WELL,
WELL, who would have thought it?
All
and sundry thought a Northampton win over Gloucester would be little
more than a formality at Franklin’s Gardens. Two bonus point wins
for the much vaunted Saints over Bath and ‘Quins in their previous
fixtures— compared to lack-lustre performances from the Cherry and
Whites in beating lowly Leeds and London Irish.
A
deserved win for Gloucester was brought about by a executing a sound
game-plan which correctly identified the strengths and weaknesses
of the opposition.
For
Gloucester Duncan MacRae had an excellent game at fly half. Whilst
he may not be the most prodigious kicker of a rugby ball, on this
occasion he kept the ball behind the opposition and invariably found
touch in the corner.
The
Gloucester defence was almost spot-on. Few tackles were missed and
it was the home side who invariably turned the ball over with the
error count very much on the Saints’ side.
Gloucester
had the better of the game territorially as Saints were made to
play much of the game in their own half, particularly in the first
half. Northampton seemed to rely more upon sheer strength and passion
but Gloucester more than matched this with creativity and touches
of class which kept them going over the gain-line unlike the Saints.
Alex
Brown in the Gloucester line-out was his usual tower of strength,
ensuring his share of the ball, robbing the opposition throw and
a powerful presence in the loose.The
visitors had more ideas than Northampton, who despite having England’s
Ben Cohen and Steve Thomson in their line-up, were reduced to the
part of bit players, living off scraps.
Henry
Paul got the first points of the afternoon with a well struck penalty
kick from wide out but that was cancelled out by Saints’ replacement
Shane Drahm, on for an injured Paul Grayson , who levelled the scores.
The
reply from Gloucester was almost instantaneous. Marcel Garvey made
a break down the right wing. Paul moved the ball sharply the other
way before prop Terry Sigley thundered through on an angle worthy
of a top class centre, to put fellow front row man Ollie Azam in
for the crucial first try of the match. Paul completed the honours
with the conversion.
Terry
Fanolua made a strong run before the ball was worked back to MacRae
who made sure of a score and slotted a straightforward drop goal
despite an apparent overlap.
Drahm
kicked a penalty either side of the interval and although Corne
Krige crossed the Gloucester line he was brought back by a knock
on which upset the partisan Saints’ supporterswho had not expected
their lack of progress.
Saints
did edge their way back into the game as would be touch finders
from MacRae and Henry Paul failed to find the line. Each time
the dangerous Bruce Reihana gratefully accepted the offerings,
seized the initiative and ran the ball back from deep to good
effect but Gloucester’s defence and commitment was equal to the
task, even though James Forrester was in the sin-bin for killing
the ball. Sinbad pulled off the tackle of the day when he drove
John Rudd back and dumped him over the touchline. Not bad for
a winger who is said to be too small!
The
score closed to 13-12 thanks to the boot of Shane Drahm but crucially
he missed a dubious penalty kick awarded when referee Steve Lander
missed a clear knock-on, which would have edged the home side
in front.
Henry
Paul managed to miss two kicks at goal and the nagging thoughts
began to enter the mind that perhaps Gloucester had blown it .
As
time ticked away the large partisan Northampton crowd and their
team became frantic and edgy but for all their desperate efforts
Saints, if they had managed to obtain possession they did not have
the class, talent or ideas to do any damage.
Gloucester
were more composed in the final ten minutes and continued to have
the better of the line-out before MacRae fired another kick ahead
towards the empty corner. Thompson and Cohen chased back to cover
but reckoned without the explosive pace of Marcel Garvey who overhauled
them to slide over the line with the ball and be awarded the try
by the video official and seal a good Gloucester victory.
This
signalled a mass exodus by stunned Saints’ fans, who left in droves
shaking their heads in disbelief without even waiting for the restart,
as Paul’s conversion effort hit the post.
Game,
set and match to Gloucester.
POINTS |
Tries:
Azam, Garvey |
Conversion:
Paul |
Penalty:
Paul |
Drop
Goal: MacRae |
