By sometime lurker
April 22 2012

So, how did we win that one then?  In years to come, noted historians (well, the odd supporter) will look at the scorecard and see two penalties and a conversion from Myler, and a try apiece for Flash and Digger.  Those of us who were there will probably recall two scrums in quick succession won against the head by a Saints pack that up till then hadn’t had much success, the second of which directly led to Digger’s match winning try.  The truth, as always, was far more complicated…

EXETER CHIEFS 15 NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 18

SANDY PARK, EXETER

MATCH REPORT

Saints Glimpse The Light Through The Gloom At Sandy Park

During the build up to this match, much was made of Sandy Park being the latest “fortress” in the Premiership , and the Chief’s newfound dynamic play, so we (one Saint, one Saint/Pirate hybrid, and two Pirates) arrived early to get the lay of the land and see what we could find out.  For our troubles we got absolutely soaked, which was a recurring theme throughout the day.  Sandy Park is certainly different from the ground I last visited in National 1 days, and on the whole it’s pretty good stuff.  The highlight of the pre-match build-up though was seeing LTA getting “Tomahawked” by “The Chief”, and some general good banter with the locals, who still seem bemused by the relative amount of success their team is experiencing.

Onto the match itself, and the early signs for Saints were pretty promising.  Chiefs were having trouble at the lineout, and then the scrum, and pretty soon we were 3-0 up courtesy of Myler’s boot.  Things soon went wrong though with Exeter showing why their newfound dynamic reputation was well deserved, turning down two kickable shots at goal for quick tap-go penalties, finishing with a try for Camacho close to the posts, although this writer felt at the time he had been tackled and held short of the line before getting up to score (I could well be proved wrong by the TV on that one).  After the conversion we were 7-3 down.  Following that, the game was characterised by a swirling wind, quite a few mistakes from both sides, but in general a lot of possession and territory from Exeter and a lot of extremely good covering defense from Saints, and Foden in particular.  Exeter converted a penalty, while Myler missed one, and on the whole I was happy we reached half time with Saints only 10-3 down.  The scrum was a lottery we seemed to be losing, the Exeter lineout had been fixed, and we seemed to be coming off second best in almost every department.

The locals were understandably less happy, feeling that all three officials were on our payroll, and that they should have had a lot more return considering the wind was on their backs.  I was doubtful about the wind – it seemed to me to be swirling, but it gave me hope that the second half might go differently.

And how they did!  Almost immediately Foden was on the front foot with a dangerous run into the Exeter half.  Chiefs got a hand on it, but knocked on, and Foden was at it again straight off the scrum, running a dangerous curving line outside the Exeter defense before putting Ashton in the corner.  Although Myler missed a touch conversion from the touchline, it was suddenly 10-8 and felt like a different game.  Then came the rain – again.  Play got scrappy for a while, with penalties going one way then the other, lineouts being won then knocked on, or lost then turned over.  Neither side was getting on top, and the match was threatening to descend into a muddy arm-wrestle when the subs came on.  Now, in the past I may have been (ever so slightly) critical of Jim’s tactics at substitution time.  They have sometimes seemed to be pre-programmed, and had little, or even negative, effect.  But today, they were game changers.

First up, PDJ came on for Mooj.  Almost immediately Saints win a penalty at the next scrum.  Then they go on to steal a lineout, and win a penalty in front of the posts.  Myler kicks it and Saints are leading again.  Next sub, Waller on for Tiny who has had a pretty torrid time all match.  The pack is starting to rumble at this point, and Myler turns down a punt at goal to put the ball in the corner.  Nothing comes of the move, but there’s a feeling in the air; the natives are getting restless, we travellers are starting to make some noise, and Bernie’s tail, wherever it is, is up.

Then comes scrum No. 1.  The Exeter pack dissolves and the ball is whipped out with Foden running onto it at pace.  He’s almost in at the corner, but gets well wrapped by Exeter before the ball is ripped and Exeter counter before going into touch.  Saints knock on after their lineout, which leads to scrum No. 2.  Again the Exeter pack dissolves, but this time Saints go blind, and new dad Digger charges for the try line, beautifully stepping the Exeter defense before touching down.

BUT…there was still 5 minutes to go, and anyone who followed Exeter’s exploits last week will know they’re not out of it till the final whistle is blown, so Myler’s conversion attempt is key.  From the opposite touchline to his earlier effort, he steps up and nails it!   At half time Saints were down and out, but now led 18-10.  Exeter threw everything at the last 5 minutes, turning down kickable penalty after penalty, but consumed so much time in doing so that when they did finally cross the whitewash time was up, and the consolation losing point was their only gain.

Saints win 18-15, and the play-offs are back in our sights.  After the gloom of the last few weeks, there’s light again – no-one ever said supporting Saints was boring!

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Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 22/04/2012 22:39

ComeOnYouSaints.com
22/04/2012 22:39

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Phil.
22/04/2012 22:43

Great stuff, SL!

Many thanks, good sir.

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ballagher
22/04/2012 23:28

Very good report - thank you.

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ElmaFudd.
23/04/2012 07:43

nice report thanks.

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Saint Tim
23/04/2012 08:14

Greetings for Hangzhou.

Thanks for the report. Good stuff.



“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

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Howlin
23/04/2012 11:02

Nice one. Phew !

Saint til I die

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Edward
23/04/2012 12:07

Nice one. Enjoyed that report, and the win too.

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riverlodge
27/04/2012 11:06

nice report, really appreciate reading well written and balanced thoughts from the ground.

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
29/04/2012 15:01

Stuck up in the Highlands and islands, so grateful for an excellent, detailed report.


*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*

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