Chris Gleadell: Saints prove they can be achievers
And so another season is over and for Saints they go out on their biggest high in almost a decade by winning the European Challenge Cup at The Stoop on Friday night.
It may have been a long time in coming, and in some respects that made it all that sweeter, but finally after nine years of ups-and-downs – including a very big 'down' – the Saints names is on a second piece of major silverware.
To paraphrase a quote often used by an ex-coach of ours, if success is not a destination but a continuing journey, then I think in Friday night's victory we turned off the A508 and onto the motorway as that, hopefully upward, journey continues.
What is all the more remarkable is that a year ago we were still on the backroads of National Division One.
In October we find ourselves back in with the big boys of the Heineken Cup.
From playing the likes of Esher, Newbury and Launceston last season to possibly playing the European powerhouses of Toulouse, Munster and Biarritz next term shows how quickly we have picked the pace, and while we should never forget where we came from, I like the direction we are heading, and long may it continue.
As for the game itself, if I can quote from last week's column "They (Bourgoin) can also 'mix it up' a bit too. They have a strong pack that can be, to put a nicer word on it, 'abrasive' at times and it is important that Saints stay above it and don't get dragged down into a war of attrition."
Well, I never thought Bourgoin would take me quite to my word on that, but when the chips were down they reverted to type and tried to introduce the rough stuff.
Credit to Saints though, by and large they didn't stoop (pardon the pun) to the levels of the opposition.
If anything the French team's attempts at dragging the game down just made our lads all the more determined to step it up, and with Bourgoin pinned in their own half for virtually all of the second half you have to say their alternative gameplan failed miserably.
The darker side of the game should not detract from the achievement of the night though.
I will not pick out any player for individual praise as they all played their part from start to finish in what were at times somewhat difficult conditions where it must have tempting to react to the aggression of the opposition.
Despite the view of referee George Clancy at times, each and every one of them kept themselves above it and got on with the game in hand and created the chances for Stephen Myler to keep the clock ticking over.
No tries came but the final score of 15-3 did not really reflect how Saints had dominated proceedings and thoroughly deserved the win.
A job well done and well done to all concerned.
The support played their part on Friday night too.
Yes, maybe not the numbers were there that should have been given the ridiculous scheduling of the game, but I would guess that around 8,500 Saints made it to west London.
While we had the lions' share of the noise, some credit has to go to the 500 or so Bourgoin supporters who made the journey over the Channel to support their side.
I can't wait for new season
So where exactly do we go from here? Well, as I mentioned earlier again another massive step up in class for us next season.
We may not be there yet but in the first season back in the top flight we have taken massive strides.
In reality, and not counting those chickens too quickly, not only should we be looking at a good showing in the Heineken Cup but also cementing at least a top six placing in the Guinness Premiership.
We certainly have the nucleus of a squad to attain that.
We might be losing some parts of our long serving furniture in the likes of Tom Smith and Matt Lord and there are some big voids to fill, but over this season we have started to see the fruition of the revamped academy with the likes of Courtney Lawes being the first off the production line.
There have also been some astute signings for next season, not only in internationals of the likes of Santiago Bonorino, Brian Mujati, Shane Geraghty and Dan Vickerman, but players of the calibre of Phil Dowson, skipper at the Falcons and top ball carrier in last season's Guinness Premiership for his position.
All parts of the ever-expanding Saints jigsaw, but more importantly increasing strength in depth and serious competition for just about every position across the park.
Exciting times ahead and next season cannot come soon enough.
See you all in August.
Most had travelled by coach overnight, returning straight home after the game so would have been tired to say the least.
Their team may not have given them too much to cheer about, but until the latter stages they never gave up the ghost in their support.
Fair play to them.
Ultimately though the night was ours and as numerous rounds of ‘Oh Wendy’ reverberated around the ground you felt nothing was going to ruin our evening and indeed it didn’t.
At the final whistle and through the presentations, lap of honour and long into the night there may have been jubilation and celebration, but you could almost sense a collective sigh of relief too as the lads proved ‘yes, Saints can do it at this level’.
Maybe that tag of underachievers that some in the media are so glad to pin on us has been consigned to history, and from what I have seen in the latter half of this season it might be a very long time staying there.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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