To say that the score of 18-17 was not a fair reflection of the game was somewhat of an understatement as the Saints pack dominated from start to finish, indeed it has been a long, long time since I’ve seen a Northampton eight steamroller the opposition in such a manner.
Two factors it seems kept Quins in touch. Firstly with Geoff Allen relaying the other score that affected our progress, Bath playing Gloucester at the Rec, across the PA it must have been very hard for the boys to concentrate on the matter in hand and keep their foot on the gas knowing that Glos were getting a real tonking and third place was all but secure. The other factor was the refereeing of Roy Maybank.
Coaches Smith and Ratcliffe, who have probably forgotten more about the game than I’ll ever know, have already questioned his performance but even to the common layman like myself it looked like some of his decisions looked like they had been clutched out of the twilight zone. How a scrum that has been trundled back a dozen yards, failing to get the ball out, still gets the put in at the reset is beyond me. However Mr Maybank’s defence he did ask Quins Andre Vos for clarification of the laws concerning the set piece at every opportunity. Mr Vos was only too keen to help out even breaking off the scrum at times to point out ‘indiscretions’ in our front row. Vos did seem to go quiet though after Cap’n Wally sat on him at the base of a ruck. What a pity Wally couldn’t park his posterior on Mr Maybank’s whistle too.
As the ref kept Quins in the game by negating Saints forward power they gradually clawed themselves back into the game and but for the width of an upright might have snatched an undeserved victory which even their coach Mark Evans commented would have been a big travesty. Luckily Quins late bonus point had no bearing on final positions in the ZP but I am sure if a team had been edged out of the wildcard playoffs they would have had good grounds for complaint.
But on reflection we only had ourselves to blame and should have been out of sight at half time after squandering two or three good opportunities but a win is a win and we end the league season in third, a place in next seasons Heineken Cup secured and a Championship semi final to look forward to this Sunday at the Causeway Stadium.
TRULY IN WITH A CHANCE
In some respects the pressure is now slightly off us as we go into this game. It is the only thing we have to focus on while Wasps, I am sure, will have one eye on their European final against Toulouse a week later. While this in itself could give us an edge, mentally the Wasps players must be in turmoil. Now of course they are all mentally tough professional sportsmen but even subconsciously the thought that an action may result in either an injury or a card that may mean you miss the biggest day in your clubs history must be starting to niggle in some minds. The heavy defeat by Tigers will have done nothing to allay any further doubts they may have after since a fine run over the last six months.
For us it is simply all or nothing with no distraction of a bigger prize on the horizon. We can throw everything and the kitchen sink at this one and remarks from Wayne smith in the post match briefing has me thinking we just might.
Forget the league game a few weeks ago, this is a whole different kettle of fish. We can win this one, and I know I’m repeating myself for the third week running but remember the mantra. Think Agen, Think Agen.
TRUE CHAMPIONS
So our friends from the West Country ended up at the top of the ZP pile come tea time on Saturday and now are shouting from the rooftops that they are the true champions whatever happens at Twickenham and how the playoffs are a farce etc. I must say I don’t 100% agree with the playoffs in their current format as they do not seem well thought out but we all abide by the same set of rules and knew the format at season start. While other sports worldwide use the grand finale system we seem a little more restrained in this part of the planet and are not that keen on change. Indeed one local wag ‘Ajack’ took this theory a step further in suggesting maybe we should go back to the roots of the game when scoring a try just gave you an attempt at goal to score your point. Here is what he posted on the Bath website on Monday morning.
“Regarding the championship I think we all know who are the real champions are. Before people started messing about with the scoring system, leagues, playoffs and all that nonsense it was no points for a try and 1 for a ‘try’ at kicking for goal. So the true champions are Northampton Saints (who topped the conversions table). I am sure all true fans of the game will wish to acknowledge this and not this crazy system we have at the moment. I would like in advance to thank all the true rugby fans down in Bath for their heartfelt congratulations.”
Sadly, not all of them could see the joke. But it certainly made me laugh.
TRUE GENT
I was saddened to see the passing away of Saints legend Jeff Butterfield last week. A fixture in the Saints midfield through the fifties and sixties plus a glowing career for England, who he captained, and the British Lions. My memories of him were not on the playing field but as President of our local rugby club Milton Keynes. Now I don’t claim to have known him well but as a youngster thirty years or so ago playing mini rugby, (very badly I might add), Jeff was one among many who worked behind the scenes getting the mini game promoted in its infancy throughout England by getting us exhibition matches all over the place.
Using contacts in the game one week it could be a game at Wasps, the next some village fete.
The game of course flourished into what it is today and I know of many friends who graduated to the senior game at the club via this route. As the game spread I am sure this is now the case countrywide. As kids we were always a bit in awe of Mr Butterfield, as we called him, being an ex-international and all that but he always struck me as a true gentleman with a word of encouragement for all, yes even us clueless ones.
