Its Saints v Sarries at the Gardens
By Chris Gleadell
April 25 2002
Putting last week behind them the Saints return to Premiership action this week in the ZP clash against Saracens at the Gardens. Both sides are in need of points with Saints aiming for Europe while Sarries look over their shoulders hoping to escape the relegation scramble.
Saints
v
Saracens
The Gardens
Saturday 27th April 2002
3:00 Kickoff
Zurich Premiership
v
Saracens
The Gardens
Saturday 27th April 2002
3:00 Kickoff
Zurich Premiership
The Saints return to the bread and butter of the Zurich Premiership after last weeks game at Twickenham, which we won't dwell on. Sarries are week by week getting sucked into Quins relegation party so are in desperate need of points. Since the departure of Francois Pienaar despite a couple of successes the Fezzed up lot can't escape the nether regions of the ZP.
Losing both Kyran Bracken (who Dom Malone would have outplayed anyway) and Tim Horan is a big blow to a club that it has to be said are struggling to handle the professional era as well as they might given a promising few seasons and the talent at their disposal.
The Saints are on a points hunt too. They have a Heineken Cup plce in their sites and will be looking to take maximum points from this outing. Given Gloucesters (who play at the Gardens on Sunday) recent form 4th place and a home draw in the Zurich Championship is an attainable task for the team who will be out to prove a few doubters wrong this weekend.
TEAM NEWS
Coach Smudger has dropped internationals Matt Dawson, Craig Moir, Matt Stewart
and Steve Thompson from the starting lineup while Andy blowers and johan Ackerman missout through injury. In comes the promising youthful trio of Robbie Morris, Archie Brooks and Dan Richmond. Dom Malone subs for Matt Dawson who starts on the bench.
Saints:
15 Nick Beal
14 James Brooks
13 Peter Jorgensen
12 John Leslie
11 Ben Cohen
10 Paul Grayson
9 Dom Malone
1 Tom Smith
2 Dan Richmond
3 Robbie Morris
4 Jon Phillips
5 Olivier Brouzet
6 Mark Soden
7 Budge Pountney
8 Grant Seely
Replacements:
16 Steve Thompson
17 Matt Stewart
18 Arthur Brenton
19 Rob Hunter
20 Matt Dawson
21 Mark Tucker
22 Craig Moir
Sarries as well as losing the aforementioned Horan and Bracken have also lost the services of Jannie, Jannie de Beer (see below). They have named the following squad which includes the 'other' Ben Russell. Returning for the first time since me and your Dad were lads is the mercurial Thomas Castaignede.
BACKS
Adryan Winnan, Thomas Castaignede, Brett Sparg, Darragh O'Mahony, Ben Johnston. Tom Shanklin, Kevin Sorrell, Luke Smith, Ben Hampson, Nick Walshe.
FORWARDS
David Flatman, Pierre Durant, Luke Harbut, Robbie Russell, Matt Cairns, Abdel Benazzi, Scott Murray, Kieran Roche, Kris Chesney, Tony Roques, Richard Hill, Ben Russell.
If you're not going to the game.....
Don't forget the club in conjunction with the BBC are supplying live commentary to ALL Saints Zurich games this season on the net.
Check out the link below for commentaries.....
Saints Games Live On The Net
The BBC Link
A triple for the Saints over Sarries last season, in Zurich Premiership and Championship.
Home
Saints 25 Sarries 14
Away
Sarries 10 Saints 30
Championship QF
Saints 45 Sarries 17
EARLIER THIS SEASON
Two games played already both at Vicarage Road. A win in September in the ZP for Sarries on a day that the Saints couldn't hit a cows whatsit with a banjo and that stormer of a cup quarter final.
Away
Sarries 25 Saints 20
Powergen Cup QF
Sarries 28 Saints 30
HISTORY
The clubs first met over a hundred years ago in the 1895-96 season with the Saints running out 39-0 winners.
They have met over forty teams since with honours just about even. Sarries were definitely Saints bogie side in the 90s but the boys have hit back with a vengeance in the last three seasons. The game we look back on this week is the game that started that run, the cup win of two seasons ago. Some rate it as the most exciting game of rugby they had ever seen......
Saints By A Gnats Whisker!
