NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 21
SAMOA 24
Friendly
Franklin’s Gardens
Sunday, August 19th, 2007
Having been in training for three months Saints emerged for their first friendly of the season intent on creating a good impression on the 8,122-strong crowd, a record for pre-season.
In the first 15 minutes both forwards and backs had opportunities to do so and but for Paul Diggin being held up in the eighth minute Saints would have had a well-earned try.
The preceding minutes had been controlled by the home side and while the forwards worked precious yards upfield time and again with driving mauls, Will Harries caught the eye with two runs down the left wing and sidesteps that left the Samoan defence in his wake.
Harries also had to pull off a smart tackle on Samoan full-back Loki Crichton following a Henry Tuilagi line-buster. This was the only moment of attacking danger from the visitors in the first quarter, however, and with Bruce Reihana and Mark Easter also to the fore the Saints created plenty of promising possession.
Everitt’s second penalty was followed five minutes later by a try for Darren Fox, who made the most of a Samoan indiscretion five metres from their line to power his way over. Everitt added the conversion and though Crichton scored Samoa’s first points on the half-hour Saints’ new Irishman took the lead out to 13 once more four minutes after that.
There had been plenty to keep the crowd entertained thus far but the plays of the half came as the clock ticked into injury-time. Firstly Grant Anderson sold Seliala Mapusua an audacious dummy on his own 22 to create some space. Harries and Reihana were in support but the latter’s pass to James Downey was wayward and a likely try went begging.
This was not repeated at the other end when some superb handling by the Samoan midfield was finished off by Donald Kerslake and the forwards in the left corner. Crichton converted for a half-time score of Saints 16, Samoa 10.
Both coaches made a raft of changes at the break and though Karl Rudzki made the first charge of the second half it was three starters who created the next try. After an attacking lineout Damien Browne spotted space on the left and threw a long pass to Easter. He in turn drew the defence and left Harries to slide in at the corner.
The next try came from the visitors in contentious circumstances. Dave Ward’s from deep had Saints on the offensive and the ball seemingly secure at the breakdown. Nevertheless it was won by the Samoans and Jerry Meafou went over between the sticks.
This put Samoa in touch and with Lome Faatau’s try on the hour the Islanders were ahead thanks as well to Crichton’s two conversions. They were also a different side with increased intensity and physicality. But the Saints were also a vastly different side by this stage as well as Jim Mallinder handed experience to several Senior Academy members and John Brake, Phil Hoy and Jon Vickers will have benefited greatly for their time up against international opposition.
Hoy in particular will remember his charge down of Crichton’s drop-goal for a long time. Crichton also missed an injury-time penalty which would have sealed the game. This didn’t have an effect on the final scoreline however, and the Samoans left with a 24-21 win.
Teams:
Northampton Saints - Reihana (capt)(Brake 57mins); Diggin, Anderson, Downey, Harries; Everitt (Myler 40mins), Robinson (Howard 40mins); Emms (Vickers 62mins), Shields (Ward 40mins), Stewart (Sigley 62mins), Browne (Hoy 72mins), Short (Rae 40mins), Tupai (Rudzki 40mins), Fox (Lewitt 40-44mins (Fox 72mins)), Easter (Tupai 68mins).
Samoa – Crichton; Lemi, Mapusua (Faatau 40mins), Meafou, Anitelea Tuilagi (Fuimaono Sapolu 62mins); Lui, So'oialo (Polu 15mins); Kerslake (Va’a 40mins), Schwalge (capt), Kas (Johnston 4-9mins; 40mins), Lefaialii (Ulia 79mins), Tekori (Levi 62mins), Leo, Purdie, H Tuilagi.
Scorers:
Northampton Saints – Tries: Fox, Harries; Con: Everitt; Pens: Everitt (3).
Samoa – Tries: Kerslake, Meafou, Faatau; Cons: Crichton (3); Pen: Crichton.
Yellow card:
Faatou (72mins)
Attendance:
8,122
TIMELINE:
8mins SAINTS Pen Everitt 3-0
21mins SAINTS Pen Everitt 6-0
26mins SAINTS Try Fox Con Everitt 13-0
30mins SAMOA Pen Crichton 13-3
34mins SAINTS Pen Everitt 16-3
40+1mins SAMOA Try Kerslake Con Crichton 16-10
HALF-TIME SAINTS 16 SAMOA 10
49mins SAINTS Try Harries 21-10
56mins SAMOA Try Meafou Con Crichton 21-17
62mins SAMOA Try Faatou Con Crichton 21-24
72mins SAMOA Yellow card Faatou
FULL-TIME SAINTS 21 SAMOA 24
