Saints try that Nelson touch

By Little Jim
February 20 2006

I must admit to feeling a trifle nervous on Saturday morning, my boiled egg was underdone and it seemed too awful a portent to ignore. Saints recent run of form combined with the troubles at Saracens meant this should be a game Saints would win at a canter.

 

However with both teams locked on 27 points and striving to pull away from the relegation battle this could so easily be the perennial banana skin that Saints would slip on.

 

Luckily the sight of the “big one” fluttering in the D Block terrace and the  passionate crowds already warmed up in good voice as the players ran out did much to ease my nerves.

 

Our visitors Saracens had much to prove with their recent off pitch troubles and a backlash on the pitch was just what they would be looking for. Their cause was helped by the return of Visagie to the front row and Houghton on the wing. For me I was more relived to see Vyvyan was missing and his absence cost Saracens dear.  For Saints, Lewitt's injury meant Harding got the start and he certainly made the most of his chance.

 

Perhaps reflecting my own nerves at this important game, for the first 10 minutes Saints were very nervy and tense.  They conceded two early penalties that gave away field position and allowed Jackson to duly slot the points to give a 0-3 lead to Saracens. Saints then missed the chance to draw level when Saracens were penalised for crossing at the restart and Bruce missed a kickable penalty in front of the posts. Saints voices in the stands were undimmed as the supporters kept urging the team forward.

 

From the restart, after trading kicks Saints counterattacked with Spencer and Sharkey to the fore.  Wally took the ball into contact rather than pass to Cohen. A knock on gave possession to Saracens and the ball was flipped out to the every dangerous Houghton.

 

He was tackled by Robinson, but Saracens kept up the attack with Armitage being sent down the blindside but the effervescent Sharkey got him into touch. Unfortunately although Saints won the resulting quick lineout, Clarke’s clearing kick was charged down and knocked on, and Saints remained under pressure in their 22. By this stage I was wishing they would just calm down and stop trying to force the game.

 

Saracens compounded our woes by scoring the first try of the game. From a solid scrum in the 22 they rapidly passed the ball wide to send Scarborough over in the corner. Jackson duly converted and within 10 minutes Saints were 0-10 down and it looked like a long afternoon.

 

At the restart Bracken made a superb break that belied his retirement intentions at the end of the season and Saints were penalised for offside. Luckily Jackson missed this kick at goal and the scores remained 0-10.

To the credit of the supporters they realised the importance of the game and continued to shout and sing from the stands. The atmosphere was electric!

Saints now went on the attack and from a solid lineout Robinson launched them into the Saracens 22.  Scarborough conceded a penalty for holding on. This time Bruce hit the posts as the rugby gods continued to curse his kicking. Saracens made the first of many mistakes that point to a lack of leadership on the field and tried to first run the ball out of their 22 and then the clearing kick was charged down by Tupai who duly pounced on the ball for a try.

 

This seemed the turning point and it was fitting that Tupai was responsible as he has brought added steel to the pack and seemed to shake the team out of their 10 minute stupor. Somewhat bizarrely the try was referred to the TMO and I wondered if this was done as an example for a first round 6N referee?

 

At the restart the ball didn’t go 10 but Lordy wins it and saints drive forward Harding took the ball as they pressed into the Saracens 22. As Harding ran into Clarke Saints concede the scrum in their own 22. The first scrum came up and as Saracens dithered at the reset, Maybank lost patience and gave a free kick to Saints. Saracens backchat exacerbated the error as they were marched back 10 metres. Saints forwards pick and drove then as the ball was spread wide, Saracens turned over the possession at a ruck, but illegally and Bruce slotted the resulting penalty and it was all square at 10 apiece.

 

The game was picking up and Saints won the restart through Browne, the resulting maul drives Saints forward before it’s worked out wide to Carlos by Sharkey, who then puts it into touch. Saints disrupted the Saracens lineout winning a scrum as Maybank rules a truck and trailer. (ed – from Saracens? – shureley shome mishtake!)    

 

Saints attacked and first Cohen and then Lamont carry the game into the Saracens 22. The attack stalls when saints are penalised for Browne going in over the top. Saracens lineout wasn’t straight and the scrum went to the Saints.  The Saints attack up midfield is stopped by Armitage. At the scrum Sharkey takes the ball and it’s whipped wide to Cohen, however Saracens turnover the ball as Saints support is unable to secure the ball. . Luckily Tupai forces an error and Bracken threw a wild pass and loose. The ball goes loose for Sharkey to swoop and send Harding gleefully over for a gift of a second try.