Saracens 32 Northampton 34
Tetley Bitter Cup
Saturday January 29th 2000
Vicarage Road
Saracens fly-half Matt Leak missed a penalty in the
last minute to give Northampton a place in the last eight
of the Tetley's Bitter Cup after a thrilling encounter
at Vicarage Road.
New England recruit Ben Cohen had seconds earlier
scored what looked like a match-winning try before
Saracens hit back straight from the restart to
secure the penalty.
Leak had a further chance to steal a win with a drop
goal attempt but saw his kick flying narrowing
wide of the posts.
Saints, riding high in the Premiership and with a
place in the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup,
made a flying start with two tries inside six minutes.
Matt Dawson, confirmed as England captain for the
Six Nations opener against Ireland, sliced through
the Sarries midfield to create pressure in the
hosts' 22. After a period of sustained rucking the
home defence was left threadbare and hooker
Federico Mendez powered over in the corner.
Saracens responded immediately with a penalty
by Lacroix. But Saints were soon back on the attack.
Straight from the restart England fly-half Paul Grayson
found himself stranded wide on the left 10 metres
from the Saracens try line, he then flung a long pass
back in field to fullback Ali Hepher who spun the ball
out wide to where Saints had the numerical
advantage and centre Matt Allen had a simple run in.
Dawson and Lacroix then exchanged penalties
to leave the score at 13-6.
The Vicarage Road club, boosted by midweek victory
over Premiership leaders Gloucester, then forced
their way back into the game, spreading the
ball wide at every opportunity.
Their adventure paid dividends when a break from
Ryan Constable and some fine interplay with Rob
Thirlby on the right led to a ruck on Saints' five-yard
line. Prop David Flatman spotted a gap as Saints
rushed back to cover and surged over for the score.
Lacroix converted to level the scores 13-13.
A short pass from Lacroix to Richard Hill led to the
England's flanker breaking through the Northampton
defence with the try line in sight but a despairing
tackle from Cohen brought him down metres
from the line.
From the ensuing ruck Northampton infringed and
Lacroix kicked the resultant penalty to put Saracens
in front at the break.
Saracens refused to take their foot of the pedal in
the second half but some fierce Saints tackling
in their own 22 kept them at bay.
But it was the Saints who grabbed the first score.
They forced a line out deep inside Saracens territory
and replacement Steve Walter was driven
over the line.
Saracens then reclaimed the lead with
two penalties from Leak.
The lead then changed hands again when
Northampton's superiority up front was rewarded
with a try from Scotland's flanker Budge Pountney
after a period of sustained pressure. Dawson
converted to give them a five-point cushion.
The scrum half missed a golden opportunity to
extend Saints' lead, missing a straightforward
penalty.
Scotland's second row Scott Murray then got in on
the try-scoring act with 10 minutes remaining, driving
from the edge of a maul to score next to the post.
Leak converted then added another penalty
to give Saracens a 32-27 lead.
Then came Cohen's try which Dawson converted
to force further heartbreak on Saracens who yet
again fell to a narrow defeat in the dying minutes.
Scores: 0-5 Mendez try; 3-5 Lacroix pen; 3-10
Allen try; 6-10 Lacroix pen; 6-13 Dawson pen;
11-13 Flatman try; 13-13 Lacroix con; 16-13
Lacroix pen; 16-18 Walter try; 16-20 Dawson con;
19-20 Leek pen; 22-20 Leek pen; 22-25 Pountney
try; 22-27 Dawson con; 27-27 Murray try; 29-27
Leek con; 32-27 Leek pen; 32-32 Cohen try;
32-34 Dawson con.
Saracens: R Thirlby; R Constable, J Thomson
(B Johnston 3), K Sorrell, D O'Mahony; T Lacroix
(M Leek 44), M Powell; D Flatman, G Chuter, J White
(P Wallace 65), B Davison (K Chesney 25),
S Murray, R Hill, F Pienaar (captain)
(B Cole 55), T Diprose.
Northampton: A Hepher; J Sleightholme, A Bateman,
M Allen, B Cohen; P Grayson, M Dawson; G Pagel,
F Mendez (S Walter 44-53, 66), M Stewart
(M Scelzo 70), R Metcalfe (D Mackinnon 66),
J Phillips, T Rodber, B Pountney (S Holmes 72),
P Lam (cap).
