EDF Energy Cup - : Saints march on to Twickenham

Northampton Saints taking on Plymouth Albion in the semi-final

Linda Dawson

Saints march on to Twickenham

18 March 2008, 2:06 pm

By Dan Pritchard

Northampton Saints' drive to win every game they play this season will face perhaps its sternest test in the EDF Energy National Trophy final.

After beating Plymouth Albion 8-22 on a sodden pitch in Devon on Saturday, they turn their attentions to fellow Devonians Exeter Chiefs for the final at Twickenham Stadium, on Saturday April 12.

The Chiefs ran out 16-8 winners over Nottingham in a tight rain-lashed game at Sandy Park to set up a return to the final for the second year in a row.

And while Northampton will be clear favourites, in a season where they have won every game so far, they will take on the side probably best placed of any to cause a cup upset. The Chiefs have been runners-up three times in recent years and lie second in National League One as they try to hang on to the coat-tails of the seemingly-unstoppable league leaders Saints.

Northampton were delighted to get through a tough encounter in tricky conditions to secure their place in next month’s final.
Centre Neil Starling said: “I was in the right place at the right time. I got two tries but I think I ran about two metres for both of them. It was a great performance in difficult conditions.

“It was very boggy underfoot to say the least. Heavy is not really the word. As I jogged out onto the pitch I was thinking I needed a pair of wellies and a snorkel! The mud and rain made it very difficult, but you get that in rugby, it mixes things up and makes it interesting.

“Our forwards did a fantastic job. We’ve got a great set of boys out there and the boys distributing the ball out to the wings are doing a great job, as is shown with so many tries. I’m just happy to be out on the pitch, playing wing or centre.

“Plymouth played very well - they have got a strong set of boys and they kicked well - but I think our forwards did a great job. They performed how we wanted them to perform and managed to put us in the situations we needed to win the game.

“They studied Plymouth’s lineouts well, studied their scrums, who plays where and managed to attack a few of their lineouts to win the ball. And in these conditions that is key, just to put the pressure back on them again.”

Saints head coach Jim Mallinder said: “Our physicality was really good. Throughout the season a few people have questioned us, particularly coming down to the South-West to these big sides with the wet soggy pitches. I think today we showed we can.

“We always knew it was going to be difficult, but apart from conceding the early try we kept our nerve and composure.

“It will be great to be at Twickenham for the players and coaches but mainly for the fans who have supported us fantastically all season - they deserve a day out at Twickenham.”