Saints Man of the Season 2009-2010
By Saint Tim
December 28 2010
This is the traditional time of the year for a review of the year to appear. If only this was one! It isn’t. It is instead a very belated review of the Saints Man of the Match – as voted for by you – from last season. Work came in the way and I got behind in writing up the results, indeed I got behind in the analysis as well. Fortunately I have now caught up and so can report the winners from last season.
Use of the Squad
Saints played 36 competitive games according to my reckoning last season and during that time we used 33 players in the starting line up. It is interesting to know that after 12 games last season we had used 32 players so after that point there was little change in those given a starting berth.
Out of those 33 players seven played thirty games or more. The top 15 players played twenty games or more each. The full list of appearances is shown below.
Votes
In total over the season we had 2,852 votes at an average of nearly 80 per match. The highest votes were of the games against Worcester at home (130) Munster at home (128) and Gloucester at home (128). The matches attracting the lowest votes were Ospreys away on a Friday evening (30) and Bath away in the midweek rearranged fixture (37).
Which Division
Over the season there were 17 wins for the forwards, 14 for the backs and 7 for the half backs. Now if you include the half backs in with the backs division it is a healthy win for the girls. If however you look on it as a per player award (wins divided by the number of players in the division) it becomes 2.8 for the Backs, 2.1 for the Forwards and 3.5 for the Half Backs. This would imply that per man the Half Backs were the most influential element of the team and many would say that is as it should be.
Winners – who have departed
Of the players who left during the summer we had several winners.
Jurandre Kruger (1) – How did he only win one is beyond me.
Chris Mayor (1)
Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (1)
Neil Best (1)
James Cannon (1)
My thanks as a supporter goes out to these guys who lay their bodies on the line for our entertainment – often knowing they will not be part of the team going forward.
Emerging Players
A number of players emerged as real forces over the Season. None more so than Chris Ashton who picked up several awards after failing to grace the leader board at all the previous season. It was great to see the change that happened over the year for Chris. We all know now how he had considered returning to the thirteen man game as he struggled in the first year in the premiership. It was definitely ours and Englands gain that Chris decided to stay with the Union code.
Also emerging was the force that is Soane Tonga’uiha. Tiny had been at the club for a number of seasons but last year was a huge step forward for him. We all know that this resulted in a tussle for his services this season between ourselves and Sarries. It all got a bit heated but I am glad that Soane also decided to stay at the Gardens.
The Winner
The overall winner by one game was Chris Ashton with six wins from Soane Tonga’uiha and Phil Dowson on five wins each.
This is a great result, for a great winger. Chris runs hard on the shoulder of people making a break and is a destructive finisher. He has also however improved significantly his defence and is now rarely caught out.
Congratulations Chris.
Leaderboard
Here is the full leaderboard. I should point out that joint winners now get a full award each – it is just easier with my new system to run it this way. This did not alter the overall result as Chris did not share any wins.
Here is the full list of winners
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“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
However, I'm also glad jim and co persevered with ashy and also that he has stayed with us at the gardens despite his contemplation to return to rugby league. He has shown his grit and determination despite the odds. Truly a true Saint and a worthy winner.
“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