By David Hibell
April 15 2003

With a few games in hand over other teams at the bottom of the ZP Bristol head for Franklins Gardens on Wednesday knowing they need to secure valuable points to ease them away from the relegation zone, a single bonus point would see Bristol rise from 12th to 9th!

In the last two years the away team has won the fixture but going into the game Bristol are on a run of two consecutive away losses whilst Saints won their last two games in the competition.

A lot will depend on how well Saints players recover from their European cup exertions away in Toulouse on Sunday, they have had a far tougher time in terms of games recently with successive losses on Sunday and in the cup final the week before that and they will be looking to reward their loyal supporters with a home win.  They currently stand in seventh place in the league and with five games left will want to cement their place in next years European cup competition.

Northampton have conceded fewer points than any other team in the zippee this season but have scored less than anyone barring Newcastle, Bath and Irish.  Their biggest points return came against us early in the season, but recently they have been racking up the points, the last two games saw them scoring 27 points away at Bath and 34 at home to Saracens.

I haven’t heard any team news at the moment although the Evening post has reported that a new look front row will be turning out with Richard Skuse, Saul Nelson and Andrew Sherridan appearing at the coal face in what must be the youngest front row Bristol have ever fielded.

At almost the other end of the scale Paul Grayson has resurrected his career this season and this should be his 100^th premiership match, he is 8 points behind Tim Stimpsons record as top scorer, he would love to beat this at the Gardens and Bristol will have to play well to stop him achieving the feat.

Previous meetings

Date                        Result                             Venue              

15 Sep 02                36 – 28                           Memorial Stadium   

01 Jun 02                24 – 32                           Memorial Stadium   

08 May 02               37 – 27                           Memorial Stadium   

25 Nov 01                20 – 23                           Franklin's Gardens 

16 Apr 01                16 – 46                           Memorial Stadium   

25 Nov 00                24 – 6                             Franklin's Gardens 

12 Feb 00                19 – 23                           Franklin's Gardens 

05 Nov 99                29 – 19                           Memorial Stadium   

14 Mar 98                35 – 12                           Franklin's Gardens 

26 Oct 97                15 – 22                           Memorial Stadium   

Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership

Played                                               19

Northampton Saints Won                  12                    63.2%

Bristol Shoguns Won                         7                     36.8%

Drawn                                                0                      0%

Biggest Win for Northampton Saints    35 - 12                              14 Mar 98

Biggest Win for Bristol Shoguns       46 - 16                              16 Apr 01

Northampton Saints top try scorer vs Bristol Shoguns               Matt Allen            4 tries

Northampton Saints top points scorer vs Bristol Shoguns          Paul Grayson          161 points

Bristol Shoguns top try scorer vs Northampton Saints                Felipe Contepomi      3 tries

Bristol Shoguns top points scorer vs Northampton Saints          Felipe Contepomi      81 points