From the Archives - East Midlands Derby 1999

By From the Archives
November 5 2002

In our first visit to the Saints v Tigers games of yesteryear this week we go back to the start of the 1999 season. Both sides had been decimated by World Cup calls but the Saints showed greater strength in depth. It was a dream start to new coach John Steeles term at the Gardens.

SAINTS SHOW GREATER STRENGTH IN DEPTH

Saints 46 Tigers 24

Well what a start to the season. Despite both sides losing exactly the same amount of players to the various World Cup squads the Saints proved that they have greater strength in depth by thrashing locals rivals Leicester and scoring six well taken tries in the process. A storming start for new coach John Steele!

Tigers Nnamdi Ezulike and Saints skipper Don McKinnon exchanged early tries and the resulting conversion and an Ali Hepher penalty gave Saints a slim 8-7 lead at the first quarter.
Just as the game looked like it was going to be a close run thing the Saints upped a gear and ran in a further three tries in quick succession.

Grant Seely surged over for the first quickly followed by the ever improving youngster Ben Cohen after good work from Craig Moir. Tigers had no answer to the Saints attacks and killed ball after ball until Ed Morrison despatched Paul Gustard to the sin bin.

The home side took full advantage with Matt Allen going over for their fourth of the half as the Saints went in at the break 29-17 up. Tigers Andy Goode had scored on the stroke of half time to give his side some hope but that hope was shortlived.

Despite early pressure in the second half the Tigers failed to gain ground as the Saints soaked it all up until at the turnover Ali Hepher saw the gap and sprinted free. The Tigers were on the back foot and could only watch in envy as a series of passing put Craig Moir, playing at fullback, in for the score.

The game was now won but to Leicesters credit they hit back with a consolation through Craig Joiner however there was no way young Mr Hepher was going to let them have the final say.

Ali again carved an opening which allowed Matt Allen to go over for the second of the afternoon which the flyhalf duly converted to give him a personal tally of sixteen points for the game.

With the return of the internationals to come all looks rosy in John Steeles Garden(s).


Final score: Saints 46 Tigers 24

Saints
Tries: Matt Allen 2, Ben Cohen, Don Mackinnon,Craig Moir, Grant Seely.
Cons: Ali Hepher 5.
Pens: Ali Hepher 2.
Northampton: Craig Moir, Jon Sleightholme, Andy Northey, Matt Allen, Ben Cohen, Ali Hepher, Dom Malone, Garry Pagel, Steve Walter (Now of course Thompson), Matt Stewart, Jon Phillips, Richard Metcalfe, Don MacKinnon, Simon Holmes, Grant Seely.

The other lot:
Tries: Ezulike, Goode, Joiner.
Cons: Stimpson 3.
Pens: Stimpson.
Them: Stimpson, Murphy, Joiner, Howard, Ezulike, Goode, Hamilton, Jelly, West, Fourie, Zaltzman, Hay, Gustard, Mooney, Johnson.

Referee: Ed Morrison (RFU)
Att: 9,512

*People may well remember that despite both sides losing the equal amount of players in this gameDean Richards stated that whoever won the league that year would only win it by default. You've guessed it Leicester won the league.......by default of course! The Saints went on to win the bigger prize.*