Northampton Saints
News: Saints beat Gloucester in the LV= cup round 3
By Bonso
January 27 2013
After a less than convincing display in Glasgow last week, The Saints returned to Franklin Gardens to continue a wobbly set ot of resuts. This time in the LV= cup. Bonso peers out from underhis leather western hat to give us his view.
LV=Cup Round 3 - Northampton Saints v Gloucester.
Saturday 26th Jan KO 3pm
Saints 26 - Gloucester 7
A bright and breezy day at the Gardens welcomed our visitors from the West Country and we got a quite bright and breezy match with both sides showing intent to play with adventure. Gloucester had selected a relatively fresh side with only 5 regular starters in the 15 Saints on the other hand seemed to be much more experienced especially with the rather welcome return of Christian Day to partner Zorro at lock with the rather amazing Manoa moving backwards to blindside.
Saints needing a win to keep their noses in front of Bath were immediately put under pressure from the relatively young and inexperienced Cherry and Whites side however the pressure was absorbed and then it was Saints turn to have a go for the next quarter. Some exciting running by Ben Foden led to a couple of attempts to decapitate him and to 2 penalties and a 6 point advantage to Saints.
Gloucester’s 24th minute try in many ways summed up Saint’s season so far as basic errors against the run of play gave Gloucester the opportunity to execute well and score a good try with Monahan combining with Mills for the first crossing of the whitewash for the day. The extras were duly added and inexplicable Saints are a point down.
This was only though going to last for 8 minutes before a now trademark Burrell try restored Northampton’s advantage with the big man cutting a laser like straight line with just a subtle hint of a dummy to score virtually untouched in front of the Sturtridge. So at Half Time Saints were probably enjoying their Oranges more at 13-7 up.
After half time Saints were obviously in quite a generous mood in creating chances and then spurning them. The failure of our backs in the business of execution must be now of some concern to the coaching team. A missed penalty by the Tractors and a good penalty from Myler who by then had replaced Lamb saw Saints extend their advantage.
Next it was the fat boys turn with Waller taking his first steps on redemption road dotting the ball down from a collapsed maul with the referee playing advantage. This was to be the last score of the match but it certainly didn’t mean that the match went dull.
The final 10 minutes was helter skelter stuff with debutant Tom Collins being denied a dream start by the Ref's whistle and Tiny also joining in the fun by having a little gallop around the paddock. To their credit Gloucester kept trying to play as well. Final score Saints 26 Gloucester 7 and a thoroughly enjoyable match.
Alan Dickens Says:-
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:01:27:23:02:19 by St Marlowe.
Nice one, Bonso.----------------------------------------
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