Observers Reflections Part One

By The Observer
July 22 2003

Sometimes our contributors prefer to remain anonymous, we welcome to the site with Part I of his seasons refelctions: The Observer. He looks back at the highs and lows of another frantic term, and comes to the conclusion that the life of a Saints' fan is anything but dull.

After a season of mixed fortunes which saw Saints' new coach Wayne Smith take the club from relegation contenders to a Twickenham final and Heineken Cup qualification, fans were expecting great things from 2002/3, despite Smith's warning that he was working to a three-year plan and this would be a time of consolidation.

SEPTEMBER
After a summer which saw Saint-to-be Bruce Reihana win a sevens gold medal at the Manchester Commonwealth games and the club complete a period of pre-season training and matches in southwest France followed by a friendly against Stade Francais at the spanking new Franklin's Gardens, the season proper kicked off with a Friday night showdown against Sale Sharks at Heywood Road.
Saints, watched by Aussie lock Mark Connors who had arrived just a couple of days before, were pipped 24-21 by an injury-time dropped goal by Sale flyhalf Charlie Hodgson. A losing bonus point was some consolation, but young prop Robbie Morris picked up a one match ban after collecting his third yellow card in 12 months.He was pinged for failing to roll away from a tackle and, backed by Wayne Smith lodged an appeal against the card - but the disciplinary panel upheld Steve Leyshon's original decision. Better news for Morris came in the shape of a call-up to the 50-man England training squad preparing for the autumn internationals.

The new-look Gardens saw its first competitive match on 7 September, and a packed house welcomed Jon Sleightholme back from long-term injury in the game against Newcastle Falcons. Sleights celebrated his return by scoring Saints' first try in the 37th minute. Falcons were never in the game, but Saints were left kicking themselves for failing to score an all-important fourth try in their 31-13 victory. Paul Grayson showed a new lease life, scoring freely with the boot and touching down once, while new boys Mark Connors and Oriol Ripol impressed on their home debuts.
Connors played a crucial role the following Sunday at the Memorial Stadium, as an error-ridden game saw Saints finish 36-38 winners. Bristol had the better start, but a John Leslie try just before half-time saw the sides turn around with Saints 17-19 ahead, and they kept the lead until the end.

Saturday 21 September saw Saints at Bath - an interesting situation for Mark Connors, who was threatening legal action against the West Country club after they pulled out of a transfer deal earlier in the summer. A 24-3 demolition of Bath was capped with a last-minute try from Ben Cohen to secure the side's first try bonus of the season. All of Saints' points came from tries and conversions, with Oriol Ripol opening the scoring after seven minutes, before Peter Jorgensen crossed the whitewash twice.

Saints' three-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt at Vicarage Road, thanks to the boot of Tigers cast-off Andy Goode. The Saracens' flyhalf kicked seven penalties and a dropped goal after converting a second-minute try. Saints were beaten at the breakdown by the Saracens' forwards harrying tactics, and were frequently pinged by Andy Ireland.

OCTOBER
It took only three minutes of Saints' next game, at home to Wasps on 5 October, before Jon Sleightolme crossed the line to wipe out memories of the previous week's disappointment. Saints were in no mood for pussy-footing, and the first quarter also saw a debut try for Mark Connors while two Wasps were blood-binned and a third replaced for injury. Steve Thompson marked his 100th appearance in a Saints shirt with a yellow card for fighting, and he was unable to return to the pitch as he was replaced by Chris Budgen in a line out rather than scrum. Saints kept their lead, and Steve Williams went over for his first try for Saints. As Jimmies went all out for the fourth try and a bonus point, Wasps struck back with a try of their own, but still ended up on the wrong end of a 34-20 scoreline.

The beginning of October also saw kilted Kiwi John Leslie naturalised as a UK Citizen.
Saints returned to Heineken Cup action on Sunday 13 October, and Ulster wilted under an aerial bombardment by Paul Grayson in atrocious conditions. The rejuvenated flyhalf kept the Red Hand Gang pegged back for most of the afternoon, and despite strong winds Grayson scored 22 points with the boot, with tries from Dawson and Leslie in the last quarter taking the tally to 32-9.
After the cold, wet and windy conditions at the Gardens, it was little surprise that more than 600 fans headed to the balmy sunshine of southwest France for the match against Biarritz the following weekend. Saints were missing Steve Thompson through suspension, and co-captain John Leslie was given permission to miss the match as his wife was due to deliver the couple's first child. Little Amaya arrived the follwing Wednesday, weighing in at a healthy 8lb 3oz.
Saints got off to a shaky start, spending the first 10 minutes inside their own 22, but it was Grayson who opened the scoring with a penalty in the 16th minute. Biarritz took adeserved lead with a converted try 10 minutes later, but Saints struck back through a marvellous try by Nick Beal who broke down the right wing to touch down in the corner. The try was converted, but Dimitri Yachvili found the target with his third penalty attempt just before the break, and the teams turned around at 10-10.

The second half saw Saints retake the lead after Mark Connors charged down a kick from a mark by Nicolas Brusque and
went over for a try which was converted by Grayson. Biarritz came back with another penalty as the game became tougher, with hard tackles and flying fists. Grayson stretched the lead to seven points again with another penalty, before the home side's pack drove Lieveremont over and Yachvili converted the try to tie the scores at 20-20 with only eight minutes to go. Saints fans would have settled for the draw, but it was not to be. A rush of blood to the head caused Grant Seely to bring down a player in the line out in injury time, and Yachvili snatched the victory for Biarritz. The loss didn't stop fans and players enjoying a great night out in the town's fabulous bars and restaurants though, and no-one will be disappointed to draw Biarritz again in next season's European Cup.