Referee: S Walsh (New Zealand).
ANNE O’RACKS STATS
Results Summary in the Premiership
Played 15
Saints Won 7 46.7%
Saracens Won 8 53.3%
Drawn 0 0%
Team Greats
Biggest Win for Saints 45 - 17 28 Apr 2001
Biggest Win for Saracens 34 - 7 06 Sep 1998
Player Greats
Saints top try scorer vs Saracens Matt Dawson 4 tries
Saints top points scorer vs Saracens Paul Grayson 106 points
Saracens top try scorer vs Saints Ryan Constable 3 tries
Saracens top points scorer vs Saints Michael Lynagh 41 points
Last Meetings
Season: 2001-02
23 Sep 2001 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 20 - 25 Vicarage R
Season: 2000-01
28 Apr 2001 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 45 - 17 Franklin's
31 Mar 2001 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 25 - 14 Franklin's
03 Dec 2000 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 30 - 10 Vicarage R
Season: 1999-00
17 May 2000 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 24 - 29 Vicarage R
09 Oct 1999 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 8 - 32 Franklin's
Season: 1998-99
06 Feb 1999 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 18 - 21 Franklin's
06 Sep 1998 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 7 - 34 Vicarage R
Season: 1997-98
14 May 1998 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 20 - 43 Vicarage R
08 Nov 1997 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 13 - 19 Franklin's
Season: 1996-97
08 Feb 1997 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 17 - 10 Franklin's
29 Oct 1996 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 23 - 24 Enfield
Season: 1992-93
26 Sep 1992 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 21 - 17 Franklin's
Season: 1991-92
16 Nov 1991 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 14 - 9
Season: 1990-91
22 Sep 1990 Northampton Saints vs Saracens 15 - 6 Franklin's
HOW TO GET
HERE
Road: From the South: Leave M1 at junction 15A and follow signs towards Sixfields, past the Sixfields Stadium on the right to the major roundabout. Take right turn onto A4500 for the Town Centre. Follow signs to Saints car park.
From the North: Exit M1 at junction 16 and follow the A45 to Northampton and follow signs to Town Centre at major traffic island. Then directions as for the South.
Rail: Turn right out of station. Follow road past the Thomas A Beckett public house, (pop in and buy me one!) Church's shoe factory and the bus station into a shopping area where you will see yellow signs to Saints car park.
Or ask a policeman!
AND FINALLY..................
The last word goes to Marlowes and WMS
Jannie, Jannie de Beer
The sons of the prophet were hardy and bold,
And quite unaccustomed to fear,
But the bravest of these from Vicarage Road
Was named Jannie, Jannie de Beer
This son of the Springboks, in battle aroused,
Could kick 100 metres I fear
A terrible creature, both sober and soused
Was Jannie, Jannie de Beer.
When they needed a man to encourage the van,
Or to harass the Saints from the rear,
Or to storm a redoubt, they had only to shout
For Jannie, Jannie de Beer
There are heroes aplenty and men known to fame
In the playersvled by Smudger Czar;
But the bravest of these was a man, if you please
Called Matt Dawson, nicknamed Jar-Jar.
He could clear out the scrum, play inside and out
And ref the game better by far.
In fact, quite the cream of the Northampton team
Was Matt Dawson, nicknamed Jar-Jar.
The ladies all loved him, his rivals were few;
He could drink them all under the bar.
As Scrumhalf or Tank, there was no one to rank
With Matt Dawson, nicknamed Jar-Jar.
One day this bold Saint had silvered his shoes
And donned his most truculent sneer
To Franklins he did go, where he trod on the toe
Of Jannie, Jannie de Beer
"Young man," quoth Jannie, "has life grown so dull,
That you're anxious to end your career?
Vile Saint you should know, you have trod on the toe
Of Jannie, Jannie de Beer."
"So take your last peek at the Gardens so chic
And send your regrets to the Czar;
By this I imply you are going to die,
Matt Dawson, nicknamed Jar-Jar."
Quoth Mattie, "My friend, your remarks, in the end,
Will avail Sorries little, I fear,
For you ne'er will survive to repeat them alive,
Jannie, Jannie de Beer
Then this bold Fezhead Said “Matt Dawson, you’re dead”
With a cry of "Go Arasa!”
