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#Post#: 5780--------------------------------------------------
Match Report: Northampton vs Harlequins
DIR By: Admin
Date: September 11, 2018, 3:27 pm
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Northampton Saints v Harlequins
by Bedfordshire Boy
[attachimg=1] After a less than earth shattering pre-season
campaign, we had our first look at a Paul Gustard Quins side in
what turned out to be an eventual very comfortable win against
Sale Sharks at The Stoop last week. This week however is likely
to be a very different kind of test with Saints undoubtedly
being very keen put last weeks defeat behind them and put on a
show for their supporters in their first home game of the new
season.
Franklins Gardens has not been a happy hunting ground for Quins
in recent times with our last victory there being about six
years ago, nevertheless I thought that we might come away with a
narrow victory. Disappointing to see that we seem to have added
to the list of injured players with Mike Brown and Luke Wallace
unavailable for selection and then the late withdrawal of an in
form Joe Marler. Despite that, not a bad looking side with a
strong backline although a number of first choice players
missing from the forwards.
Marcus Smith got the game under way on a fine evening under the
lights and an almost perfect pitch and it was a wayward Quins
kick shortly after that almost led to the first score of the
game. Saints won the ball and set winger Tom Collins on his way
inside his own twenty two and after some clever shielding from
his team mates he set off down the left wing for what seemed
like an almost certain try. But up popped Marcus Smith to chase
him down and tackle him into touch five metres short of the
Quins try line only for the Smith repeat the act shortly
afterwards, this time denying Piers Francis. Definite worrying
signs within the first couple of minutes of the match but it was
Quins who were first to score after Alex Waller was penalised
for going off his feet allowing Marcus Smith to convert from in
front of the Saints posts after seven minutes.
Saints continued to pretty much dominate proceedings and were
twice awarded penalties in kickable positions but choosing to
kick to the corner on both occasions. Both line outs were well
defended by Quins leaving Saints unrewarded for their efforts
although they did finally get onto the scoreboard after 18
minutes when Biggar chose to take the three points on offer
after Quins were penalised for being offside at the ruck.
Although Quins were comfortable in the set piece Saints
continued to press and it took a couple of try saving tackles
from Joe Marchant on first Pisi and then Burrell to keep the
scores level. Pisi then left the field holding his arm to be
replaced by Harry Mallinder with 22 minutes on the clock.
Quins continued to find themselves at the wrong side of referee
Tom Foley and Saints were unlucky not to add to their score when
a Biggar conversion attempt hit the posts although he did add to
his personal tally when another conversion attempt was
successful on 34 minutes. With the Saints beginning to get the
upper hand in the scrum and Mark Lambert being the man picked
out by the referee, Saints were awarded yet another penalty
allowing Biggar to score once again from the tee right on 40
minutes. Half time score Saints 9 Quins 3. Pretty much an uphill
battle for Quins throughout the half but defended well, with
last seasons mindset, we would have conceded at least a couple
of trys.
[attachimg=2]
Dan Biggar Gets The Second Half Underway
Saints were straight onto the attack at the start of the second
half and the TMO was called into action within the first three
minutes after Mallinder collected his own kick before offloading
to Cobus Reinach who appeared to get the ball over the line. In
the days before saturated TV camera coverage a try would almost
certainly have been given, but touchdown could not be seen, so
the Saints players had to traipse back from their position on
the halfway line for a five metre scrum. A definite try said one
Saints supporter behind me to my right, no way can you give a
try said the Saints supporter behind me to my left. Back to the
action and Quins continued to find themselves under pressure and
held out until the forty sixth minute when Biggar increased the
Saints lead to nine points with a straightforward penalty.
The cheers from the home crowd then got louder still as local
hero Dylan Hartley enters the fray replacing James Fish. Despite
all of the pressure, Quins stuck to their task and finally spend
some time in the Saints twenty two eventually being rewarded
when Danny Care manages to get the ball to ground over the
Saints line. Marcus Smith adds the two extra points, so after 52
minutes Quins are within two points of Saints, Saints 12 Quins
10. Within five minutes however Saints increased their lead,
when following a couple of penalty kicks to the corner, Hartley
was adjudged to have scored when he was driven over the Quins
line. I use the word adjudged because from where I was sat, no
more than 20 metres away, he definitely lost control of the ball
before eventually touching it down. Interesting that Biggar
attempted a quick drop goal conversion attempt (duly missed)
before the referee allowed the kick to be retaken, so clearly
some doubt in his mind. But hey ho, you win some and you lose
some and it could be argued that the earlier disallowed try
might well have been a valid score.
With 57 minutes on the clock Quins find themselves nine points
adrift of the Saints total as Stan South replaces Matt Symons in
the Quins second row. Saints replaced flanker James Haskell with
Jamie Gibson after 61 minutes, have to say it felt quite surreal
listening to a Franklins Garden crowd applauding Haskell. It
wasn`t long before Saints delivered what could have been the
killer blow when they increased their lead by a further three
points when Biggar punished Quins yet again with his sixth
successful conversion of the evening, 62 minutes gone Saints 22
Quins 10. Time for reinforcements for Quins as Care. Tapaui and
White are replaced by Mulchrone, Lasike and Bothma respectively.
Quins still keep plugging away and reduce the deficit by three
points when Marcus Smith scores a well taken penalty 35 metres
out with fifteen minutes left to play. Saints bring on Symonds
for Burrell and Van Wyk for Waller followed by James Lang
replacing Marcus Smith with ten minutes of the game remaining.
The physicality of Lasike and Bothma seemed to make a
difference, and within a couple of minutes of his introduction,
James Lang slips through the Saints defence and runs 30 metres
to score on the right. Lang is unable to add the extra points to
his try so Quins close the gap to 4 points with eight minutes to
play. The home crowd now getting a bit nervous as cries of Come
On You Quins start to increase in volume but they find their
voice again when Lasike is penalised for offside and Mallinder
steps up to increase the gap to seven points with seventy six
minutes gone. The increased intensity from Quins pays dividends
when they are awarded a penalty with two minutes to go which is
kicked to the corner. The last two minutes of the game is all
one way with Quins camped near to the Saints line but the home
side hang on and the ball is eventually turned over with the
clock well into the red. Final score Saints 25 Quins 18.
All things considered not a bad team performance from Quins
marred somewhat by a number of individual errors and “an
against” penalty account in convertible positions that was far
too high. Full marks to the defence yet again as well as the
willingness for the squad to never give up and play for each
other. To my mind, unlucky not too have forced the draw although
not a view shared by all. A very enjoyable game to watch with
lots of endeavour but with too many errors from both sides.
Playing the way we were last season we would have lost by a
clear twenty points so the improvement is clear to see but still
a long way to go. Bring on Bath!
[attachment deleted by admin]
#Post#: 5781--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Northampton vs Harlequins
DIR By: Nico Wilson
Date: September 11, 2018, 3:29 pm
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Great write up. Thank you
#Post#: 5787--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Northampton vs Harlequins
DIR By: Comet
Date: September 12, 2018, 1:40 am
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Very balanced and detailed, thank you.
I bet Franklin's Gardens was great under the lights!
#Post#: 5799--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Northampton vs Harlequins
DIR By: InsertQuinsPunHere
Date: September 12, 2018, 6:36 am
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Thanks BB
#Post#: 5839--------------------------------------------------
Re: Match Report: Northampton vs Harlequins
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: September 13, 2018, 4:08 am
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Thanks BB.
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