By Chris Gleadell
December 22 2006

So maybe not the most exhilarating game of rugby ever seen at the Gardens but Saturdays Heineken Cup victory over Overmach Parma keep Saints well and truly on track for the quarter finals at the end of March. Whilst we may not have racked up the tries as predicted by many the Italians to their credit came with a game plan suited best to their abilities and were not the whipping boys who shipped ten tries the week before. However a six try victory is not to be sniffed at and, as Paul Grayson said after the game, given that we got the required points and suffered no further injury setbacks (that seems almost unique in itself this season) it was certainly, job done!

Whilst the Heineken Cup goes on the back burner a month I am sure a lot of supporters will be looking forward to the next HC game on January 14th against the Borders up in Galashiels. A further victory there would set up a final group game at the Gardens the following Sunday against Biarritz with all still to play for and with the game being the last Heineken game of the weekend we will know exactly what we have to do to qualify. It is still all in the balance but a wild card best runners up spot at the least is still very attainable.

One aspect of qualification that’s been getting a few backs up this week is the suggestion in the media that Northampton are having it easy. Of course there is no denying with both Overmach and Borders in our group we have it easier than most but listening to some commentators and journalists last week you would think it was our fault rather than a quirk of names being pulled out a hat. But is it really as easy as all that? As it stands at the moment we may have to beat the pre-tournament favourites Biarritz to get through, not such the easy ride that some suggest.

And indeed if lady luck is smiling on us for once it is the first time in the competition. When you look back at the Saints history in the HC you will see that it is the very first time that we’ve had a traditionally weak Italian side in our group (and but for the failure of the Dragons it would have been the Welsh side this year) while in previous years we have not only qualified out of groups containing the likes of Llanelli and Toulouse (we being the only side to beat them two years ago on their way to the title) but in the year we won the trophy we dispatched Wasps, Llanelli and Munster on the way. So yes for once we might have a clearer view of qualification and if we succeed this time round, which will be our fourth qualification in seven attempts then it will be just as deserved as the others luck of the draw or not.

OGGIE OGGIE OGGIE ITS WASPS WASPS WASPS

So whilst the HC is put to the back of our minds for the next couple of weeks it is back to the bread and butter of the Guinness Premiership for the Saints with quickfire games against Wasps, Sarries, Worcester and current leaders Bristol all to be played by the end of the first week of the New Year.

Wasps are first up on Friday night at the Gardens and are certainly going to be a lot sterner test than Overmach have been over the last couple of weeks. However a look at the fixtures of the High Wycombe side tells you that maybe Ian McGeechan’s side are not the powerhouse they once were. They have yet to win on the road in the GP this season, though have managed to pick up a losing bonus point in each of their four defeats away from home. Of course given our current run of form and injuries it is a tall order but on a cold Northampton night with a festive Gardens crowd fully behind them it is not outside the realms of possibility that we might get something out of this game. A win could edge us nearer to mid-table safety, a loss would again have us looking over our shoulders at Worcester ’s result at home to London Irish on the same evening. As ever in following the Saints, life is never dull.

WAS ITALIAN SUPPORT PARMA SHAM?

The phrase all that glistens is not gold was never truer than on Saturday. I am sure a few of you saw a group of around twenty Overmach Parma supporters a few in their blue and yellow shirts sitting in the Church’s Stand. However had you chatted to them in Italian you would not get so much a ‘ciao’ or an ‘arrivederci’ more of a ‘top of the morning to ya’. The fans or the APSC (Alternative Parma Supporters' Club) are in fact a group of London Irish supporters who adopted Parma as their second team after they played the Italians last season in the European Challenge Cup. Giving up the delights of LI playing Ulster in Belfast on Friday night the group spent the weekend in Northampton.

Spokesman Alec reported on Monday that were given a right royal welcome and thoroughly enjoyed their time, (apart from “dreadful game”), thanking all and sundry from the Saints fans who shook their hands to the barman who served their beer (especially the barman that served them the beer). One thing worries me though, having seen some friends from London Irish turn up unexpectedly in France to support Toulouse against us a couple of years I’m starting to suspect they have something against us! Seriously though, well done to Alec and his crowd for adding to the occasion and perhaps some of us will return the ‘favour’ one day.

So as another year comes to a close its time to wish you all the best to you and yours at this festive time of year and remembering that it is usually round about now that our season starts here’s to a very prosperous and rewarding new year both on and off the pitch. Have a good one and see you in 2007.