And with murderous intent, he ferociously went
for Matt Dawson nicknamed Jar-Jar.
They tackled and rucked and they side-stepped and cussed
'Till their blood would have filled a great pot.
The SkyTV blokes, who seldom crack jokes,
Say the Zippee was lost on that spot.
They fought all that night, 'neath the Gardens Floodlight;
The din, it was heard from afar;
And great multitudes came, to witness the game
‘Twixt Jannie and hero Jar-Jar.
As Jannie’s left hand squeezed Matt’s reproductive gland
In fact, he was shouting "Huzzah!" - -
He felt himself struck in the back of the ruck,
by Matt Dawson nicknamed Jar-Jar..
The Fezheads clapped hands, from their seats in the stands,
Expecting the victor to cheer;
But as they drew nigh they just heard the last sigh
Of Jannie, Jannie de Beer.
Czar Smudger, too, in his tracksuit of blue
Ran down from the South Stand’s top row.
He arrived just in time, a new contract to sign
With Matt Dawson nicknamed Jar-Jar.
A loud-sounding splash from the Lakeside was heard
Resounding o'er far and near;
It came from the plans of those misguided fans
Of Jannie, Jannie de Beer.
There's a tomb rises up where the Grand Union flows;
Engraved there in characters clear;
"Ah stranger, when passing, please pray for the souls
Of Saracens from far and near."
A Hertfordshire maiden her lone vigil keeps,
As she drinks of that flat Watford Beer;
And the name that she murmurs as oft as she weeps
Is Jannie, Jannie de Beer.
-----------------------------------------------------
The Beast
In a quaint little town they call Watford
There lives, or so everyone says,
A ruddy great,humpty backed creature
That's taken to wearing a Fez.
It prowls round the Vicarage gardens
Before the rugger begins
Then creeps up behind little children
And frightens them out of their skins.
But they've now found a way to control it
Though they're taking a bit of a chance,
To the open they send lovely ladies,
'Vestal Virgins' who then start to dance.
This lures the vile, evil monster
Away from the kids in the stands
They're not sure if it's smell that attracts him
There's enormous effects on his glands.
Incantation upon the loudspeaker
In a whiny, high pitched little voice
Domino's Pizza to tempt it
Though Deep Pan's my personal choice.
Then out of the heavens comes music
Appearing to soothe the cruel beast.
It runs to the bowels of the Rous Stand
There in safety to gorge on its feast.
Not many have seen this foul demon
To the Vicarage few folk draw near
And those brave enough to confront it
Are too frightened to raise up a cheer.
It is said that the beast sometimes wanders
And far from its lair it will stray
There is talk that soon it will venture
To hunt around Northampton way.
But there it will find stiff resistance
From that brave Midland warrior race
No they shall not balk from the creature
They'll meet it head on - face to face.
Though they've recently suffered a set-back
There is nothing for which to feel shame
They will vanquish Sarrie the Camel
For that is the humpty beasts name.
WMS
Road: From the South: Leave M1 at junction 15A and follow signs towards Sixfields, past the Sixfields Stadium on the right to the major roundabout. Take right turn onto A4500 for the Town Centre. Follow signs to Saints car park.
From the North: Exit M1 at junction 16 and follow the A45 to Northampton and follow signs to Town Centre at major traffic island. Then directions as for the South.
Rail: Turn right out of station. Follow road past the Thomas A Beckett public house, (pop in and buy me one!) Church's shoe factory and the bus station into a shopping area where you will see yellow signs to Saints car park.
Or ask a policeman!
AND FINALLY..................
The last word goes to Marlowes and WMS
Jannie, Jannie de Beer
The sons of the prophet were hardy and bold,
And quite unaccustomed to fear,
But the bravest of these from Vicarage Road
Was named Jannie, Jannie de Beer
This son of the Springboks, in battle aroused,
Could kick 100 metres I fear
A terrible creature, both sober and soused
Was Jannie, Jannie de Beer.
When they needed a man to encourage the van,
Or to harass the Saints from the rear,
Or to storm a redoubt, they had only to shout
For Jannie, Jannie de Beer
There are heroes aplenty and men known to fame
In the playersvled by Smudger Czar;
But the bravest of these was a man, if you please
Called Matt Dawson, nicknamed Jar-Jar.
