AT THE GARDENS SAINTS v DONCASTER KNIGHTS Saturday, October 13th, 2007 Saints’ next home match against Doncaster Knights is already shaping up to be one of the season’s key matches. Doncaster have started the season superbly and currently lie one point behind the Saints at the top of the NL1 table. They have made light of the summer departure of director of rugby Clive Griffiths and the arrival of Lyn Howells to be the league’s third-highest points scorers and they have secured three try-scoring bonus points from their four victories so far having crossed the line 18 times. If ever Franklin’s Gardens needed to be a full fortress this season this match is it. The Knights are also one of several clubs at the top of the division who have Premiership aspirations. With the signings of, amongst others, Justin Bishop from London Irish (also as backs coach), the Knights looked to have taken the next few steps towards achieving their goal, particularly as they added to a squad already containing plenty of experience in former Newcastle Falcon Luke Gross, former Saint Ben Jones, Tongan prop Ngalu Tau and stalwart of English rugby Dave Scully. SAINTS ON TOUR SEDGLEY PARK v SAINTS Saturday, October 6th, 2007 The numbers of traveling Saints fans already this season has prompted Sedgley Park to make this match all-ticket. There are plenty of standing tickets still available from Sedgley Park, priced at £12 (adults), £5 (concessions) and £1 (under-16) and a limited number of seating tickets. Please note that tickets are now only available from Sedgley Park - tel 0161 766 5050. This will be the day that the Saints truly enter the world of National League One. For though Sedgley Park, based only two miles north of Manchester city centre, are the holders of the Lancashire Senior Cup, their two-and-a-half thousand capacity is one of the smallest in the league. Furthermore, their amateur status is a far cry from the full-timers of those clubs with Premiership ambitions. Nevertheless the Tigers have earned their place in NL1 the hard way, winning six promotions since 1987 to join the second tier of English rugby in 2004. They have links with the professional game with a player loan agreement with Sale Sharks, and Sedgley Park’s Park Lane ground is used by the Salford City Reds as a training base. Former Sharks Adam Newton and Jason Duffy are on the books and former Saint Andy Northey is backs coach. |