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By Ben_D
September 22 2013

An occasional glimpse of the distant West Country hills on the Telly revealed a thin blanket of grey clouds lingering high above the brooding peaks, yet there was enough late summer sunshine to coat the pristine grass of the Kingsholm pitch in a golden sheen and give the Shed its vociferous voice.

Aviva Premiership Round 3

Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints

Saturday 21st September 

KO 3:15 Kingsholm

Gloucester 26 – 24 Northampton Saints

The contest was golden too with both the hosts and the visitors keen to bring all their wares to the Premiership market place, but if by the end of the match you had to describe the atmosphere of this particular Northamptonshire household in a representative colour, then incandescent blue would win. Thank goodness I was home alone and next doors cat was nowhere to be seen.

Referees usually get little mention in my reports but Martin Fox a late replacement for the injured Greg Garner is worthy of a paragraph or two as he conspired to hand Gloucester a late injury time penalty which won the match. The unpredictable Twelvetrees was unlikely to miss the 36 metre opportunity to please the faithful and staple a much needed W in the results column.

You could actually choose any one from at least three reasons why Northampton didn’t deserve to concede the final penalty, but the five Gloucester players that were all offside from the restart should have been the first. Basic stuff.

It was a restart that came only moments after George North made his first big impression on the game. Six points down and with only two minutes on the clock Saints turned over possession in their own half and if you want to see anyone with their hands on the ball and in space in would be North. Thank goodness Luther Burrell was of a similar mind and he flung out the pass that saw North canter free. The Welsh wing left the Gloucester defence grasping at thin air. True, the boy is class, but don’t underestimate Northampton’s opposite wing Jamie Elliot who’s understanding of the game and positional play is rapidly leaving all other challengers for the remaining wing in the shadows.

So to Northampton the spoils? Saints appeared home and hosed, with just the conversion from in front and about sixty seconds on the clock, it was close but they had every reason to believe they had turned the sow’s ear in to a silk purse.    

Had you scanned the sides prior to kick off you’d have said Saints with their edgy set piece were set to disrupt the fluid supply of a Gloucester back line that would seek to put pace on every play. That’s pretty much how it panned out with the exception of Fox’s opinion of the scrum in the second half, which handed dominance to Gloucester from a perhaps unexpected source. Maybe Gloucester’s mid-week consultative session with Andrew Small had made the difference as they appeared to hold a distinct advantage. The Northampton penalty count might also benefit from a Small review on this assessment, as nearly every second half scrum rewarded the hosts in some form or other.

Refereeing decisions aside the match was actually a belter with both sides demonstrating a desire to play at pace. Northampton more controlled and with more shape looked to the percentage opportunities, Gloucester more gung-ho but no less dangerous. You do however feel that consistency will be the main issue for them this season, top six possibly, top four unlikely.

The visitors were the first to draw the attention of the scorer and as is often the case a poor pass sometimes opens up unexpected opportunities. Fotuali’i providing a shocker that gave Foden all the time and space he needed to circumnavigate the Gloucester defence.

Freddie Burns claimed some redress with one of those all too regular penalties and Myler maintained the advantage as both sides enjoyed periods of pressure that threatened to result in scores. Gloucester looking to free Simpson-Daniel and Sharples at every turn and Trinder catching the casual observer’s eye.

It was the best move of the match that finally saw Sharples take advantage of one of those opportunities as Twelvetrees, Trinder and Burns confused the Saints centre pairing with a lovely loop around leaving the covering defence too much to do. It all looks so simple when it works.

8-10 and two points up at the break and Northampton could be forgiven for thinking they might be able to power away in the second half. What couldn’t be forgiven at the start of the second half though was the immediate surrender of the ball in their own twenty two. Wilson guilty of early imprudence and Cowan ready to take advantage of the returned possession with a quick tap and go only moments later, Twelevtrees splintering the Saints defence. Cunning; in fact so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a fox!

A Cherry and White tide look set to flood the Northampton beach, Saints however remained calm and collected, gathered themselves almost immediately and sent Samu Manoa surfing over the breakers and beyond. See Saw Marjorie Daw.

The effort was beginning to make Saints look a bit blowy halfway through the second period and Burns edged Gloucester a point ahead when Wilson’s replacement George Pisi was penalised at the breakdown.

The aforementioned ten perceiving a weakness and spurning a further three points went for the kill. It failed but where Burns fell short, Simpson-Daniel didn’t and he was on hand only minutes later to put over Gloucester debutant Stooke; the Shed nervously celebrating a six point cushion whilst glancing at the grindingly slow clock. As it turns out, less than two minutes is all that is needed to steal and be stolen from.

I’m off to find next doors cat or if I’m lucky maybe I’ll get a shot at a Fox!

Two men with Immense self control: 

News: Fault Finding Fox Floors Saints

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 22/09/2013 00:05

ComeOnYouSaints.com
22/09/2013 00:05

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Flinstone Saint
22/09/2013 16:05

Cracking write up Ben. Many thanks.

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Please sponsor me for Saints with Heart [www.justgiving.com]

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
23/09/2013 11:09

Well scribed - a fair assessment, beautifully recounted.

No one thinks referees cheat, do they? Of course not. But appointing the Leicester-born Fox to officiate this game at the last minute was a disaster in the making - and in the event.

Now: bring back Fox hunting...


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

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Phil.
23/09/2013 16:04

Really, really good read, Ben.

Thank you for stepping in at such short notice - it is very much appreciated!

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