Guinness Premiership Round 6

Bristol vs Northampton Saints

16th November 2008 - The Memorial Ground

KO 3 PM

With the real-time clock being counted down to zero by the home crowd, Saints knew they were in possession of the last phase of play and were 1 point down. They drove forward and made ground into the Bristol half and had almost reached their 22. The Bristol supporters around us were gaping open mouthed at what they saw as impending disaster. But, instead of continuing at this pace of pick and drive, getting closer to goal or tempting infringement, the Saints decided it was time to kick. Not only that but Smyler stood so far back as to be only 5 yards into his own half. He struck it well, with plenty of power, but the distance was too great and accuracy was the issue. It sailed just wide and the locals went wild. Bristol had won a tight, important game 14-13. About 5 of the Saints players either fell to the floor or couldn't raise themselves from the previous ruck/maul.

 Disappointment was huge amongst all those who play for or support the Saints. For the fourth time this season Saints have allowed half time leads to slip away and such profligacy in the second half performances could prove to be decisive; in the same manner that not having a decent kicker did two years ago. Unlike the other three 'victories into defeats' this really should have stayed as a victory!

 Despite being 3 points down to an early Myler penalty Bristol tackled ferociously and defended their lines at all times. As usual our favourite cuddly, Ronnie Regan, started to get up the noses of Saints players. Dan Ward-Smith collected the after-effects of a non-contested lineout near the Saints line and was pushed over for the try, converted by Jarvis.

 Saints were undeterred though and put together a long sequence of controlled possession from Downey, Shields and others. The ball was sent to the left wing where neat passing left Downey with a simple try in the corner. Smyler converted and I felt this was the launch pad. Bristol lacked so much confidence that we hardly ever saw their back line get the ball (Lemi excepted) other than to field kicks from Saints. When they had possession they tended to try and bash it up the middle or kick the ball away. Neither worked well for them, as on most occasions Downey and Mayor, Wilson and Lobbe held firm on the gain line; on about 4 occasions Bristol kicked the ball out on the full. With such a lack of penetration came dropped passes and knock-ons. They seemed there for the taking.

 The next 20 minutes were fast and frenetic with little fluency from either side. It was during this period that I felt Saints let the game slip. No more  points were scored before half time and the opportunity of pressing on against a vulnerable team bereft of confidence slipped by. HT -  Bristol 7 Saints 10.

For some reason Saints had seemed to change their game plan and instead of making the most of space out wide and further stretching the defence they too started to give inside passes which always seemed to result in the receiver runinng into traffic and the opportunities being thwarted. On one of the few occasions that the ball was passed wide quickly Ashton had space and time to run. Unfortunately this is not the confident Chris Ashton of last season and instead of trusting to his pace and movement he ran straight at his defender and was in no position to offload to his support runners. Chance gone.

 Early in the second half Smyler converted another penalty, missed a long range effort and Saints should have been able to kick on again.  Despite what Bristol lacked in some areas they made up for in others. They never lacked effort or commitment and they seem a team built in the manner of their coach. Gritty, hard and never prepared to give in. They defended doggedly and tried to counter when they could, but kicking the ball away seemed to be their only policy.But they hung on in there, neither gaining nor conceding much ground, until the cavalry arrived.

I almost missed Shaun Perry's arrival but heard the cheer from the under the stand where I had been forced to visit. Immediately Bristol were galvanised. The next two minutes were a struggle for Saints who were overwhelmed by this sudden sugar-boost from the new team before them. Perry orchestrated everything before him, provided quick ball for their backs and suddenly it was game on. The fly-half was substituted and from another uncontested line-out (theme developing here) Perrry whipped across a lightning pass to his runner (sorry his name eludes me as it was the other side of the pitch), he tore through the defensive line, offloaded and Bristol scored. The most decisive phase of play in the whole game. Irritatingly, it was converted with ease. The stage was set for last ten minutes but although Saints kicked through Ashton was unable to score. Bristol spent a few minutes defending their line but then cleared and the final phase awaited us all.

In hindsight, having slept on things, it is easier to see that the better side won. Bristol certainly deserve victory if grit and sheer doggedness count for anything. Praise also for their supporters. Many of them around us were struggling with their emotions during the first half and muttered oaths at certain players as things were not going well. However they never resorted to venting their feelings loudly and continued to support their team. This was rewarded in the end and the players and supporters deserved their mutual backslapping at the end.

Overrall the Bristol supporters are a friendly bunch. But why not? They have two cracking ale houses near to Mem, wouldn't we all be cheery sorts if that was the case? Interestingly, the supporters I spoke to seem to have a dread fear of relegation. They have been there before, took longer to come back than we did, and don't wish to return. If the players feel the same vibes, then some other team might feel the force of their determination.

So what about the Saints?    Lobbe, Day and Easter looked utterly dejected at the end. The others probably did too, but the faces of those three struck me most. Why such disappointment? Maybe it is because despite all the effort they put in, there is a creeping sensation that we are not yet good enough, especially away from home. Without the support of Franklins Gardens to lift them in tight games, they may just be coming up short. To be so close to victory in four games and only go home with one point is a drain on morale. I don't have any brilliant solutions, but do trust to the players and management that we are good enough. We need an important away victory soon or the pressure on the home games will start to tell.

As for yesterday's game, the conditions in the first half were difficult, wet and cloggy. Maybe that does not really suit our style of play? Either way, I felt we had parity in all areas of the scrum and breakdown, even had the rub of the green on a couple of ref's decisions but were still not able to make that count. The line-up for the backs doesn't seem right to me. Brucie is best at 15 and looked out of the game on the wing. Foden will be good anywhere on the pitch but is most incisive at 9 where he keeps the opposition wary and staying close to him.

For what it's worth, I have given the team marks out of 10:

Foden - 6    Did well under the high balls and looked to break when he could, but overrall a quiet game for him

Ashton - 5   Last season we could forgive him his errant tackling, on which he seems to have improved, but no longer seems to trust himself when he has the ball in hand

Mayor - 6   Tackled hard and did his bit, but little penetration in attack

Downey - 7 Helped create and score the try, was massive as usual in defence

Reihana - 5   Out of position. Quiet.

Myler - 6     Played his usual game. Neat and tidy but should not have called for the last drop-goal so early

Dickson - 6  Still fizzed his passes but got bogged down by the opposition grabbing at him all the time.

Smith - 7     I love Tom Smith

Shields - 6  Worked hard, like the rest of us would love to get one over Ronnie Regan but kept his cool. LIneout was not good, who knows whose fault that it though?

Stewart - 7  Worked hard, seemed to hold his ground. Won some, lost some.

Lobbe -  8   This fellah really wants to win. Love his attitude.

Day - 7       Ditto. However concerns remain with the lineout, but I don't know who, why or where it is going wrong.

Hopley - 6   Seemed a little quieter. But he probably does a lot of work that I couldn't see.

Easter - 7   Worked very hard.

Wilson - 7   Seems to be everywhere. I thought our back three were a match for Bristol's in every department.

Kruger - 6   Seemed keen to impress.

Gray - 6     I didn't see much of his play, as I had head in hands for most of the time he was on. Hopefully he did well.

Soane - 6   Ditto above. I just wish he was as nasty as he looks he could be.

We all see the game differently. There was a Saints supporter close to us who I know would mark entirely differently to my scores, but hey, that's sport!