From the Archives - East Midlands Derby 1997

By From the Archives
November 7 2002

In the run up to Saturdays game against our 'friends' from down the road today we go back to October 1997. The Saints were yet to win a league game and the visit of the table topping Tigers looked ominous. But the Saints tore up the form book in style.

TIGERS MAULED AS SAINTS FINALLY FIND FORM

Saints 25 Leicester 6
Allied Dunbar Premiership
Saturday 18th October 1997
Franklins Gardens

The Saints form returned at Northampton today as they thrashed the hapless Tigers 25 - 6 at Franklins Gardens.

Bob Dwyer, usually one for the excuses, admitted that the Saints were superior in every department and thoroughly deserved the victory. Matt Dawson was outstanding and gave his opposite number Austin Healey (who in those days had a fine head of hair) a torrid time.

Healey was so unsettled that he reverted to his original wing position early in the game to see if Waisale Serevi could handle Dawson better. Serevi, for all his sevens skills, could not!

The pack outplayed their more fancied opponents in the tight and the loose with Budge Poutney in remarkable form against Neil Back who never got a look in on the floor all afternoon.

At the first scrum the Saints forwards held tight till the Tigers eight wilted and rolled over allowing the Saints eight to trundle right over them, it was a sign of things to come.

Andy Northey, making his home debut after signing from RL St. Helens, continually punched holes in the Tigers midfield for the forwards to exploit with quick rucking ball. The Saints opened the scoring with a Paul Grayson try after fine work from Northey.

To the crowds astonishment Dawson stepped up to take the conversion, he missed but succeeded with a further four penalties later in the match.

Referee John Pearson limited the Tigers ball killing game with a succession of penalties that gave the superior Saints the upper hand and they never looked back as they strided to victory.

After continuous pressure the Saints finally got the try that sealed the match when Tim Rodber went over in the corner. The crowd rose to its feet at the end of the game as 'Oh When The Saints' reverbarated around the ground as the poor old Tiggers went home with their tails well and truly between their legs.

The celebrations went on long into the night
after one of the Saints most famous victories in recent years.


Scores: 5-0 Grayson try; 5-3 Stransky pen; 8-3 Dawson pen; 11-3 Dawson pen; 14-3 Dawson pen; 14-6 Stransky pen; 17-6 Dawson pen; 20-6 Townsend pen; 25-6 Rodber try.

Northampton: Paul Grayson; Nick Beal, Andy Northey, Matt Allen, Ben Cohen; Gregor Townsend, Matt Dawson; Matt Volland (Martin Hynes 21-28), Allan Clarke, Matt Stewart (Martin Hynes 78), Martin Bayfield, Jon Phillips, Grant Seely, Budge Pountney, Tim Rodber (capt) (Steve Barnes 76).

Leicester: M Horak; W Serevi, W Greenwood, S Potter, K Lloyd; J Stransky, A Healey; G Rowntree, G Cockerill, D Garforth, M Johnson (capt), M Poole, M Corry, N Back, E Miller.

Referee: J Pearson (Durham).


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