From the Archives - Saints v Sarries 2002

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By From the Archives
September 25 2002

For the second look back in the Saints v Sarries archive this week its back to this years Powergen Cup quarter final at Vicarage Road on a cold January evening. It wasn't to stay cold for long..........

SUPER SAINTS STUN SARRIES TO SURGE INTO SEMIS

Saracens 28 Northampton Saints 30

By Saint On The Spot
Date: 20/1/2002

Onwards and upwards. The Saints Jeckyll and Hyde season continues with another storming display on the moonlight kissed turf of Vicarage Road as the boys pick up pace to secure a place in the Powergen Cup semi finals.

Its six out of seven now for new coach Smudger Smith and the signs of improvement go straight through every member of the team. Youngsters like James Brooks and Steve Thompson have grown immensely in stature while old stagers such as Nick Beal and particularly 'Larry' Grayson have a new lease of life since the former All Black coach hit our shores.

This was a must win game for the Saints as it was probably the last chance saloon in respects to winning some creditable silverware. The lads though answered the challenge and played with pride and passion for the Gold, Black n Green cheered on by 2000 loud n proud (I don't know about you lot but my throat's sore this morning) followers who silenced the home crowd from first minute to last.

The game started apace with Sarries taking the early advantage with a Jannie de Beer penalty after a 'clothesline' of a tackle by Andy Blowers.
The All Black flanker was in the wars all evening spending long periods in the blood bin before being injured late on and having to be stretchered off the park then whisked off to hospital.We await news on his condition.

Larry missed a further penalty from the halfway line before de Beer stretched the home sides lead with a second score. However with Saints playing all the rugby it was surely only a matter of time before they gained the upperhand.

It was not long in waiting as the impressive midfield trio of Peter Jorgensen, John Leslie and winger Ben Cohen, ably assited by the rampant pack, drove again and again into Sarries territory.

In one such move Ben Cohen took up the charge before offloading to Wallaby Peter Jorgensen. Jorgy was held up close too but James Brooks, who is beginning to look a natural at scrumhalf, popped the ball up to man of the moment Steve 'Wally' Thompson.
Wally took it on and danced round amongst others the abrasive Scott Murray to score by the posts.

The watching England coaching trio of Woodward, Robinson and Ashton must have impressed by Thompsons all round performance, including his throwing which has come on leaps and bounds recently, and he should at least see a place on Englands bench in two weeks time. At this rate the young Brooks should also come into representative reckoning at some level before this year is out.

Larry converted to edge the Saints ahead for the first time at 7-6 but de Beer hit back with two further penalties and a short range dropgoal in the final ten of the half, in which Craig Moir was also yellow carded for killing the ball, to send his side in eight point up at the break with the score at 15-7 in Sarries advantage.

Despite this setback the game was clearly there for the taking as the Saints just had to keep their heads and with the pressure they were exerting the points would surely come. I don't know what was said in the dressing room at halftime but it certainly did the trick as the Saints came out on fire for the second period.

From the off the Saints battled again and again to the home 22 with both rolling maul and pick n drive after pick n drive. Sarries held back all they could until with a two man overlap, and after earlier warnings, Tom Shanklin deliberately knocked on John Leslies try scoring pass. The conversion of the penalty try cut the deficit to a point but kicking machine de Beer again breathed a little life back into his side with a further penalty.

Larry returned in kind with a long range effort that just dropped over the bar and the Saints upped that further famous gear to take the game with some outstanding passages of play ably assisted by new signing Johan Ackermann who came on as an impact player to make his debut in the Gold, Black n Green in the second half.

Firstly John Leslies pass that sent Peter Jorgensen over for the 'try'was adjudged to have sneaked forward before undeterred the Saints tried the same option again.

Ben Cohen, another player whose performance would not have gone unnoticed by Clive Woodward, took the ball at pace deep into Sarries territory sucking defenders all the way. Just at the right moment he placed a finely weighted looping pass out to the grateful Nick Beal who scored under pressure in the corner. Larry converted with a superb kick from the touchline and the semi final spot was now well and truly the Saints.

Minutes later to subdue any thoughts of a Sarries fightback Nick Beal added to his tally with a finely taken dropgoal to seal the win. This was the straw that broke the camels back!

Sarries finally got over the Saints tryline in the 84th minute for a consolation score through Gerald Arasa but it was far too little far too late for the home side.

De Beers conversion was the last kick of the night and the Saints players and supporters celebrated in style as 'Oh When The Saints' reverberated around the Vicarage Road stands.

Result:
Saracens 28 Northampton Saints 30

Teams
Northampton Saints: Nick Beal; Craig Moir, Peter Jorgensen, John Leslie, Ben Cohen; Paul Grayson, James Brooks; Tommy Smith, Steve Thompson, Matt Stewart (Chris Budgen 80), Jon Phillips (Johan Ackermann 45), Ollie Brouzet, Mark Soden
(Grant Seely 56min), Andy Blowers (Dan Richmond 70), Budge Pountney (capt).

Saracens: A Winnan; T Shanklin (G Arasa 60), K Sorrell, T Horan, D O'Mahony; J De Beer, K Bracken (capt); D Flatman, R Russell, P Durant (L Harbut 65), K Roche, S Murray, K Chesney (K Benazzi 60), R Hill, T Roques.


Scorers:
Northampton:
Tries: Thompson, Penalty try, Beal
Cons: Grayson (3)
Pens: Grayson (2)
DG: Beal

Saracens:
Try: Arasa
Con: De Beer
Pens: De Beer (6)
DG: De Beer

Naughty Boys:

Yellow card:
Northampton: Moir (31min)

Referee:
Roy Maybank (RFU)

Attendance: a disapponting 7,617

Weather:
A cold moonlt nicht the nicht.
(But who cares!)