Well its good to be back, isn’t it? After a few weeks away from the hallowed turf, a Saturday afternoon at the Gardens made a very welcome return to blow the cobwebs away.
The team continued their rich vein of form with a comfortable victory though we did look a bit ring rusty and were guilty on the odd occasion of overcooking things but all in all a job done and another step onwards.
Perhaps we should just be grateful as a win is a win and with Gloucester going down at Sale on the Friday evening we now have the luxury of a six point cushion, which in reality means we can afford to lose a game and still preserve our third place and not only a place in the playoffs but also that coveted place in next seasons Heineken Cup.
Of course finally and most importantly it also gives us a tilt at the title. And quite simply as someone said at the weekend, win our next six games and we are champions! Easy isn’t it?
If only, if only…………..
So with just four league games remaining, Bath & Quins at home, Wasps and Leeds away it all hangs finely in the balance but just like last season everything could go down to the wire.
And as for the game, who was at the forefront yet again on Saturday?. Yes that man Reihana. Spruce Bruce is really on fire at the moment and is rightfully getting the plaudits but hard on his heels against Sarries were two more New Zealanders who last week signed extended contracts at the club, Matt Lord and Sharky Robinson.
Sharky was his usual exuberant self, clearing up and creating all over the shop while Lordy is rapidly becoming one of the best ‘back four’ locks in the division. Whatever this season brings and whatever new faces may arrive over the summer months, the post Smudger years do indeed look brighter than was first envisaged.
ANOTHER RETIREMENT THROUGH INJURY
It’s a shame to hear that Steve Williams may be retiring from the game at seasons end because of wear and tear on his not so aged limbs. This will bring to three, after Budge Poutney and Renaud Peillard the players the Saints have lost through injury this term. There’s no doubt in the last half dozen years not only has the game progressed but it has become a much tougher physical contact sport.
The sobering news of Ireland U19 player John McCall losing his life while playing in South Africa last weekend really hits home the point of what these lads lay on the line each week for our entertainment. Of course none of them are complaining and they play the game because they love it, bumps bruises and all but perhaps it would do us all good to spare an odd thought now then of just what the players potentially put at risk. I would imagine Steve, Renaud and Budge has enough experience to carry on at some level in the game, the player that breaks his leg at 20 is not going to be so lucky.
With a new age of purely professional players that never knew the amateur era now on the scene the emphasis of having a fallback career has never been so important, something, thankfully the Saints excel in. Good luck Steve on your retirement and in the nicest possible way I hope you’re one of the last of a diminishing breed.
CLONING
I know this might sound daft, but are the RFU cloning referees? On Saturday a few of us were sure Ashley Rowden started the match running the line in front of the Tetleys. Now young Ashley is not averse to standing in C Block of the Gordon Terrace when he’s not officiating at a game so we were sure our eyes were not deceiving us. But lo and behold, after referee ‘Maybe’ Maybank had done his dying swan act and had to be replaced by said touch judge at half time, who should run out to replace ‘Ash’ but Ash. Yes Ashley Rowden!
The likeness was uncanny but on checking the programme we found the original ‘Ashley’ was indeed Martin Fox a new ref on the block but this left us wondering. Is there a secret RFU directive that all refs must have the same haircut (a bit like a rugby version of the Chuckle Brothers) or have the powers that be secured the DNA secrets of Dolly the Sheep? I just have this nightmare scenario floating around my mind that deep in the bowels of Twickenham there’s a whole army of cloned Steve Landers waiting to released on an unsuspecting public.
It just doesn’t bear thinking about.
LOOKING AHEAD
So it’s all down to South Bucks on Sunday for the second versus third clash as the Saints take on Wasps. It’s a defining game for both sides, if Wasps secure the points they may also have secured at least second spot whereas if we upset the applecart we are well and truly breathing down their necks so it is all there to play for.
With both sides getting back to full strength it looks like being one hell of a game and as I type this news is that tickets are going fast so make sure you book early. If you are travelling, there is, as usual, disruption on the trains so road is by far the best option. However, as those of you that have been to the Causeway before will know, parking and access can be a bit of a nightmare so if you can head off early to secure a space. If you are a latecomer your best option is to park at High Wycombe railway station and make use of the courtesy buses to and from the ground.
The Saints Supporters Club are running coaches to Wasps, leaving Franklin’s Gardens (from the VIP car park) at 11:30am.
The prices are:Adults: £12, Children/Students/OAPs: £7, call Jean Collingwood on 01604 583283, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats before the end of today (Wednesday) if you wish to travel.
See you there.
SORRY
..........and finally an apology. What the "Dickens" was I thinking about? Not content with getting my Quinnell brothers mixed up a month or so back last week I inadvertently misnamed one a friend, one of the organisers of Jon Phillip's Quiz Night.
