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| Northampton Saints 21 - Leicester Tigers 20 |
It
was the game of the season and did it feel good for Northampton
because they'd won the semi-final? Yes! -
but it felt even better knowing the jinx
that hung over them had been lifted; they'd broken the spell and
beaten their local rivals Leicester - when it mattered the most!
And
it would be naïve of me to think I could write this piece without
being biased, so where do I start?
I've
been making the journey to Franklins Gardens since I was six, and
never have I ever witnessed such an incredible game of rugby. The
atmosphere was exceptionally tense and highly charged with devoted
emotion.
I
clapped until my hands were red raw and felt my heart couldn't beat
any faster. The adrenaline kick was on overload for every one of the
13,491 fans that packed out Franklins Gardens on Friday night.
It
was undoubtedly the biggest roller-coaster of emotion I have been on
and I wasn't even on the pitch playing!
For
the Saints, it was the ultimate and most significant turning point,
as the team knew it was now or never.
The
rapid tempo of the game in the first ten and the energy exerted was
off the Richter scale. For any fan watching it flashed before your
eyes. I barely put pen to paper I was so engrossed.
Toby
Flood put the first points on the board for the Tigers but a flurry
of excitement followed when Franklins Gardens erupted prematurely!
Initially it looked like Kahn Fotuali'i was heading over the line as
he sneaked around the ruck, but he was taken into touch just short
with a tremendous tackle by Matthew Tait.
The
16th
man was there when Northampton needed them most but the Tigers fans
weren't far behind, the wailing wall of noise was relentless.
Talk
about the pure physicality of these two sides; it was immense; the
scrum was stationary, the defence was cemented and the attacking play
bullish and brutal.
Stephen
Myler settled the score three a piece in the second quarter of the
game but on the attack the Tigers looked totally threatening. Manu
Tuilagi proved this with the first try of the game, converted by
Flood. The Saints defence was nowhere to be seen. There was a lack
of organisation from Northampton and I started to wonder if this try
would affect Saints morale.
Were
Saints to suffer another painful defeat to their local rivals?
Niki
Goneva was then sent to the bin for disrupting play with just over
ten minutes left in the first half and Myler struck the ball
beautifully to compensate. The tension eased slightly as the
staccato sound of 'Tigers...Tigers' was drowned out by the rivalling
and pulsating surge of 'Come on you Saints.’
But
Leicester were in it to win it and their second try came three
minutes from half time when Ben Youngs barged and battered
Northampton's defence. Youngs leaped in the air and was met by his
team mates at the edge of the Burrda stand and Northampton were left
with nothing to show for their one man advantage. Just shy of half
time Goneva returned from the bin.
It
had to be more than full steam ahead going into the second half for
Saints.
HT
6-17
Six
minutes into the second half and another Leicester player was
yellow-carded. This time it was Dan Bowden for a spear tackle on Tom Collins. The
second half was proving just as fraught as the first.
Myler
made it three from three and even when a man in the crowd shouted
'Get back Leicester!' and the crowd laughed it was really the
semi-final we had all been hoping for.
At
times though it felt like a Tigers' home match – the noise of their
fans drowned out the Saints Nation and the Tigers were back at it
again doing what they do best, causing mayhem. But the tenacity and
belief of the Saints meant they weren't going to give up and nor were
the Saints’ faithful at Franklins Gardens!
The
pressure was on and Tait made his second poor judgement of the night
kicking out on the full and the Saints were back in the Tigers 22.
But the crux remained – could Saints get over the gain line?
Not
this time and as the momentum of the game became slightly disjointed
just shy of the last quarter, the Manbags were out, big time.
A
brutal blow by Salesi Ma'afu on Tom Youngs saw him red carded and
Youngs sin-binned for instigating the affray.
Tensions
were rising and the intensity continued to build. It was now or
never. Northampton had to bring it back but they were penalised at
the scrum and it looked like game over. Or was it?
It
was the first the Tigers had really seen of the ball but Northampton
won back possession instantly and were within five metres of the try
line. Could they score?
It
felt like the inevitable was going to happen... and it did!
TRY!!
George North scored and that was it – Northampton were back in
contention for what they had all been dreaming of, that Premiership
final.... Myler converted and there was only one point in it with
thirteen minutes to go.
Northampton
just needed to remain calm but they were penalised for foul play and
Owen Williams put Leicester into a four point lead with seven minutes
left.
Had
Saints finally scuppered their chances?
No.
They showed strength of character and if they were going to lose, it
would be kicking and screaming until the dying moments.
With
the clock still ticking and the Tigers panting for a rest, Saints
played quick ball and it was a continuous physical pounding from the
forwards pack that enabled Tom Wood to break over the gain line and
Franklins Gardens erupted in a full-on frenzy! What incredible
scenes.
I
just stopped to absorb what a massive effort the Saints players had
put in to create this monumental, memorable moment. I felt engulfed
- enjoying the emotion around me - and whether you looked left or
right, Northampton supporters were on their feet, jumping, shouting,
hugging and singing!
Myler
missed the conversion but Northampton had the one point lead they
needed with 36 seconds left on the clock. The Franklins Gardens
faithful counted the clock down with ten seconds to go, and that was
it... Northampton Saints had done it... they'd won and they'd fought
as if their lives depended on it to the bitter end.
It
was impossible not to feel overwhelmed on this night. Joy, elation,
relief and pride whirled around the stands and I feel privileged to
say I was there to witness this fantastic game of rugby.
FT
21-20
The
referee J.P Doyle controlled the game well and really nothing could
part the phenomenal performances of these two sides. Man of the
Match, Tom Wood, said afterwards:
“We
were just trying to encourage the ref to let us play. We wanted to
play quick. We wanted to use our biggest assets, the likes of Kahn
and Lee Dickson.... not allowing them to lay down and have a stretch
and luckily it paid off”
The
physicality and determination was amazing and it really went down to
the wire. Hats off to Leicester Tigers because their defence was
impressive and no doubt with the adversity they've suffered this
season, they'll be back stronger next season.
I
spoke with their skipper Ed Slater after the game:
“It's
pretty hard to take and we just gave away far too many penalties in
the second half,” he said
“Discipline
was poor and that's what lost this game in the end.”
Northampton
Saints have now defined their season with this monumental win and the
belief in their own capability; keep that belief up boys, you're
nearly there!
The
top two sides in the Premiership will meet at Twickenham on Saturday
31st
May in the Aviva Premiership Final.
This
years’ final show stopper on the Aviva Premiership merry-go-round.
All
Aboard!!!