He could clear out the scrum, play inside and out
And ref the game better by far.
In fact, quite the cream of the Northampton team
Was Matt Dawson, nicknamed Jar-Jar.
The ladies all loved him, his rivals were few;
He could drink them all under the bar.
As Scrumhalf or Tank, there was no one to rank
With Matt Dawson, nicknamed Jar-Jar.
One day this bold Saint had silvered his shoes
And donned his most truculent sneer
To Franklins he did go, where he trod on the toe
Of Jannie, Jannie de Beer
"Young man," quoth Jannie, "has life grown so dull,
That you're anxious to end your career?
Vile Saint you should know, you have trod on the toe
Of Jannie, Jannie de Beer."
"So take your last peek at the Gardens so chic
And send your regrets to the Czar;
By this I imply you are going to die,
Matt Dawson, nicknamed Jar-Jar."
Quoth Mattie, "My friend, your remarks, in the end,
Will avail Sorries little, I fear,
For you ne'er will survive to repeat them alive,
Jannie, Jannie de Beer
Then this bold Fezhead Said “Matt Dawson, you’re dead”
With a cry of "Go Arasa!”
And with murderous intent, he ferociously went
for Matt Dawson nicknamed Jar-Jar.
They tackled and rucked and they side-stepped and cussed
'Till their blood would have filled a great pot.
The SkyTV blokes, who seldom crack jokes,
Say the Zippee was lost on that spot.
They fought all that night, 'neath the Gardens Floodlight;
The din, it was heard from afar;
And great multitudes came, to witness the game
‘Twixt Jannie and hero Jar-Jar.
As Jannie’s left hand squeezed Matt’s reproductive gland
In fact, he was shouting "Huzzah!" - -
He felt himself struck in the back of the ruck,
by Matt Dawson nicknamed Jar-Jar..
The Fezheads clapped hands, from their seats in the stands,
Expecting the victor to cheer;
But as they drew nigh they just heard the last sigh
Of Jannie, Jannie de Beer.
Czar Smudger, too, in his tracksuit of blue
Ran down from the South Stand’s top row.
He arrived just in time, a new contract to sign
With Matt Dawson nicknamed Jar-Jar.
A loud-sounding splash from the Lakeside was heard
Resounding o'er far and near;
It came from the plans of those misguided fans
Of Jannie, Jannie de Beer.
There's a tomb rises up where the Grand Union flows;
Engraved there in characters clear;
"Ah stranger, when passing, please pray for the souls
Of Saracens from far and near."
A Hertfordshire maiden her lone vigil keeps,
As she drinks of that flat Watford Beer;
And the name that she murmurs as oft as she weeps
Is Jannie, Jannie de Beer.
-----------------------------------------------------
The Beast
In a quaint little town they call Watford
There lives, or so everyone says,
A ruddy great,humpty backed creature
That's taken to wearing a Fez.
It prowls round the Vicarage gardens
Before the rugger begins
Then creeps up behind little children
And frightens them out of their skins.
But they've now found a way to control it
Though they're taking a bit of a chance,
To the open they send lovely ladies,
'Vestal Virgins' who then start to dance.
This lures the vile, evil monster
Away from the kids in the stands
They're not sure if it's smell that attracts him
There's enormous effects on his glands.
Incantation upon the loudspeaker
In a whiny, high pitched little voice
Domino's Pizza to tempt it
Though Deep Pan's my personal choice.
Then out of the heavens comes music
Appearing to soothe the cruel beast.
It runs to the bowels of the Rous Stand
There in safety to gorge on its feast.
Not many have seen this foul demon
To the Vicarage few folk draw near
And those brave enough to confront it
Are too frightened to raise up a cheer.
It is said that the beast sometimes wanders
And far from its lair it will stray
There is talk that soon it will venture
To hunt around Northampton way.
But there it will find stiff resistance
From that brave Midland warrior race
No they shall not balk from the creature
They'll meet it head on - face to face.
Though they've recently suffered a set-back
There is nothing for which to feel shame
They will vanquish Sarrie the Camel
For that is the humpty beasts name.
WMS