It was back to the ZP and the reality of the British weather the following weekend, as storms blacked out large areas of the country. A messy match on Sunday 27 October at the Madejski saw Saints just manage to grind out a 14-12 win against London Irish. Had Saints shown the form of the previous weeks they would have had every chance of a try-scoring bonus point, but both teams made countless basic errors to make this an uninspiring spectacle. Paul Grayson scored three penalties in the first 10 minutes to give Saints a cushion, but four from Barry Everitt meant Jimmies needed a try by Cohen from a Grayson cross-kick just before half-time to clinch victory. The Exiles could easily have stolen the game, but Everitt missed two dropped goal attempts and Saints returned to Northampton the victors.

NOVEMBER
A sell-out Kingsholm crowd put up with terrible weather conditions and low-flying fireworks from outside the ground to watch a tense battle, Gloucester coming out 18-9 on top. The scoreline flattered the Cherry and Whites somewhat, with six points coming frm the boots of Ludovic Mercier (pen) and Andy Gomarsall (dg) in the last few minutes. This made two losses on the trot for Saints, and the gloom was compounded by the sight of Paul Grayson limping off with a dead leg in the 36th minute. Saints were getting the better of the Gloucester pack in the first half, but Wayne Smith replaced Robbie Morris with Mattie Stewart at half-time, and Northampton faded badly. Stewart was himself replaced by Chris Budgen after half an hour on the pitch.

Saints were back at home on 11 November, to host Leicester in front of a sell-out crowd. It could be said this was actually a Wanderers v Leciester Twos contest, as the sides were missing 13 players between them thanks to the autumn internationals. Tigers' strength in depth one the day, as they were able to call on experienced players while Wayne Smith was forced to raid the U21 squad. The youngsters performed with great heart, but were outclassed by the more experience opposition, and Leicester went away 16-3 winners. Smiths troubles were compounded by influential lock Mark Connors dislocating a shoulder.

The surprise team of the season so far had been Leeds. The Tykes had missed relegation by the skin of their teeth at the end of the previous term, when Rotherham were controversially denied entry to the top flight of English Rugby. Less than sixth months later they were riding high, having been beaten only once. Saints' youngsters, again depleted by international call-ups, faced up to the challenge brilliantly, coming away with a losing bonus point and knowing that a win had not been out of their reach. The impact of injuries and call-ups was demonstrated by Saints' front row of Sturgess, Richmond and Morris, which must be one of the youngest front threes to take the field in the Premiership. The match ended 26-19, and saw the debut of New Zealander Matt Lord in the 79th minute. The young lock was brought in by Smith as cover for Johann Ackermann, released from his contract after failing to recover from a long-term shoulder injury.

High noon the following week saw Harlequins at the Gardens for the last of the games to be played while the autumn internationals took place. Wayne Smith was left with a selection crisis of the best possible sort for the next week as his young side handed Quins a 35-7 drubbing. Although the team was mostly made up of newly-blooded academy and U21 players, it was old hand Nick Beal who grabbed the headlines, scoring a pair of tries to go with those of Bruce Reihana and Brett Sturgess to end a run of five straight defeats in style.

The following week saw Saints fans travel optimistically to Welford Road, a mood which would normally be described as a triumph of hope over experience. The two sides were virtually unrecognisable from those which met three weks previously as the big guns returned from international duty. The deciding moment came from a neat master-stroke from a short lineout through to Budge Pountney, the try and subsequent conversion putting Saints 13-3 ahead. Tim Stimpson kicked Tigers back into contention with three penalties, but tries for Ian Vass and Chris Hyndman on 65 and 71 mins saw Saints win 25-12, denying Tigers even the consolation of a losing bonus point.

DECEMBER
The Zurich Premiership was put on ice for another fortnight as the clubs returned to European rugby, with Saints looking forward to successive home and away clashes against Cardiff. The Gardens was buzzing for the home leg, with fans on a high after the historic win at Welford Road the previous week. Saints were still understrength with Matt Dawson, Mark Connors and Matt Lord on the injury list, and Cardiff were able to slot a couple penalties to yake an early lead. Saints came back though and ended 25-11 winners, and were able to go into the away game in the knowledge that they stopped Cardiff scoring at all in the second half.

The powers that be had arranged a chartered train to take hundreds of fans to Cardiff the following weeked, and those who took advantage were unanimously impressed. The feat of nilling the Welsh in the second half in Northampton was doubled when Saints ended 31-0 winners, putting themselves in a strong position to finish top of the so-called Group of Death.

And still the premiership had to wait, as the sixth round of the Powergen Cup saw Saints travel to National Division One side Orrell. Uncle Keith treated the travelling fans to a pint before the game, but they were in need of a few more stiff ones at the end of extra time after Saints made a meal of what should have been a simple mission.
Maybe the euphoria of the four big wins of the preceding weeks had led to overconfidence, but it took an injury time try by Peter Jorgensen to level the scores and take the fixture into extra time.

Wayne Smith may had been left rueing his decision to drop Cohen, Thompson, Smith, Williams and Grayson to the bench, while Pountney, Beal, Leslie and Hyndman were given the weekend off. Orrell would still not follow the script however, and scored 10 points at the beginning of injury time before Saints got their heads down and finished the game off with 21 unanswered points to end 55-44 victors.

After the Christmas break the second half of the season began with a visit by Gloucester, which turned out to be another close-fought affair. Gloucester led all the way, but Saints came back to within three points to earn another losing bonus as Gloucester went away 16-13 winners of a game which could really have gone either way.