Geoff Allens tribute to him on Saturday was just about perfect.
Two factors it seems kept Quins in touch. Firstly with Geoff Allen relaying the other score that affected our progress, Bath playing Gloucester at the Rec, across the PA it must have been very hard for the boys to concentrate on the matter in hand and keep their foot on the gas knowing that Glos were getting a real tonking and third place was all but secure. The other factor was the refereeing of Roy Maybank.
Coaches Smith and Ratcliffe, who have probably forgotten more about the game than I’ll ever know, have already questioned his performance but even to the common layman like myself it looked like some of his decisions looked like they had been clutched out of the twilight zone. How a scrum that has been trundled back a dozen yards, failing to get the ball out, still gets the put in at the reset is beyond me. However Mr Maybank’s defence he did ask Quins Andre Vos for clarification of the laws concerning the set piece at every opportunity. Mr Vos was only too keen to help out even breaking off the scrum at times to point out ‘indiscretions’ in our front row. Vos did seem to go quiet though after Cap’n Wally sat on him at the base of a ruck. What a pity Wally couldn’t park his posterior on Mr Maybank’s whistle too.
As the ref kept Quins in the game by negating Saints forward power they gradually clawed themselves back into the game and but for the width of an upright might have snatched an undeserved victory which even their coach Mark Evans commented would have been a big travesty. Luckily Quins late bonus point had no bearing on final positions in the ZP but I am sure if a team had been edged out of the wildcard playoffs they would have had good grounds for complaint.
But on reflection we only had ourselves to blame and should have been out of sight at half time after squandering two or three good opportunities but a win is a win and we end the league season in third, a place in next seasons Heineken Cup secured and a Championship semi final to look forward to this Sunday at the Causeway Stadium.
TRULY IN WITH A CHANCE
In some respects the pressure is now slightly off us as we go into this game. It is the only thing we have to focus on while Wasps, I am sure, will have one eye on their European final against Toulouse a week later. While this in itself could give us an edge, mentally the Wasps players must be in turmoil. Now of course they are all mentally tough professional sportsmen but even subconsciously the thought that an action may result in either an injury or a card that may mean you miss the biggest day in your clubs history must be starting to niggle in some minds. The heavy defeat by Tigers will have done nothing to allay any further doubts they may have after since a fine run over the last six months.
For us it is simply all or nothing with no distraction of a bigger prize on the horizon. We can throw everything and the kitchen sink at this one and remarks from Wayne smith in the post match briefing has me thinking we just might.
Forget the league game a few weeks ago, this is a whole different kettle of fish. We can win this one, and I know I’m repeating myself for the third week running but remember the mantra. Think Agen, Think Agen.
TRUE CHAMPIONS
So our friends from the West Country ended up at the top of the ZP pile come tea time on Saturday and now are shouting from the rooftops that they are the true champions whatever happens at Twickenham and how the playoffs are a farce etc. I must say I don’t 100% agree with the playoffs in their current format as they do not seem well thought out but we all abide by the same set of rules and knew the format at season start. While other sports worldwide use the grand finale system we seem a little more restrained in this part of the planet and are not that keen on change. Indeed one local wag ‘Ajack’ took this theory a step further in suggesting maybe we should go back to the roots of the game when scoring a try just gave you an attempt at goal to score your point. Here is what he posted on the Bath website on Monday morning.
“Regarding the championship I think we all know who are the real champions are. Before people started messing about with the scoring system, leagues, playoffs and all that nonsense it was no points for a try and 1 for a ‘try’ at kicking for goal. So the true champions are Northampton Saints (who topped the conversions table). I am sure all true fans of the game will wish to acknowledge this and not this crazy system we have at the moment. I would like in advance to thank all the true rugby fans down in Bath for their heartfelt congratulations.”
Sadly, not all of them could see the joke. But it certainly made me laugh.
TRUE GENT
I was saddened to see the passing away of Saints legend Jeff Butterfield last week. A fixture in the Saints midfield through the fifties and sixties plus a glowing career for England, who he captained, and the British Lions. My memories of him were not on the playing field but as President of our local rugby club Milton Keynes. Now I don’t claim to have known him well but as a youngster thirty years or so ago playing mini rugby, (very badly I might add), Jeff was one among many who worked behind the scenes getting the mini game promoted in its infancy throughout England by getting us exhibition matches all over the place.
Using contacts in the game one week it could be a game at Wasps, the next some village fete.
The game of course flourished into what it is today and I know of many friends who graduated to the senior game at the club via this route. As the game spread I am sure this is now the case countrywide. As kids we were always a bit in awe of Mr Butterfield, as we called him, being an ex-international and all that but he always struck me as a true gentleman with a word of encouragement for all, yes even us clueless ones.
Geoff Allens tribute to him on Saturday was just about perfect.
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