
Photos from Northampton Saints vs Saracens can be found here…
Photos from the under 8′s tournament at Franklin’s Gardens can be found here…
The weather was glorious and perfect for running rugby which is exactly what the Saints delivered against Saracens. The LV= Cup as a competition is a pale shadow of its predecessors but I like the format though I never quite know how we are doing in it! Saints played at pace and the Saracens pack and back line could neither contend with the set-piece nor the flowing rugby from mid field. Vasily Artemyev made his Saints first XV competitive debut and scored a hat-trick. His partner at outside centre was Scott Armstrong who is each week getting better and better. The powerful running of both men could not be contained by Sarries and Artemyev swept in for two tries. It was great to see Jamie Elliott back – he took his two tries really well and again played with enormous confidence for one so young.
The pack meanwhile, demolished the Saracens scrum – watching the front row being folded in half and Saints won ball against the head time and time again was great fun and I managed to get some good photos of the demolition. Tom Wood looked like a man that needed a game of rugby – he was brutal in the tackle. Ben Nutley impressed again – it’s easy to forget he is only 19. He played with assurance and easily put his opposite number Andy Saull into the shade. The front row of Haywood, Waller and Mercey were imperious in the set piece and quick and aggressive in the lose. Haywood has staked his claim so well – I hope we see a lot more of this young talented player.
And then the boys started to come home from the world cup – Tonga’uiha, Hartley, Lawes were all met with huge cheers from the Franklin’s Gardens crowd. With the addition of Paul Doran Jones, the Saints front row continued to batter the Sarries pack.
I was battling with the light – too much of it in one half of the field and not enough in the other. The new Saints’ cup shirts and the Sarries bright red shirts made for some nice bright shots. I missed two of Vasily Artemyev’s tried because I was on the wrong side of the pitch – I made no mistake with Artemyev’s third and Jamie Elliot’s pair in the south east corner. I also, was a little concerned by my red hat which I wore on and off throughout the match. I need to make I have my green one with me:)
The morning was spent at the under 8′s competition – there was some excellent tag rugby with Old Northamptonian’s running out the winners. I was impressed with the handling skills of such young players and the spirit the matches were played in. It was great taking photos in the sunshine although I had completely over done the number of layers of clothing and ended up looking very red faced and hot!
It’s a week off for me and then back to the Gardens for the Falcons – it will be very interesting to see who Jim picks for the match.