Review: Saints V Chiefs: Saints Lose Under the Friday Night Lights

 Saints lose to Exeter Chiefs for second time in a row to them. A frustrating way to end Saints proud winning record in the premiership. 

Friday night ended the impressive home winning streak since March 2014 where they played Leicester Tigers at home. 

Saints simply lost the game due to kicking possession away too easily and handing the win to the Chiefs. 

The first half was a rugby version of Table Tennis, kicking back and forth. Saints did not realise that to win - they needed to believe in their pace and run into the Chiefs mediocre defencive wall. However, Chiefs scoring in the first two minutes, crushed Saints' confidence to power through. 

An easy try by Cowan-Dickie put Chiefs ahead before Myler put over two penalties which narrowed the gap to just a point. Tom Waldrom went over twice while Gareth Steenson took his tally to six points which led the Chiefs to 21 -6 at half time. 

Saints were physcologically destroyed by Chiefs which did not help the referee missed vital decisions, including blocking. Exeter had a try disallowed but from the resulting five-meter scrum, Waldrom powered over for his second try and Steensonn's third successful kick from three gave Chiefs a fifteen-point advantage at the lead. 

Steenspn scored the first points of the second half with a penalty before James Wilson's inside offload set free, fast Stephenson to go over and give Saints fans hope. 

Elliott finally wriggled over in the left corner after great work from Stephenson while at the end Steenson missed a vital drop goal. 

 Although, Saints did hit back with scores by Stephenson and Elliott but the Chiefs hung on for their thrilling win.

Friday night was certainly a night to forget but onwards and upwards to next weeks game: Saracens away. 

Match Review: Saints v Scarlets Away

Lee Dickson and Calum Clark both score tries to help Saints in their 24 - 7 LV= Cup victory away at Scarlets this Friday. 

Howard Packman had put the Saints side to an early lead. However, Scarlets player Steffan Evans responded to level the score up at the break. 

After half time, Dickson and Clark slid over the line to grab two quickfire tries for Saints to secure the win, alongside, accurate kicking by young Will Hooley. 

Although, the scoreline shows perfection, Saints were hit with an injury by Jon Fisher only two minutes in. It was the only negative point due to a fast and incredible break through from Tom Stephenson let Packman have the chance to score. Hooley made the conversion from an awkward right angle but minutes later, he could not replicate a similar kick to miss a penalty. The Saints side were in the lead 7 - 0. 

Scarlets did not waste anytime by scoring their own try and conversion to bring it to 7 - 7. An easy try given away by a James Wilson miss kick in which Saints could not recover from. 

A scrum penalty gave the chance for Saints to go ahead. However, once again, Hooley unusually misses, keeping the score at 7 - 7.

Saints were about to have a scare with Scarlets scoring a try. Luckily, a well spotted infringement by the ref, in which the Scarlets flanker deliberate pullback who called a disallowed try. 

Scarlets were upping their game with every touch of the ball, despite, like Hooley, a simple penalty was missed by the Scarlets fly-half. 

Phil Dowson pushed hard and surprisingly, for a forward, broke through the scarlets defencive wall. Seconds later Saints were given a penalty and Hooley slotted the ball cleanly. 

Finally, Saints started to play the way we all know they could. With Alex Waller and Salesi Ma'afu on, the line up started to look like a premiership side. Dickson wiggled through and darted over the line to score. Hooley's well-struck conversion gave Saints a 10 point difference to the homeside. 

Another five points was soon to follow by another England international, Calum Clark. Hooley was starting to look more on form and finished the Saints game off with a precise kick to make it 24 - 7. 

On the contrary, Scarlets looked likely to a last minute try and conversion but it was too late and Packman pushed him out of play to end the game. 

Saints had won in Round 2 of the LV= Cup - next week Saints are back to playing in the premiership and are playing Exeter Chiefs on Friday Night. 

Man of the Match: Will Hooley 

My Man of the Match: Howard Packman

Young Saints triumph

Digsby

IM, Email, and Social Networks in one easy to use application!

http://kvors.com/click/?s=88377&

Saints took an easy win over Newcastle Falcons, 37 - 23, in the first round of the LV cup. Saints feel lucky to have won this game because 14 out of the 15 who started last week, were absent.

Tom Collins kick - started the 80 minutes off with an eye-catching try from the youngster. However, Tom Catterick, a Falcons player alsp grabbed his own try not long after. 

The next try came from a big shove of the pack which let Teimana Harrison dash over the line, Haywood finished off the half with a dart across the line to score Saints third try of the day. 

The 4th try came from Tom Collins once again, this ensured Saints the important bonus point try. A fast pace and a sidestep from Collins helped him dot over the line. 

It was not all plain sailing for Saints as Falcons player, Juan Pablo Socino scores their final try to put pressure onto the Saints defence. Nethertheless, Howard Packman had the final say but producing the famous Swallow dive to fly over the line to ensure Saints in winning the vital game. 

Will Hooley put 12 points onto the score board with his boot, it was a comfortable victory for the very young and youthful Saints side. 

Newcastle begun strong in their campaign to stop Saints from winning. The Falcons swung towards their tryline many times with impressive offloads and structure. The game in the first few minutes were not going Saints' ways as they were losing 7 - 0 just after five minutes! But Saints, thankfully, responded quickly and Collins dashed over the line for the first time. Hooley added his own points to the board with a far and accurate penalty before Falcons, Clegg placed a penalty over the posts. 

Saints pushed hard to go back in front but Packman was soon tackled out of play - the ref pulled back for an earlier penalty and Hooley slotted an important penalty right infront of the posts. 

Newcastle, not soon after, had a perfect opportunity to score a try but Scott MacLeod failed to offload and former Falcon Joel Hodgson, making his Saints debut, made the try saving tackle. 

Unfortunatly, the Falcons did register some points soon after. Saints were searching for another break through and Collins was making good breaks, However, Alesana Tuilagi's arm took Collins out illegally and was swiftly sent to the sin bin, for a well earnt 10 minutes off thepitch.

With Tuilagi missing, Saints pushed and heived over the line for Teimana to score over the line. Hooley made it 17 - 13 to the homeside. This was not the only try they scored whilst Tuilagi was in the sin bin. A intelligent and selfless pass by Day, saw Haywood over the line too. The Saints men led a confortable, 22 - 13 lead. 

Falcons were not going to give up yet. They added pressure as Socino, who walked through the Saints defence to score. Clegg's conversion meant they were only 6 points away from Saints with 6 minutes to go. 

Saints put a stop to this. Hooley's boot placed a penatly over the post and Packman flew over the line to ensure Falcons would not catch them. Seconds ticked down and as the ball went over for the conversion the clock ticked to 0. 

The Saints youngsters started their campaign with a bang. 

Man of the Match: Ethan Waller

My Man of the Match: Tom Collins