Northampton Saints
Man of the Match - Toulon Home 2009
By Tim Empson
February 3 2009
The away game in Toulon turned out to be a one sided affair and for a change on foreign soil it was not the Saints on the receiving end - instead a second string Toulon side capitulated to a rampant Saints team. The return match was therefore a foregone conclusion was it not? Well that is what a lot of the crowd expected - but Toulon had different ideas.
Saints v Toulon
Question: Who was your MoTM as Saints beat Toulon to secure second seed ranking?
They brought a better side to the gardens than they played at home - and they fronted up more. Thus it was that the first half was quite tight and played out in front of a restless and not totally supportive crowd. They came to see tries, lots of them. I have not seen the gardens in this mood this season. It was reminiscent of some of the games from ND1!
The crowd got what it wanted in the second half as Saints slowly turned the screw and turned on some style. The forwards had done a lot of hard work in the first half and the team reaped the rewards in the second half. The bonus point duly arrived and Saints, and we supporters, could look forward to a home quarter final and should we win that a home semi final. When the cup was drawn Group 2 was called the group of death. Two ambitious French teams and two premiership teams. Instead Saints had waltzed through the competition - only dropping one point (away on French soil) and finishing as second seeds.
So job done. Thanks lads!
So who caught the eye?
Once again Mark Easter was right up there. This time in third place with 14.5% of the votes cast. Mark has turned into a real find from within this season - one of many.
In second place, with almost 22%, was Courtney Lawes. I am sure, if I continue to do this section, I will spend a lot of time at the keyboard thinking of more and more superlatives for this young man. It is hard to remember all the time just how young Courtney is as he has a maturity beyond his callow youth. A couple more seasons knocking off the final rough edges and we will have a real diamond. It is something I am really looking forward to.
The winner with just over 40.5% of the votes was Soane Tonga'uiha. I was only commenting last week how long it had been since Soane last won a MoTM award and now here is winning a second on the bounce. It is the third time this season this has happened and then the winners (Roger Wilson and Paul Diggin) went on to win a third on the bounce as well. I wonder if Soane can do this three card trick as well.
Soane's win moves the forwards further ahead against their rival divisons with 10.5 wins to the backs 8.5.
And finally thanks to the 96 who voted.
Full Result
Previous Winners
Vote History
Who wins?
Leaderboard
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StumbleuponMan of the Match - Toulon Home 2009
Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 03/02/2009 09:42
ComeOnYouSaints.com
03/02/2009 09:42
03/02/2009 09:42
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another good read, Tim.
Many thanks!
"It's not the despair, Saints, I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."
Many thanks!
"It's not the despair, Saints, I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."
Looks good. I'm wondering...(I know this is additional work,) who the leader is on total votes cast for the season as opposed to the most weekly wins. Any chance or am I asking too much?
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Nicely penned, Tim.
Does this mean we're developing a balanced team?
Or a balanced set of voters...?
Does this mean we're developing a balanced team?
Or a balanced set of voters...?
Rich
In line with the NHS patient record system which is now late and running 100 squillion squids over budget, this sort of request is exactly what leads to those sorts of cost overrun.
I will consult with the contractor, Timcenture, and see what they will charge for this change request.
But any additional costs will come out of your budget.
In line with the NHS patient record system which is now late and running 100 squillion squids over budget, this sort of request is exactly what leads to those sorts of cost overrun.
I will consult with the contractor, Timcenture, and see what they will charge for this change request.
But any additional costs will come out of your budget.
A change request has been put forward to the appropriate authorities - who will no doubt spend longer on considering it than it would take to complete.
Seriously - I have the data and was going to look at total votes per player, per game played etc as part of my summer musings.
Can you wait?
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Seriously - I have the data and was going to look at total votes per player, per game played etc as part of my summer musings.
Can you wait?
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
Quote:Phil
ahem. It's Gersquillion...
I was not sure it was as expensive as that!
Can you also do a map showing players birthplace as i've a feeling it has some influence.
Point 1: Thanks to Phil for using the current approved term 'gersquillion' it's give public confidence to all our health improvement consumers.
Point 2: The budget isn't critical here, getting the software right is and frankly then the double triple quadruple recording of health records and the additional employment of admin staff so that health care providers can see 3 or maybe 4 health improvement consumers per week is the important factor.*
Point 3: please don't be flippant Mr G
*due to additional costs can all health care providers please provide their own stationery and toilet roll until the new financial year. We don't want to make cuts do we?
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Point 2: The budget isn't critical here, getting the software right is and frankly then the double triple quadruple recording of health records and the additional employment of admin staff so that health care providers can see 3 or maybe 4 health improvement consumers per week is the important factor.*
Point 3: please don't be flippant Mr G
*due to additional costs can all health care providers please provide their own stationery and toilet roll until the new financial year. We don't want to make cuts do we?
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
ps I just though it would be interesting to do a bit of a tour de France style look. Yellow jersey, points leader, king of the mountains etc. Currently we are only looking at the most stage wins.
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Sorry couldn't leave it on 13 posts!
How about number of votes per inch of player (based on the heights in the programme which of course are 100% gospel) - our own version of apart-height.
Or
Number of votes per Kg of player?
I suspect that Digger would be doing very well on both counts
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
How about number of votes per inch of player (based on the heights in the programme which of course are 100% gospel) - our own version of apart-height.
Or
Number of votes per Kg of player?
I suspect that Digger would be doing very well on both counts
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
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