Saints edged out in the battle of Kingsholm

By Chris G
November 4 2002

Well we almost pulled it off. Despite all the pundits claiming that Saints were lambs to the rain soaked Kingsholm slaughterhouse the lads gave a good account of themselves and had luck gone their way they could well have come away with the spoils.

However the loss of the calming influence of Larry on the half-hour and a few forced turnover balls in the final quarter allowed Gloucester to up a gear and seal a win by nine points. In truth they just about deserved the win but the margin and the loss of the bonus point must be something that coach Smudger will be addressing in training this week.

The pre-match build up was all talk of the clash of the England scrumhalves but despite a well crafted drop goal Gloucester's Andy Gomersall he was pretty much outplayed in all departments by a focused Matt Dawson. Feeding on the appreciative comments from the Shed Matt sniped around the fringes all afternoon and put in tackle after tackle to stop Gloucester in their tracks.

Daws was ably assisted by both Andy Blowers and Budge Pountney who got stuck in where it hurt from the off, unsettling their illustrious rivals in the Gloucester back row and giving Ludovic Mercier the fright of his life on more than one occasion.

The tight five, who were expected by many to buckle against a Glos pack led by Phil Vickery held firm for the majority of the game and gave as good as they got both in the tight and the loose.

In the backs Mark Tucker had his best game in the Gold Black n Green for a couple of seasons whilst Ben Cohen, a cert for England on Saturday, and Nick Beal ran back at the Gloucester defence time and time again to keep play away from the Saints twenty-two.

The overall success of the afternoon though, despite losing, was Saints collective defence. Glos, up to this game, had been scoring tries by the bucketful at Kingsholm and had even left sides like Munster in their wake but by hook or by crook the Saints kept them at bay for the whole afternoon.

So to the action!

When South African referee Mr Kaplan finally found Kingsholm the game kicked off 15 minutes late with the Saints from the off, despite the conditions, starting in their usual 'hats on wheels' style taking the game straight to the Gloucester defence. Meeting fire with fire they took the Gloucester pack on head on, clearly something the home side were not expecting as Saints took the early upper hand.

It was however Gloucester who got the first points on the board as Thinus Delport the Springbok full back was adjudged to have been impeded and Mercier stepped up to give an early three point lead to the home side.

The Saints though regained their composure and drove back into home territory and from a lineout a typical Dawson snipe was illegally ended giving Larry the chance to level the scores.

Marcel Garvey briefly threatened but it was only a respite for the home side against a relentless pick and drive attack from the Saints but yet again a breakaway allowed Gloucester to again edge ahead through the boot of Mercier.

In reply the Saints almost got the first try of the afternoon as Mark Tucker bolted through the gap before offloading to Budge Pountney. The conditions though played their part and the bar of soap that had become the ball slipped forward for not the first and certainly not the last time.

Although the Saints luck was not with them in the handling department young Glaws wing Simpson-Daniel almost gave them a helping hand. A boomer from Nick Beal was fumbled and the winger panicked sending the ball a mile over Delports head with his clearance pass. Unfortunately for Saints it was a cherry and white shirt that pounced on the wayward ball first.

The Saints were back seconds later though when another infringement gave Larry the chance to level the scores. The penalty was however Grays last kick of the day as a leg injury that had clearly been niggling him forced him to take early retirement on the half-hour to be replaced by James Brooks.

Matt Dawson was promoted to kicking duties and minutes later put Saints into the lead for the first time with a penalty after John Leslie had been impeded on a forward run.

The Saints went in at the break 9-6 up after playing probably the best half of rugby since the first half demolition of Newcastle in the cup semi-final last term. The game at that stage was there for the taking.

Gloucester though had other ideas and the withdrawal of Robbie Morris at halftime allowed them to take an edge in the front five as the Saints began to tire.

The Saints though still stuck to the task and their line was rarely threatened but the boot of Mercier landed three penalties to open up a six-point lead for the home side. Just a converted try away from victory with only minutes remaining the Saints were still well and truly in touch until Gomersall added insult to injury.

A drop out from the Saints twenty-two landed straight into the arms of the Gloucester scrumhalf on the halfway line. He deftly dropped it from all of forty metres between the uprights to open up a nine-pint gap and steal the Saints of a much deserved bonus point.

Moment later the Saints had the chance to regain that elusive point with a penalty in centre field but for some inexplicable reason the ball was tapped and the attack fizzled out in what was to be the last chance for Saints of the afternoon.

As Mr Kaplan blew for the end of the game the Gloucester players celebrated as they knew they had edged one hell of a battle in a game that goes to show that its does not have to be all tries for a good game of rugby.

Several home supporters afterwards described the Saints as the best side they had played this season and I'm sure they will not be looking too kindly on the return leg at the Gardens in December.

Apart from all the praise heaped on the team a mention must also go to the supporters, who numbered around a thousand, who on a filthy bleak November day made the journey to Kingsholm and even in defeat sang their hearts out for the team. I am sure not only does it lift the team but several home supporters commented that it adds to the atmosphere for them too.

Well done!

Now bring on L*******r.

It's about time someone reaped our whirlwind.