:-
and Samu Manoa:-
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:18:23:31:49 by St Marlowe.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:19:09:36:46 by ElmaFudd..
Especially love the introduction - I do so agree with Howlin's views.
Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you'll die today
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
"sup·port·er"
Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.
Excellent review, Malcolm.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Great report Malcolm
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