Courtesy Red Hat

By Dave Jackson
December 2 2013

 With Christmas fast approaching then a weekend in Worcester seemed a great idea. How convenient then that the rugby fixture gods sent us to Worcester and the weekend that Worcester hosted its annual Victorian Christmas Market. A weekend away was booked and for once travelled with the feeling that this was a game that we should not lose. Worcester Warriors being clearly rooted to the bottom of the table without a win all season

Dickens(ian) Weekend

Aviva Premiership Round 9

Worcester Warriors vs Northampton Saints

Saturday 30th November, Sixways

KO 3pm

So on the morning of the match we awoke to a glorious sunny morning and clear blue skies surely an omen for a good weekend. Into the city of Worcester then it was to explore the Victorian Christmas Market. This annual event takes over the streets of Worcester with a lot of the stall holders dressing up in their best impersonation of Charles Dickens. Walking round the market it was noticeable how low the winter sun was and how little you could see walking in one direction (more on this later). By 11am it was getting very busy as the coach parties (and Saints fans) were pouring into the city so only one thing for it – head to the pub. Worcester is blessed with a great range of pubs selling all sorts of ales and ciders but found ourselves in a place we had never been before – The King Charles House tucked away in the Cornmarket. This fine establishment is co-owned by two local breweries (Craddocks and Sadlers) and had a fine range of ales along with a cosy warm wood burner Two locals came in both dressed as Dickens, seems to be a lot of them about today.

Time came to head for Sixways and leave the Dickens in the city. However looking at the team list would be a few more at game with Saints fielding Dickson, Dickson and Dickenson among the starting 15. In fact looking at the great effort by the Saints team for ‘Movember’ most of them would have looked just the part dressed up as Charles Dickens. Not quite kick off time so a chance to sample the food village at Sixways. Whilst Worcester may be bottom of the table in terms of on the field events they would top the table for food off the field. Earlier beer soaked up by some really good Faggots, Mash and mushy peas. Good food, good prices and very friendly service.

And so to the match:

The match started under still clear blue skies and a low sun. Not sure who won the toss but Saints had a clear disadvantage playing into the sun. It was hard enough watching the game but it must have made playing hard as every time a phase was played and players looked up at the Worcester defence they must have been blinded by the light. Normally wind is a factor in winning toss but I would guess Worcester won and chose which was to play with experience of how the sun would shine down the opposition faces in the first half. Worcester had first chance of points but Mieres missed what really was an easy chance.

Next up was the first scrum of the match which led to a Saints Penalty – in fact for just about all the game Saints scrum was on top apart from the one occasion that we will come to shortly. Saints were starting to play well and following a very good break from young Tom Collins down the wing there was the first chance of points. Despite being straight into a low bright sun Steve Myler landed the points, no mean feat. Shortly after it was 6-0 and then came the try. KP breaking the line and going over.

Not to be however as referee Tim Wigglesworth after some help from the TMO called it back for a forward pass. This seemed to rattle Saints a little who ended up coming under some pressure. The pressure looked as it would be relieved when a scrum on the 22 was awarded and surely it would be a formality to milk another penalty and clear the lines. This time however the scrum seemed completely stationary so had to be fed out through the half backs. With the forwards still in the scrum and a low kick from Myler the worst possible outcome happened with a chargedown and a simple 7 points for Mieres. Shortly after Saints infringed and Mieres had a chance to extend the lead but it bounced off the crossbar to huge sighs of relief from the Saints fans and the half time whistle.

So it was Worcester 7 Saints 6 at half time with all the Worcester points coming from the man from Buenos Aires. Maybe it was a swap as the guy I work with has just gone there for a weeks holiday, just don’t mention the war! The Worcester announcer must have been in shock as he repeated the score just about every 30 seconds during the half time period as if it was the final score.

So on to the 2^nd half. Whilst Worcester had not been that threatening they were in the lead and the previously docile ground started to get behind them. Penalties were traded to take the score to 10-9. There then came one of the turning points in the game when the replacements started to some on. After 55 minutes of hard tackling and graft I guess seeing Courtney Lawes come on the field was  not what the Worcester players really wanted. This seemed to get the Northampton forwards some momentum and shortly after the line was finally breached – or was it. Back to the TMO again. Now this was a bit a groundhog day as it seemed to be just like last week against Newcastle where a Saints hand comes out of a pile and grounds a ball just over the line. Unlike last week it was quickly awarded so Strictly did not have to have its start delayed again. Maybe the TV companies had asked them to speed things up 16-10 to Saints.

Penalty in front of posts, although a fair way out no problem for Myler and its 19-10 to Saints and now looking more like the win we expected.

After 67 minutes it was time to ‘Swap the Wallers’ This is becoming a regular thing to swap the brothers and leads me to digress a little. When I was at school (quite a while ago now) at Weston Favell Upper School we had a chemistry teacher called Mr Waller. His lessons were the most looked forward to lesson of the week and were never boring, fairy liquid bottles would be on string across the classroom and turned into rockets at any time, things would bang, explode into action at any time during the lesson. Oh what fun it was and so unlike anything allowed in schools now. You may ask what this has to do with the match – well no sooner Saints ‘Swapped the Wallers’ then the team exploded into action and scored two quick tries Firstly Tom Collins showed he had learnt and adapted from last week and finished off a great move, very quickly followed by Tom Wood scoring against his old club. Both of these were converted quite brilliantly from Myler from the narrow angles capping a 100% kicking day for him. With it now 33-10 to Saints the hunt was on for a bonus point. Saints tried and were much the better team but with only 5 minutes left it was not to be and that was how it ended.

In conclusion it was a good win in the end after a poor first half display but I do wonder how much of an impact the low bright sun had on this. Saints adapted well in the second half and seemed to have a well-executed Plan B. Tom Collins showed real potential for the future and proves we are developing a core of young players who will go on to be local heroes in the same way at Digger is now seen. Worcester you have to feel for, they lack confidence and have Biarritz and Saracens as the next two home games, maybe 2014 will bring better things for them as ‘the hood’ influence takes shape.

After the match back to the City for more Ale, Mead and to see if we can find any more Dickens.

Stephen Myler and Salesi Ma'afu say

New: Worcester eventually succumb to the strength of Saints

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 02/12/2013 11:41

ComeOnYouSaints.com
02/12/2013 11:41

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St Dormouse
02/12/2013 16:03

Thanks for putting the game into some sort of prospective for us Dave. I was away in York for the weekend and reading the posts during the match I was fearing a mid season collapse like last year but reading your report has given me a much more relaxed feeling. Agree re worc hospitality. Food is excellent, Bars seem efficient and the fans are always friendly. As a club I hope things improve cos it would be a real loss if they were to go down.

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ChrisG
02/12/2013 21:39

Well writted Mr Jackson

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CraiginWootton
02/12/2013 21:48

Excellent effort, a nice take on the sun angle!

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Flinstone Saint
02/12/2013 22:24

Excellent report, Dave. It never occurred to me that playing into the sun which was low by that point may have had an effect on Saints.

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Phil.
04/12/2013 00:02

Sorry it's a bit late but that's a really good read, Dave.

Many thanks!

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Dave Jackson
04/12/2013 17:20

Thanks folks. Always easier to write when we win

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