It was one of those days at the Gardens that will live long in the memory with almost a packed house and both team and supporters on song. After an early onslaught from the Welsh side the Saints took the game by the scruff of the neck and took the game to the Scarlets virtually sealing the win in five power packed minutes before half time. With first Darren Fox then Wylie Human scoring scorching tries to send Saints in at half time you could almost sense a tangible sigh of relief from the crowd that we were indeed back on track.
Wylie, who is fast becoming a crowd favourite, rounded off the game with a superb Paul Grayson and Bruce Reihana crafted try to put Saints out of sight a couple of minutes before the end. That score almost took the roof off the stands such was the noise inside and at game end the players took a very well deserved standing ovation.
Ben Cohen was back to his best and will be giving Andy Robinson food for thought this week. The Wylie, Bruce and Ben combination seems to work well as a back three unit. The return of Larry at 10 steadied the ship while Sharky at scrumhalf was a thorn in the Scarlets side all afternoon. The forwards had their best game as a pack this season.
Props Chris Budgen and Tom Smith were effective in both the tight and the loose while Damian Browne in the second row added a large abrasive presence we seem to have been missing for the last couple of years.
The backrow of Foxy, Andy Blowers and skipper Corne krige just about covered every inch of the Gardens and didn’t let Llanelli settle all afternoon.
Finally everything seems to have dropped into place. There was no apprehension or visible frustration from the team that we had seen in previous weeks, a great weight looked like it had been lifted from certain shoulders and above all the guys not only looked like they were playing for each other but looked like they were having a great time doing it.
Given the reaction of the crowd and the intensity of the support I think for the first time maybe some of the new guys really now know what it is like to be Saintsman.
Wylie, who is fast becoming a crowd favourite, rounded off the game with a superb Paul Grayson and Bruce Reihana crafted try to put Saints out of sight a couple of minutes before the end. That score almost took the roof off the stands such was the noise inside and at game end the players took a very well deserved standing ovation.
Ben Cohen was back to his best and will be giving Andy Robinson food for thought this week. The Wylie, Bruce and Ben combination seems to work well as a back three unit. The return of Larry at 10 steadied the ship while Sharky at scrumhalf was a thorn in the Scarlets side all afternoon. The forwards had their best game as a pack this season.
Props Chris Budgen and Tom Smith were effective in both the tight and the loose while Damian Browne in the second row added a large abrasive presence we seem to have been missing for the last couple of years.
The backrow of Foxy, Andy Blowers and skipper Corne krige just about covered every inch of the Gardens and didn’t let Llanelli settle all afternoon.
Finally everything seems to have dropped into place. There was no apprehension or visible frustration from the team that we had seen in previous weeks, a great weight looked like it had been lifted from certain shoulders and above all the guys not only looked like they were playing for each other but looked like they were having a great time doing it.
Given the reaction of the crowd and the intensity of the support I think for the first time maybe some of the new guys really now know what it is like to be Saintsman.
Wylie laughing with the crowd, the wide wide grin on Damians face and the way Corne celebrated the last try spoke volumes about them and us as a club. That faith has returned, now lets take that form back into the Zurich Premiership.
A CREDIT TO THEIR CLUB
The fun was not over for some of us at the final whistle as sizable group of Scarlets supporters made their way to the Bus Club after the game. Far from being down after their teams performance they were determined to have a good time whatever. From teens to a 74 year old grandmother who sat at our table, not only were they singing from their own book of songs including Sospan Fach and Calon Lan but they also gave a liberal rousing of our club song and praise for Northampton as being the ‘One team in England’ They encouraged all to join in, anything from hymns and arias to Tom Jones and three hours later they were still at it and everybody both Saint and Scarlet had a great afternoon, my sore throats a testament to that. Given certain problems at last years game not only were the crowd from Llanelli a credit to their club they were a credit their country and the game itself.
On leaving one Welsh chap mentioned to me that despite their loss they had a great time and been made to feel more than welcome and invited us all to meet up with them in the return leg but the thing that I’ll remember was him commenting that in the closing moments of the game the singing of ‘Oh When The Saints’ made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. From a Welshman there’s probably no greater compliment.
SWH3
The night before the Scarlets game there was a final fund raising event for this years Saints with Heart in aid of the British Heart foundation at The End, Southbridge.
Everyone there seemed to enjoy the night but the biggest cheer was when Maggie Barwell, Keiths wife, won a pair of tickets for Leicester Tigers.
There was a good turnout and the raffle and auctions added to donations already made took this years total to over £20,000. A final figure will be published in December but so far we have doubled last years total. A big well done to all involved in the organisation of this years events and an even bigger thank you to those of you who donated.
We are already making plans for events next year, watch this space for details.
LOOKING FORWARD
It’s back to the bread and butter of the Zurich Premiership this week for Saints as they travel up to Yorkshire to play Leeds on Friday night. The Tykes are having a bit of a mixed bag of so far this season but with them going out of European competition last weekend to Dean Richards Grenoble they have just the ZP on their mind and could be a tough nut to crack. However I’m taking the lads to continue their new found form and come home with the spoils.
For those travelling up independently remember to allow yourselves plenty of time given the weight of traffic on the M1 on Friday afternoons.
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