 

It became 17-10 to Saints as Bruce slotted the conversion, but I think that Saracens had served up both tries on a platter and they helped settle Saints. There were still some traces of nerves as the Saints move from the restart ended with Clarke knocking on a slightly awkward pass from Bruce. This gave Saracens a scrum in the Saints 22 and the chance to get back into the game. The game was turning towards Saints though and as Houghton came off his wing the ball was turned over, Saints kicked clear and Saracens were forced into touch.  Brown took the ball forward from the Saints lineout and Spencer released Tupai through to try to send Cohen clear but the ball instead went forward.

 

Saracens scrum only brought momentary relief as Sharkey harried Bracken and Saints stole the ball. A Carlos special set up a superb break by Cohen and brought the Saints back to Saracens 22. A try was in the offing but the quick witted Houghton intercepted Cohen’s pass and swatted the ball backwards. Maybank ruled this OK but then oddly penalised Wally for a high tackle. Saracens failed to build on this and from their lineout Raiwalui stupidly pulled Smith away. A penalty gave the Saints possession and after some excellent ball retention from the lineout and continual pressure Bruce kicked a grubber through for Cohen to cross the line in “Lamont’s corner” and apologetically scored Saints third try, duly converted, and the Saints started to take control at 25-10.

 

As half time approached Saracens mixed the occasional sublime (with a lovely kick from Jackson) with the frequently inept, (losing a lineout, and then throwing a hospital pass to Scarborough) and seeing Saints gain a scrum.

 

From this Spencer kicked deep and some dreadful passing saw Saints gain a turn over that sent Lordy galloping down the wing. The move ended when Clarke dropped a pass in the 22. It speaks volumes about the team ethic and spirit when Wally and Cohen both went up to console the younger rising star. The Saracens scrum was only a brief respite as Spencer sent Cohen through from a lineout as Saints resume the attack. Again Saracens kick clear and this time Lamont dropped the clearing kick. Such is Saracens disarray that from the scrum they coughed up a ball as Tupai tackled Raiwalui .The final Saints attack was ended by a forward pass that brought HT and that might have given Saracens hope if they could sort things out in the dressing room at half time.

 

Both teams emerged unchanged for the second half.

 

Saracens started brightly with turning over Saints ball and Houghton was released with space and pace but luckily he knocked on. Carlos’s quick break gave Saints a penalty as Saracens come in from the side and already the scoreboard ticks over as Bruce makes it 27-10.

 

From the restart Saracens sought to press on against a firm Saints defence and conceded a penalty. This was taken quickly by Sharkey but the attack broke down as Budgen stumbled on a pass from Clarke. Saracens can’t capitalize as Bruce tidied up. Saracens came back but again Bruce coolly calmed it down and kicked clear. Possibly this lead to Jackson’s kick, as Saracens attacked from the lineout that summed up the afternoon. It went straight to Lamont who gleefully cantered home from the half way line to get Saints the 4 try bonus point, converted by Bruce to make it 34-10. Saracens looked punch drunk and leaderless while Saints were grinning and enjoying their rugby.  Many Saints supporters were speechlessly swooning in the stands. They were seeing the sort of rugby Saints promised to deliver all season and it was well worth the wait!!

 

Both Bracken and Visagie (well he is boring!) were substituted and Saints looked increasingly in the driving seat of a juggernaut. Normally they might take their foot of the pedal but Saints are learning a new R word – ruthlessness.

Saints continued to tighten the noose on a faltering Saracens and gained a penalty as Saracens held on.  Saints poured in to the 22 from the lineout but got turned over and were penalised for offside. While other teams would punish such a mistake, Saracens fluffed the lineout and knocked on, giving Saints the scrum. The attack was relentless and only undone as Budgen cleaned up a tricky pass and was penalised for holding on. Oddly Saracens opted to run from the 22 and the chip ahead gave Saints possession. Saracens conceded a penalty and Spencer took advantage to show his tricks. He chased up his cheeky overhead kick and sent Sharkey through to pass to Cohen.  Only a spirited Houghton put in a great tackle causing Cohen to knock on inches short of a memorable try.  Houghton unlike so many flash wingers has a great defence as well as offence,

 

 Saracens tried to shore up their defence bringing in Byrne and TC but it all was to no avail. Saints gained a penalty from the scrum as the forward proved a point. Budgen took it quickly and drove it forward. It was quickly fed to Carlos whose cross field kick found Lamont following Cohen’s lead and nicking the try off Bruce. It was 39-10 and Saints looked in total control. At this point the influential Tupai was given a rest and Foxy made a welcome return to the GBG.

