Now whether it was as suggested a flurry of substitutions that unsettled the home side or the lads finally sensing blood and upping it a gear at the death is open to argument but two quickfire tries from Wally and Monty set up the finale to a memorable game, unless of course you discount the first hour or so where Saints could just not get the blend to mix.
That was all forgotten though when young Mr Cohen stormed over the whitewash seven minutes into injury time to seal the win that secured Saints second objective of the season.
The first, survival in the Guinness Premiership, was secured a month ago but what looked like mission impossible just before Christmas is now mission accomplished as Saints again take a seat at the top table with qualification for next seasons Heineken Cup with a whole six days of the regular season to spare. Worthy as the European Challenge Cup may be it will be good to back mixing it with the big boys of Northern Hemisphere rugby next term as watching the tournament over the last few weeks you get that feeling that there is a great party going on elsewhere that someone forgot to invite you to.
IT AINT OVER TILL....
Trying to be totally PC, they say it aint over till the slightly larger than average female bangs out a tune, something I’m sure a few Saints supporters will be bearing in mind in future after Sunday. Given the quality of performance at the Memorial Ground a small number of supporters gave up the ghost late in the game and traipsed off dejectedly to steal a march on the others heading home up the M4. Some we hear were not even aware that Saints had won till they got home later in the evening, shocked to hear they not only missed the victory but the post match celebrations too.
Of course it is their choice, everyone can come and go as they please but one day it was sure to happen and on Sunday it did. I guess now a few more might think twice before upping sticks.
WELL DONE TO THE COBBLERS
I know this is a rugby column but I couldn’t let the occasion go by without saying well done to Northampton Town for sealing their promotion on Saturday. As a lad in the 70’s I spent many a winter’s afternoon watching the likes of Paul Stratford, Jim Hall and Derrick Christie weaving their magic from the terraces of the Hotel Ground at the old County Ground so it is good to see the Cobblers climbing once more. In David Cardoza they look to have their own fledgling Keith Barwell, a guy that’s trying to make things happen for the club which in turn benefits the whole community.
There’s been a lot of daftness lately by a small but vociferous element trying to drive a wedge between the Cobblers and the Saints exploiting the perceived differences between the club, the sports and the supporters. Some would have you believe the rugby crowd are aloof and arrogant and that all the footie set are unruly oiks. Not true, people from all walks of life follow both clubs. We all have our good, bad and ugly. Fair enough if one code is not the sport of your choice then so be it but do people really have to go to such lengths in attacking each other as we have seen on message boards and in the Fan Zone section of this paper. In fact in recent weeks I’ve read things from both sides of the fence that would even confirm the above statements should you not know better. And supporters of both clubs are as guilty as the other of fuelling the fire.
In my mind the only difference between us is the shape of our balls and whilst there is debate if Northampton is a rugby or a football town surely with the Cobblers getting promotion, the Saints qualifying for the Heineken Cup and even the cricket side having their first international in a while in Monty Panesar would it not be far better to be known purely as a ‘sporting’ town. Whilst we are all hitting the heights can’t we all just get along and the whole town reflect in the glory rather than magnify these petty, childish divisions that this small minority are trying to inflame.
LOOKING AHEAD
So on to Saturday, the last game of the season sees the visit of Sale to the Gardens.
It is somewhat of a dead rubber as far as the Guinness Premiership is concerned, sale have already secured top spot and a home semi final championship spot, Saints cannot rise any further than sixth in the league nor can they be overtaken. So its pride at stake.
It is anyone’s guess what the starting lineups will be. With a greater target ahead I guess Phillipe Saint-Andre may be tempted to rest his walking wounded for a few more days though he may opt for momentum going into the semis. For Saints it would be good to see us go out in a blaze of glory, not risk anyone unduly but I suspect after the last couple of seasons I guess we owe Sale one. More than anything though, whatever the result it will be a time to celeberate. Given how the club was 12 months ago and where we stand now I think theres plenty of reason for that. See you there.
That was all forgotten though when young Mr Cohen stormed over the whitewash seven minutes into injury time to seal the win that secured Saints second objective of the season.
The first, survival in the Guinness Premiership, was secured a month ago but what looked like mission impossible just before Christmas is now mission accomplished as Saints again take a seat at the top table with qualification for next seasons Heineken Cup with a whole six days of the regular season to spare. Worthy as the European Challenge Cup may be it will be good to back mixing it with the big boys of Northern Hemisphere rugby next term as watching the tournament over the last few weeks you get that feeling that there is a great party going on elsewhere that someone forgot to invite you to.
IT AINT OVER TILL....
Trying to be totally PC, they say it aint over till the slightly larger than average female bangs out a tune, something I’m sure a few Saints supporters will be bearing in mind in future after Sunday. Given the quality of performance at the Memorial Ground a small number of supporters gave up the ghost late in the game and traipsed off dejectedly to steal a march on the others heading home up the M4. Some we hear were not even aware that Saints had won till they got home later in the evening, shocked to hear they not only missed the victory but the post match celebrations too.
Of course it is their choice, everyone can come and go as they please but one day it was sure to happen and on Sunday it did. I guess now a few more might think twice before upping sticks.
WELL DONE TO THE COBBLERS
I know this is a rugby column but I couldn’t let the occasion go by without saying well done to Northampton Town for sealing their promotion on Saturday. As a lad in the 70’s I spent many a winter’s afternoon watching the likes of Paul Stratford, Jim Hall and Derrick Christie weaving their magic from the terraces of the Hotel Ground at the old County Ground so it is good to see the Cobblers climbing once more. In David Cardoza they look to have their own fledgling Keith Barwell, a guy that’s trying to make things happen for the club which in turn benefits the whole community.
There’s been a lot of daftness lately by a small but vociferous element trying to drive a wedge between the Cobblers and the Saints exploiting the perceived differences between the club, the sports and the supporters. Some would have you believe the rugby crowd are aloof and arrogant and that all the footie set are unruly oiks. Not true, people from all walks of life follow both clubs. We all have our good, bad and ugly. Fair enough if one code is not the sport of your choice then so be it but do people really have to go to such lengths in attacking each other as we have seen on message boards and in the Fan Zone section of this paper. In fact in recent weeks I’ve read things from both sides of the fence that would even confirm the above statements should you not know better. And supporters of both clubs are as guilty as the other of fuelling the fire.
In my mind the only difference between us is the shape of our balls and whilst there is debate if Northampton is a rugby or a football town surely with the Cobblers getting promotion, the Saints qualifying for the Heineken Cup and even the cricket side having their first international in a while in Monty Panesar would it not be far better to be known purely as a ‘sporting’ town. Whilst we are all hitting the heights can’t we all just get along and the whole town reflect in the glory rather than magnify these petty, childish divisions that this small minority are trying to inflame.
LOOKING AHEAD
So on to Saturday, the last game of the season sees the visit of Sale to the Gardens.
It is somewhat of a dead rubber as far as the Guinness Premiership is concerned, sale have already secured top spot and a home semi final championship spot, Saints cannot rise any further than sixth in the league nor can they be overtaken. So its pride at stake.
It is anyone’s guess what the starting lineups will be. With a greater target ahead I guess Phillipe Saint-Andre may be tempted to rest his walking wounded for a few more days though he may opt for momentum going into the semis. For Saints it would be good to see us go out in a blaze of glory, not risk anyone unduly but I suspect after the last couple of seasons I guess we owe Sale one. More than anything though, whatever the result it will be a time to celeberate. Given how the club was 12 months ago and where we stand now I think theres plenty of reason for that. See you there.
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