Sarries Subside to Semi-Final Defeat
Saints March On
By Rupes
May 2 2009
Friday evening saw Saracens exit the European Challenge Cup at Franklins' Gardens, making 2009/10 another season of non-Heineken Cup rugby at Vicarage Road. A 16-13 defeat,as tense as it was, was the proverbial game of two halves - Northampton wondering how they were only 10 points up at the break, Sarries playing the last 25 minutes as they would have hoped to have played the whole 80.
A wonderfully loud atmosphere greeted both teams as they ran out and the first five minutes of the contest were ferocious - Sarries continued as they had at Bath last week, with the intensity of their tackling and general play being matched by a Northampton side equally as keen on making an early statement. An exchange of penalties gave us the 3-3 scoreline after 6 minutes, the last sign of parity for an hour or so.
With the Saints' back three of Diggin, Reihana and Foden being given copious quantities of ball via the boot of Glen Jackson, Sarries were on the back foot for much of the first half as Saints dominated. Inspired by those three players, Saints started to use the full width of the pitch to play an expansive game and, prompted by the outstanding Dickson and Myler at 9 and 10, pulled Sarries to all corners. It was no surprise that, after 30 minutes, Northampton scored their one and only try - Reihana having a stroll in on the left wing following a great pass from Foden. The shame for Sarries was that the phases which led to the try came from their own line out, just on halfway. A poor throw from Cairns led to Northampton recycling the ball through several phases, before Reihana's easy score.
13-3 at half time was flattering to Sarries - Northampton had been dominant and coach Mallinder will have wondered why his team were only 10 points ahead.
The second half meandered along in much the same way as the first - Northampton dominance, with Sarries offering little. That was until 55 minutes, when the introduction of the retiring Andy Farrell suddenly gave Sarries some direction and purpose. A great break from Neil de Kock off the back of a scrum finally gave the visiting hoardes something to shout about, only Ben Foden's last ditch tackle preventing Chris Wyles from touching down.
Suddenly, the momentum of the game had shifted in Sarries' direction, with the go forward, drive and purpose of the team being marked contrast to that of the first 55 minutes. The ball was suddenly being recycled far quicker than before and, whereas in the first half Sarries had kicked the ball away and then given Saints the space to run it back, it was now a case of ball in hand and keep hold of it, probing gaps wherever possible.
It was after a set of phases where the ball was kept in hand, swinging the rucks from right to left, then right again, that Rodd Penney touched down - a sympathetic pass inside from Farrell opening the door to the Saints tryline. A tricky conversion from Jackson sailed over and from staring down the barrell of a heavy defeat at halftime, Sarries were level at 13-13 with 9 minutes to go.
To credit Northampton, they then regained their compsure and, with the assistance of a charged-down Neil de Kock kick, put pressure back on to Saracens. Pressure rewarded when Stephen Myler continued his 100% kicking record on the night to slot a huge drop goal from 40m with 4 minutes to go. Sarries kicked off, Northampton retained possession, put the ball into the corner and, bar a kick from Jackson to Cato which didn't come off and in fact gave Northampton the ball on the Sarries 22m line, that was that. Saints closed the game out to go to the ECC Final.
Not the semi-final performance of Munster last year, which was a true 80 minute performance, this seemed to be a 25 minute performance. Northampton were brilliant first half, taking full advantage of the apparent lethargy in the Saracens ranks. And they deserved the 16-13 win. For Saracens, another year in the ECC, another year of rebuilding and another semi-final defeat. Plus ca change, as they say in Bourgoin.
Northampton Saints : Foden, Diggin, Clarke (Ansbro, 75), Downey, Reihana, Myler, Dickson (Dickens 68), Tonga'uiha (Smith 70), Hartley, Murray, Fernandez Lobbe (Lawes 57), Kruger, Best, Gray (Sharman 21-31), Easter.
Saracens : Wyles, Penney, Leonelli (Powell 69), Barritt (Farrell 55), Cato, Jackson, De Kock, Aguero (Mercey 41), Ongaro (Cairns 69), Johnston, Borthwick, Ryder (Cairns 21-31, Vyvyan 57), Jack, Saull, Skirving (Barrell 36).
Monsieur : Roman Poitre, France.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:28:14:57:12 by TonyTaff.
Gathering + March - well done the club, credit where it's due. Plus the horns, plus the flags, it worked.
Roman Poitre, France - would someone from ERC Rugby care to explain why this bloke keeps getting to referee games when Christophe Berdos (top French ref with Jutge, who seems to have vanished somewhere) is 4th official? Poitre was appalling for both sides, the breakdowns were a complete free for all (as the players realised, hence used hands, laid everywhere, didn't roll away at all, went off feet), his handling of the game generally was poor I thought. Both teams kept throwing their hands up in the air in astonishment more often than not when he blew the whistle and as for his understanding of a scrum going through 90 degrees...I've seen him three times this season now, he has been shocking all three times. He didn't affect the outcome of the game, but was just awful.
Saints fans - I know some got a bit precious about it being your turf and your rules etc...but well done. Most of you (bar the bloke in the south stand) just enjoyed the rugby and got on with it - good on you!
Richard Graham - thanked each and every player personally as they finished their lap at the end. Thank you for all your work in what has been a tricky time, to say the least.
Can anyone explain why we took the bulk of Ryder off at the sin-bin incident when it was obvious we would need all the muscle we could summon at that moment?
Great night out, can't fault the effort of the players and I thought we played pretty well throughout.
What I do find surprising in the 'clockwork substitutions'- why take Ongaro off when he is throwing excellently, having already seen in the sin-bin period that Matt is struggling to find the jumpers?
It would be harsh to say it cost us the game, but it certainly made it a darn sight harder.