 

This was soon followed by Emms coming on for the centurion Budgen whose efforts earned him a rest. Saints increasing confidence and spirit contrasted markedly with an increasing fraught Saracens whose team cohesion seemed lost. They began to rely on the individual brilliance of player such as Houghton and Armitage to see them through.

 

Carlos finds a lovely touch from a Saracens penalty that puts Saints in the Saracens 22 and although they drive Saints into touch and clear their lines form the resulting lineout, it’s returned in spades. The Saints lineout leads to a simply superb interchange between Carlos and Clarke that sends Lamont through a gap to score his hat trick and left Saints supporters purring and Saracens buried. With Bruce converting it to leave the scores 44-10 Hartley came on for Wally and Cohen made way for Rudd.

 

Clarke won the restart and it was fed to Carlos who remained at his sparkling best. There was an “ahhhh” of appreciation around FG as saints supporters see the sort of game we’ve been building for all season.

 

Any respite for Saracens was lost as Gerard came on for an injured Daniel Browne and, although Saint were penalised for an illegal turnover, Lordy stole a gift at Saracens lineout. A 2nd lineout gave them a chance to recover but they were turned over as they picked and drove from it and knocked on as the Saints forwards constantly pressurised the Saracens pack at the breakdown.. Seymour came on for Saracens and injected the spark that had been missing – you wonder why he didn’t get a start or come on earlier.

 

Saints run clear and attack but cough up a turnover as they cross the halfway and knock on but the redoubtable Browne snuffed out yet another counterattack.

Sharkey’s Herculean efforts and the impregnable position Saints had attained saw Howard’s fresh legs brought on. A wise move that helps Saints maintain an unrelenting pressure.

 

Seymour’s fresh legs also help Saracens make a rare foray towards Saints 22. Careful ball retention leads to a well worked try by Armitage as Saracens showed a glimpse of potential but although Jackson converts to make it 46-17 it’s too little - too late.

 

As if to ram it home Fox won the restart in the Saracens 22, the possession for Saints forces a knock on and in the resulting advantage Clarke neatly kept the ball in play to allow Rudd to touch down, it  is 51-17 and Saints enjoyed  being ruthless.

 

Damien Browne makes way for a rejuvenated Daniel Browne and Clarke makes way for that Lazarus Robbie Kydd.

 

The games cohesion may have been breaking down with the substitutions and Saints were turned over. Luckily Magister Carlos intercepted the ball and his break only ended as he was brought down in the Saracens 22. Nevertheless Saints attacked and the only relief was when Quinlan’s grubber kick was stolen.  Saracens broke into the Saints 22 but pressure told. Another wild pass meant Lamont  intercepted the ball to streak from the Saints 22  for a fourth try with only Houghton showing Saracens spirit and chasing him to the line.

 

After the conversion Saints were 58-17 up and sitting very pretty. Budgen returned for Wee Tam and with 6 minutes left Saints continued to subject a despairing Saracens to the cosh. To their credit while Saracens as a team are shot, players keep giving there all and the final moments of a classic game saw Saints defending their own 22.

 

When the final whistle went a ruthless and resurgent Saints took a 5 point maximum and laid down a marker for the rest of the season. Carlos took a deserved MOTM as we saw him at his magisterial best but there are plenty of Saintsmen equally worthy. Sharkey played a blinder and the forwards, Browne and Tupai among them, laid a marker down.

 

That was probably one of the finest games Saints have played in recent memory. It saw the release of so much frustration for players and supporters alike and showed even the doubters what this team is capable of. Their expansive game brings a Nelson touch to rugby – it invites a chaos that demands cool heads prevail. With Carlos marshalling the Saints they are free to run riot in the confusion they create. It’s by no means perfect, as the errors made would be punished by a more organised team, but that spirit of adventure means mistakes are quickly forgotten and rapidly corrected. While we may not see that scoreline for many a while, Saints took a big step forward and the future will see Saints grinning eagerly at their opponents as they run out. As for Saturdays game, well whatever happens we have a game that will live long in the memory, if that’s the high point it was still a thing of rare beauty to savour and enjoy.