My apologies therefore to Phil Hollis who helped make the evening such a great success and to Phil's father for denying his son immortality in print seven days ago. Now the last thing I want is to upset Mr Hollis Senior because by my reckoning his viewing takes my readers tally into double figures.
.
Perhaps we should just be grateful as a win is a win and with Gloucester going down at Sale on the Friday evening we now have the luxury of a six point cushion, which in reality means we can afford to lose a game and still preserve our third place and not only a place in the playoffs but also that coveted place in next seasons Heineken Cup.
Of course finally and most importantly it also gives us a tilt at the title. And quite simply as someone said at the weekend, win our next six games and we are champions! Easy isn’t it?
If only, if only…………..
So with just four league games remaining, Bath & Quins at home, Wasps and Leeds away it all hangs finely in the balance but just like last season everything could go down to the wire.
And as for the game, who was at the forefront yet again on Saturday?. Yes that man Reihana. Spruce Bruce is really on fire at the moment and is rightfully getting the plaudits but hard on his heels against Sarries were two more New Zealanders who last week signed extended contracts at the club, Matt Lord and Sharky Robinson.
Sharky was his usual exuberant self, clearing up and creating all over the shop while Lordy is rapidly becoming one of the best ‘back four’ locks in the division. Whatever this season brings and whatever new faces may arrive over the summer months, the post Smudger years do indeed look brighter than was first envisaged.
ANOTHER RETIREMENT THROUGH INJURY
It’s a shame to hear that Steve Williams may be retiring from the game at seasons end because of wear and tear on his not so aged limbs. This will bring to three, after Budge Poutney and Renaud Peillard the players the Saints have lost through injury this term. There’s no doubt in the last half dozen years not only has the game progressed but it has become a much tougher physical contact sport.
The sobering news of Ireland U19 player John McCall losing his life while playing in South Africa last weekend really hits home the point of what these lads lay on the line each week for our entertainment. Of course none of them are complaining and they play the game because they love it, bumps bruises and all but perhaps it would do us all good to spare an odd thought now then of just what the players potentially put at risk. I would imagine Steve, Renaud and Budge has enough experience to carry on at some level in the game, the player that breaks his leg at 20 is not going to be so lucky.
With a new age of purely professional players that never knew the amateur era now on the scene the emphasis of having a fallback career has never been so important, something, thankfully the Saints excel in. Good luck Steve on your retirement and in the nicest possible way I hope you’re one of the last of a diminishing breed.
CLONING
I know this might sound daft, but are the RFU cloning referees? On Saturday a few of us were sure Ashley Rowden started the match running the line in front of the Tetleys. Now young Ashley is not averse to standing in C Block of the Gordon Terrace when he’s not officiating at a game so we were sure our eyes were not deceiving us. But lo and behold, after referee ‘Maybe’ Maybank had done his dying swan act and had to be replaced by said touch judge at half time, who should run out to replace ‘Ash’ but Ash. Yes Ashley Rowden!
The likeness was uncanny but on checking the programme we found the original ‘Ashley’ was indeed Martin Fox a new ref on the block but this left us wondering. Is there a secret RFU directive that all refs must have the same haircut (a bit like a rugby version of the Chuckle Brothers) or have the powers that be secured the DNA secrets of Dolly the Sheep? I just have this nightmare scenario floating around my mind that deep in the bowels of Twickenham there’s a whole army of cloned Steve Landers waiting to released on an unsuspecting public.
It just doesn’t bear thinking about.
LOOKING AHEAD
So it’s all down to South Bucks on Sunday for the second versus third clash as the Saints take on Wasps. It’s a defining game for both sides, if Wasps secure the points they may also have secured at least second spot whereas if we upset the applecart we are well and truly breathing down their necks so it is all there to play for.
With both sides getting back to full strength it looks like being one hell of a game and as I type this news is that tickets are going fast so make sure you book early. If you are travelling, there is, as usual, disruption on the trains so road is by far the best option. However, as those of you that have been to the Causeway before will know, parking and access can be a bit of a nightmare so if you can head off early to secure a space. If you are a latecomer your best option is to park at High Wycombe railway station and make use of the courtesy buses to and from the ground.
The Saints Supporters Club are running coaches to Wasps, leaving Franklin’s Gardens (from the VIP car park) at 11:30am.
The prices are:Adults: £12, Children/Students/OAPs: £7, call Jean Collingwood on 01604 583283, with your name, telephone number and the number of seats before the end of today (Wednesday) if you wish to travel.
See you there.
SORRY
..........and finally an apology. What the "Dickens" was I thinking about? Not content with getting my Quinnell brothers mixed up a month or so back last week I inadvertently misnamed one a friend, one of the organisers of Jon Phillip's Quiz Night.
My apologies therefore to Phil Hollis who helped make the evening such a great success and to Phil's father for denying his son immortality in print seven days ago. Now the last thing I want is to upset Mr Hollis Senior because by my reckoning his viewing takes my readers tally into double figures.
.
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