Defending the Defensible? Middlesex 7s Preview
By Mark H
August 12 2004
16th August 2003, a day that should live in the memory of every Saints supporter. 364 days on, and for the first time ever, Saints get to defend a domestic trophy, in the London Pride Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham.
A year ago, Rotherham, Saracens, Bath, and Newcastle were dismissed by a very experienced Saintly squad, to allow Nick Beal the chance to pick up the trophy and bring it across the pitch to the massed ranks in the East Stand. There are so many memories of that day - Mark Tucker’s hat trick against Saracens in the quarter final; the Army getting surprisingly beaten by Newcastle in the first semi-final and the realisation that there may not be a better chance of silverware; coming from behind in the final with Shane Drahm’s somersaulting try providing that rare tingling feeling when you know you’ve won a trophy; and Bealer’s beam at finally getting a winner’s medal.
This year, it will be different. There was an expectation last year; this time round it’s a hope. Last time there was massive experience; this year, it’s a youthful squad led by Grant Seely; a chance to impress Alan Solomons before the start of the fifteen man game. The squad:-
1 Wylie Human
2 Matt Grove
3 Grant Seely (c)
4 John Rudd
5 Chris Hyndman
6 Andy Vilk
7 Johnny Howard
8 John Clarke
9 Paul Diggin
10 Neil Starling
Travelling reserves: Ben Jones and Ben Patston
So what omens are there? Well, only Seely, Hyndman and Howard survive from last year, but Nick Beal lifted the trophy with a number 3 on his back, so why can’t Grant? The Army played in the first match last time, and do so again (which when you think about it, is a massive advantage).
Saints start off at 12.10 with a game against last year’s surprise side, London Welsh. The Welsh provided us all with great entertainment last time around in their first round match, knocking out Leicester much to the amusement of everyone without a Tigers shirt on. The boot will no doubt be on the other foot this time, as everyone else will be wanting us to lose. The winners go on to play London Irish or Harlequins at 2.10.
It looks the tougher of the two halves, with that strong Army line up favourites to beat Rotherham and go on to meet the winners of Bath and Leicester (probably Bath). I expect Saints and Quins to come through and meet in the second quarter final.
In the bottom half, Worcester meet Loughborough University, which should be a success for the Premiership new boys, and Wasps meet (and beat) Leeds, before what I think is the outstanding match of the day (let alone the first round) - Gloucester’s Compass Sevens winners from last Saturday, with Paul, Forrester, Amor, Simpson-Daniel and Garvey, facing a Newcastle side with four full internationals, three Sevens internationals, and two members of the England sevens squad for the forthcoming season.. Watch out here for Ollie Phillips, and Newcastle Academy player who is reckoned to be the fastest thing at Kingston Park, and Mathew Tait, the Barnard Castle schoolboy who scored with his first touch - a 40 metre break which included skinning Justin Bishop - on his Premiership debut against London Irish in May. The winners of this match will, I think, so on to win the competition. The first round is completed by what I would expect to be a Saracens victory over Sale.
The full order of play for the day is:-
Cup Round One
British Army v Rotherham Titans 11.10
Bath v Leicester Tigers 11.30
London Irish v Harlequins 11.50
Northampton Saints v London Welsh 12.10
Worcester v Loughborough Univ 12.30
London Wasps v Leeds Tykes 12.50
Gloucester v Newcastle Falcons 13.10
Saracens v Sale Sharks 13.30
Cup Quarter Finals
(1) Army/Rotherham v Bath/Leicester 13.50
(2) Irish/Quins v Saints/London Welsh 14.10
(3) Worcester/Loughborough v Wasps/Leeds 14.30
(4) Gloucester/Falcons v Saracens/Sale 14.50
Plate Semi Finals
(A) Round One best loser 1 v Round One best loser 4 15.10
(B) Round One best loser 2 v Round One best loser 3 15.30
Cup Semi Finals
Winner Match (1) v Winner Match (2) 16.10
Winner Match (3) v Winner Match (4) 16.30
Plate Final
Winner Match (A) v Winner Match (B) 16.50
Cup Final 17.10
Sky Sports 3 are showing the first round from 11am, breaking for coverage of the South Africa v New Zealand clash, before returning for the semi finals from 4.10. If you’re going down to Twickers, then note that the first match kicks off at 11.10, ten minutes earlier than stated on your ticket, because of that Tri Nations match. It’s a day to enjoy splendid rugby, and meet up with friends from the Gardens and around the country who you’d normally earlier see on winter weekends.
As for Saints? Much as I’d like to see another success, I think the journey will end at the quarter final stage against that Ugo Monye inspired Quins side. To win the entire competition? Newcastle to repeat their semi final success over the Army one match further on.