Saints win thriller
Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:40
At sunny Sixways the favourite Northampton Saints had to battle all the way against gallant Gloucester to win 30-24 in a brilliant, exciting LV= Cup Final - a match of movement, effort and courage.
Gloucester dominated the first 20 minutes and they led 14-6 but then the Saints came racing back with two tries in five minutes to end the half 18-14 up as James Simpson Daniël attacked but lost the ball forward.
Nicky Robinson missed and early kick at goal but then his left boot got the scoreboard moving. 3-0 after 10 minutes. But Gloucester were then penalised from the kick-off and Stephen Myler, preferred as a kicker to Simon Geraghty and Bruce Reihana, goaled. 3-0.
Gloucester attacked again with lots of activity from big Lesley Vainikolo with the coloured hair but Juandre Kruger dropped him and the Saints came back and again Myler goaled a penalty. 6-3 to the Saints, who were regarded as favourites, after 16 minutes.
Brian Mujati was penalised at a tackle and Robinson levelled the scores for Gloucester who were looking for all chances to counterattack. Gloucester put pressure on the Saints whose kicking was fragile under pressure. Suddenly Robinson broke strongly past three Saints. Rory Lawson carried on the attack. Olovier Azam charged and gave to Peter Buxton who drew three men to him before popping the ball to Akapusi Qera who scored in the corner. The Saints struck.
Geraghty ran and Myler raced through a gap. Neil Best carried it on and Saone Tonga'uiha was over for a try halfway between the posts and touch. Myler goaled. 14-13 after 30 minutes. Five minutes later Geraghty started a counter. Phil Dowson had a strong run in which he bounced off Alex Brown. Quick passes got the ball to James Downey who stepped three times and scored. Again Myler converted. 20-14, which was the half-time score.
Brown took no further part in the match as he went off with concussion. This was a blow for Gloucester as he was the best line-out option they had. Tim Molenaar did not come back after half-time, apparently with a damaged shoulder. Gloucester missed Molenaar who was their best man to straighten the line. They were also without strong Mike Tindall who had played for England in Paris the night before. He was back but used as a water-bearer, no a centre.
Gloucester's attacked with Vainikolo and Simpson-Daniel in the vain. Gloucester had a scrum and shoved the Saints at a rate towards their goal line. The Saints infringed, bringing the scrum down and referee Alan Lewis awarded a penalty try, which Robinson converted to put Gloucester back in the lead at 21-20 after 51 minutes.
The lead did not last long. The Saints attacked forma scrum, with a powerful burst by Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu who, tackled, popped the ball to Lee Dickson who scored. 27-21.
The not was Gloucester who mauled from a line-out and then broke out. Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu burst and then presented the ball. Robinson broke inside a defender and got to the line. The referee referred the matter to Ed Morrison, the television match official, who advised that Robinson had been held up. Five-metre scrum to Gloucester who got a nudge on but the Saints wheeled the scrum. It was reset. The reset scrum collapsed and was reset. Sapolu went wide and gave to Lawson who was smashed and Gloucester lost ground till Vainikolo and Simpson-Daniel tried to get an attack going. Then Gloucester were penalised at a tackle and the Saints survived.
Ngwera raced to 10 metres from the Saints' line and Gloucester moved it on till prop Tonga'uiha intercepted and ran down the field to the Gloucester 22. As Charlie Sharples closed in on him he threw that ball back. Defenders gather and Mujati went into touch.
Again Gloucester came back, despite continuing injuries. The Saints chased them back and Gloucester's were penalised and Myler goaled. 30-21.
Gloucester's were brave and Robinson got his side back within a try with a penalty. 30-24 in this thrilling match. Two penalties in the last two minutes gave Gloucester's hope but the Saints defence held and Simpson-Daniel has a run only to lose the ball forward in the tackle.
The sun sets, the temperature drops, there were more injuries and eventually the time ran out on an excellent match. A sad Gloucester side, who had every reason to be proud of their effort, collected their losers' medals before watchinjg the Saints receive the inaugural LV=Cup.
Man of the Match: Northampton Saints' big prop Saone Tonga'uiha who is on his way to Saracens.
Scorers:
For Northampton Saints:
Tries: Tonga'uiha, Downey, Dickson
Cons: Myler 3
Pens: Myler: 3
For Gloucester:
Tries: Quera, Penalty try
Con:
Robinson
Pens: Robinson 4
Teams:
Saints: 15 Shane Geraghty, 14 Bruce Reihana, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Neil Best, 6 Phil Dowson (captain), 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Regardt Dreyer, 18 Jon Vickers, 19 Mark Hopley, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 Barry Everitt, 23 Joe Ansbro.
Gloucester: 15 Freddie Burns, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Tim Molenaar, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Adam Eustace, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Peter Buxton (captain), 5 Alex Brown, 4 Will James, 3 Pierre Capdevielle, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Apo Satala, 20 Andy Hazell, 21 Dave
Lewis, 22 Tom Voyce, 23 Charlie Sharples.
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle (England), Roger Baileff (England)
TMO: Ed Morrison (England)