Saints v Glaws - The corresponding fixtuture 01/02

By From the Archives
November 1 2002

On the eve of the Gloucester v Saints Zurich game at Kingsholm we look back to the corresponding fixture last season. It was the opening day and the sun shone bright, unfortunately the Saints didn't.

Not a good day at Castle Grim for new look Saints

By Chris On The Spot
Date: 3/9/2001

Stop the season, I want to get off! The Saints opened their Zurich Premiership campaign on Saturday with an opening day defeat at Kingsholm (aka Castle Grim) by the multi-national cosmopolitan chaps of Gloucester by 22 to 9.

The Saints started well.. For the first half hour they pressureised the Glaws defence and held firm in their own and opened up a nine points to three lead from the boot of Paul Grayson. They maybe should have had a try or two had not unforced errors ruined attacking moves at the last minute. Thirty minutes gone and a six point lead to take them into the second period, things did not look too bad for the new look team but then sadly things statrted to go awry. In the space of the next few minutes the game was turned on its head in a nightmare for the Saints.

In quick succession french flyhalf Ludovic Mercier fired over three penalties to give Gloucester a 12-9 lead. If the Saints could hold on the last minute or so to halftime there was a chance to regroup and get something out of the game. Gloucester though had other ideas.

Italian prop Federico Pucciariello stole a loose ball in midfield and set up John Steeles best mate, Junior Paramore to stroll through the Saints defence for the only try of the game. Mercier converted to give his side a ten point lead at 19-9 going into the break. It was a knife through the Saints heart.

Mercier added a further three points at the start of the second half and the game was over as a contest.
It was only with the introduction of new blood that the Saints finally came to life in the last quarter of an hour. With Steve Brotherstone hitting Olivier Brouzet in the lineout the backs finally had good quick ball to be exploited by Matt Dawson, who came on at half time, and the star of the show, young livewire flyhalf James Brooks. Despite their efforts though no further points were added to the Saints score although a disputed try from Ben Cohen and an inside pass to a Gloucester player from the rampant Tom Smith could have again turn the game or at least given the Saints a valuable bonus point.

There was still time for controversy though as Junior Paramore was sin-binned for a high takle on fellow Samoan Andy Blowers.
Junior had time for a friendly wave to the Saints bench as he left the field.

The squad must now regroup and look at areas of the team that is not quite gelling yet before the visit of Bath next Saturday.

Gloucester: Pucciarello, Fortey, Collazo, Eustace, Fidler, Boer, Hazell, Paramore, Yachvili, Mercier, Albanese, Stoica, Ewens, O'Leary, Catling.

Replacements: Azam for Fortey (66), Woodman for Collazo (58), Pearce for Eustace (76), M. Cornwell for Fidler (69).

Not Used: Gomarsall, Mannix, Simpson-Daniel.

Sin Bin: Paramore (74).

Tries: Paramore.

Cons: Mercier.

Pens: Mercier 5.

Northampton: Smith, Thompson, Stewart, Brouzet, Phillips, Blowers, Pountney, Soden, Malone, Grayson, Cohen, Jorgensen, Leslie, Moir, Beal.

Replacements: Brotherstone for Thompson (64), Budgen for Stewart (64), Dawson for Malone (42), Brooks for Beal (73).

Not Used: Newman, Hunter, Tucker.

Pens: Grayson 3.

Att: 8,682