NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 29

BRISTOL RUGBY 22

Guinness Premiership round 11

Franklin’s Gardens

Sunday, January 1, 2006

To say that Saints had the ideal opening would be an understatement. With breaks by Gareth Llewellyn and Dave Hilton, Bristol were looking ominous in only the second minute, particularly when David Lemi rounded Steve Thompson to come infield. However, Lemi’s pass found Jon Clarke, who ran in from 30 metres to score. Bruce Reihana added the extras and Saints were seven points ahead.

Five minutes later Bristol had the perfect reposte. Jason Strange’s kick across the field stayed in play, and the chasing Lemi hacked the ball infield. And though John Rudd did well to clean up the loose ball, Lemi pounced to charge down Johnny Howard’s kick to score.

Lemi’s atonement was complete two minutes later. Shaun Perry dummied on his 22 to go straight through Saints’ line, and with the waves of attackers easily outnumbering the green-clad defenders, it fell to Lemi to cross for his second try. Strange, who had missed his first attempt, landed the conversion and the visitors were five points up.

Reihana notched a penalty in the 14th minute, but everything was going Bristol’s way. Aside from their handling, that is. Three times in as many attacks Saints were rescued when the ball hit the deck, allowing the home side to collect themselves, work their way into the Bristol half and win a penalty. Reihana made no mistake and re-took the lead two minutes into the second quarter.

Reihana missed a straightforward chance to increase the advantage three minutes shy of the half-hour, and Saints came close to a second try when Bernardo Stortoni’s pass on his line went to ground. Bristol scrambled and cleared, and had a clear chance themselves just before the end of the half. Cox’s neat sidestep took him into Saints’ 22, and only Reihana’s powerful tackle on Dan Ward-Smith prevented a try.

Nevertheless it was Saints who went into the break with an increased lead. A series of phases begun by Grant Seely – celebrating his 250th appearance – ended with a Bristol infringement. Reihana’s attempt sailed over and the teams headed for the changing rooms with the score 16-12.

Three minutes into the second half and the west-countrymen were ahead once more. A penalty inside Saints’ 22 was pushed into the corner by Strange, despite Northampton protestations to the contrary, and Bristol’s pack took control. Though the initial drive was repelled, the maul rolled to the blindside and Darren Crompton touched down. Strange again added the extras and the visitors were in front by three.

The lead did not last long. Once more Saints worked the phases deep into Bristol’s half and with the referee playing advantage Carlos Spencer – back in the side after a two-week absence – nailed a 40-metre drop-goal to tie the scores at 19-apiece.

A turnover won by Matt Lord on his own line and Stortoni’s holding onto the ball after being tackled, maintained the scoreline until the hour mark. And when Strange lined up his first penalty, the deadlock looked set to be broken. But the kick slid wide of the posts, as did Reihana’s 40-metre attempt four minutes later.

The resultant 22-metre drop-out gave the ball back to Saints, but with a turnover on halfway Bristol regained the initiative. Perry sprinted clear, and with Lemi outside him another try looked certain. But Lemi slipped over, Reihana made the tackle, and Bristol had to content themselves with Strange’s penalty.

Saints saw a good chance go begging in the 70th minute. Spencer drilled a penalty into the corner and Seely won the lineout. Instead of the maul being formed, however, the ball went to ground, emerging on the Bristol side for Strange to clear.

There was no such luck for the visitors when Saints next visited their 22. Rudd’s burst from deep was ended 10 metres short by Ward-Smith’s high tackle. The Bristol No 8 saw yellow, and gave Saints the chance to win the match. The kick went to the corner, the forwards drove infield and Chris Budgen emerged from the bottom of the maul with five points added to his season’s tally. Reihana eased Saints further clear with the conversion, and with his 80th-minute penalty both winding the clock down and killing the game, Saints had the perfect start to 2006.

Teams:
Northampton Saints – Reihana (co-capt); Rudd, Clarke, Vilk, Diggin; Spencer, Howard (Robinson 40mins); Smith (Hartley 73mins), Thompson (co-capt), Budgen (Noon 77mins), Damien Browne, Lord, Seely (Gerard 77mins), Lewitt (Harding 73mins), Daniel Browne (Tupai 58mins).

Bristol Rugby – Stortoni; Robinson (Higgitt 22-32mins), Lima, Cox, Lemi; Strange, Perry; Hilton (Irish 65mins), Regan, Crompton (Irish 53-65mins), Winters, Llewellyn, Salter (capt)(Lewis 67mins), El Abd, Ward-Smith.

Scorers:
Northampton Saints – Tries: Clarke, Budgen; Cons: Reihana (2); Pens: Reihana (4).

Bristol Rugby – Tries: Lemi (2), Crompton; Cons: Strange (2); Pen: Strange.

Yellow card:
Ward-Smith (74mins)

Travis Perkins man of the match:
Steve Thompson

Attendance:
13,485

CLOCKWATCH:
2mins Saints: Try Clarke Con Reihana 7-0
7mins Bristol: Try Lemi 7-5
9mins Bristol: Try Lemi Con Strange 7-12
14mins Saints: Pen Reihana 10-12
22mins Saints: Pen Reihana 13-12
40mins Saints: Pen Reihana 16-12
43mins Bristol: Try Crompton Con Strange 16-19
50mins Saints: Drop-goal Spencer 19-19
67mins Bristol: Pen Strange 19-22
74mins Bristol: Yellow card Ward-Smith
75mins Saints: Try Budgen Con Reihana 26-22
80mins Saints: Pen Reihana 29-22