News: Gloucester Rugby vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview
By lilyg
December 22 2010
At the time of publication there is some doubt as to whether this Boxing Day Aviva Premiership game will go ahead as the Kingsholm pitch is currently frozen and under a blanket of snow. However, here are the thoughts of regular COYSDC contributor lilyg on the scheduled Sunday fixture - Saints away to Gloucester...
Match Preview – Aviva Premiership
Gloucester V Northampton Saints
Kingsholm
Sunday 26th December 2010
Time’s Up
To my chest my,
Hands I clasp,
I deeply breathe,
I wheeze and gasp,
My temples throb,
My mouth is dry,
My heart beats fast,
I’m going to die,
My voice has gone,
My throat is sore,
My hands both shake,
I can take no more,
I lay my head,
Upon my knee,
Now blow the whistle,
Referee
(Paul Curtis)
I have to be honest – I like Kingsholm, it’s like a home away from home (excuse the pun) except they play in different colours and the pasties aren’t as nice.
The shed are as vociferous as are our saintly bretheren in the Tetley’s stand (us in the Churches do rattle our jewellery I’ll have you know!) and had I not had a prior engagement with a spot of sherry and a mince pie, I would be heading down for one of my favourite games.
Over the years there have been many famous and infamous punch up’s, who could forget the ‘smart’ Mark Mapletoft pretend penalty that ended in a try or Tiny’s rampaging performance in last season’s LV cup final.
Gloucester currently sit sixth in the Premiership with only five points separating them from second and the comfort of a game in hand. Bryan Redpath and his team have turned round their poor start to the season and are returning them to their rightful place in the top half of the table – whether they actually manage to win a finals position or even a trophy remain to be seen, but it may well be worth a 50p bet.
With Kingsholm becoming a fortress and with both teams in good form heading into this encounter, I have no doubt that this will be a feisty encounter, competitive, aggressive and leaving the winners mopping their brow mumbling “phew, we earned that!” Their squad is full of experience (that’s polite for “getting on a bit”) and youthful exuberance (that’s polite for “whippersnappers”) – a mixture that could either be brilliant or end up shooting themselves in the foot on the day. Whichever one meets us on Boxing Day will certainly provide the blood curdling challenge to help the turkey to be digested further. As this will also be Gloucester’s first home premiership game since the sad passing of Tom Walkinshaw, I can only imagine that they will want to pay their respects further by adding a ‘W’ to their tally.
Over the last ten seasons, our country cousins have won ten games to the Saints eight, although the Saints have taken the honours in the last three years:
|
16th Dec 00 |
Saints |
34 |
Gloucester |
15 |
|
27th Dec 00 |
Gloucester |
12 |
Saints |
15 |
|
1st Sep 01 |
Gloucester |
22 |
Saints |
9 |
|
14th Apr 02 |
Saints |
58 |
Gloucester |
21 |
|
2nd Nov 02 |
Gloucester |
18 |
Saints |
9 |
|
28th Dec02 |
Saints |
13 |
Gloucester |
16 |
|
1st Nov 03 |
Saints |
30 |
Gloucester |
17 |
|
29th Nov 03 |
Gloucester |
28 |
Saints |
20 |
|
18th Sept 04 |
Saints |
12 |
Gloucester |
18 |
|
12th March 05 |
Gloucester |
18 |
Saints |
26 |
|
24th Sept 05 |
Gloucester |
28 |
Saints |
24 |
|
11th March 06 |
Saints |
21 |
Gloucester |
20 |
|
23rd Sept 06 |
Gloucester |
28 |
Saints |
7 |
|
3rd March 07 |
Saints |
5 |
Gloucester |
7 |
|
29th Nov 08 |
Gloucester |
33 |
Saints |
10 |
|
4th April 09 |
Saints |
40 |
Gloucester |
22 |
|
19th Sept 09 |
Gloucester |
14 |
Saints |
27 |
|
17th Apr 10 |
Saints |
38 |
Gloucester |
23 |
This time, Gloucester will be looking to strike revenge but I have a sneaky suspicion that the Saints will continue the winning trend and squeak a win - although there may well be a few squeaky bum moments (can I say bum?)
So who’ll be pulling on the black, green and gold (and white!), well probably the same team that challenged Cardiff, may be with Brooooooce on the bench and you never know, may be Dickson will start. I’m glad it’s not me who has the duty of selecting from such a great squad. Whoever does have the privileged of playing, will no doubt do us all very proud.
At the time of writing, the weather is doing its best to cause havoc to many sporting fixtures. I do hope this one goes ahead and if the roads are a bit dodgy – safe travels to those of you that make the trip, I will have a bit extra mulled wine in your honour.
Finally, I wish you all very, very merry Christmas and the most fantastic New Year - as you’ve all been very saintly, I’m sure Father Christmas will be bringing you something very special…, but before I go I leave you with a little thought:
Twas the month after Christmas and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste.
All the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvellous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please.”
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt---
I said to myself, as I only can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"
So--away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore—
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!
(anonymous)
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Many thanks, Lills!
And thanks for the frills, Lills...
One question - Id always thought Mark Mapletoft was playing for LI when he tricked us with the pretend penalty? If it was Glaws then this preview has educated and entertained all at once! Thanks!