Come on You Saints!!!!

My husband talked me into going along to a rugby match, it was my first time, he'd asked me so many times I thought "what the hell, why not"

So we trot off to The Saints Rugby ground in Northampton, the grounds is called Franklin Gardens because apparently originally it was a civic public gardens. You have to wonder whose brilliant idea it was to get rid of that (yes that is sarcasm).

I was shocked at just how many people attend a rugby match, it was just this sea of people heading towards the grounds. I was even more surprised by how many women and girls were there, all in their Saints shirts, I felt quite out of place in bright pink... I must have clashed terribly with the sea of green shirts.



I'm not entirely sure who these guys are supposed to be, but you have to admire their courage in being prepared to walk around dressed as complete numpties.






My husband had been telling me about this stand, Hog Roast, his dad had tried it at a previous match and pronounced it delicious, so we duly queued up with quite a lengthy crowd, the smell from the roast was tantalising and I could feel my tummy rumbling. It was like it was screaming, bring on the pig people and do it quick!!





We were presented with a soft roll just stuffed and brimming over with roast shredded pork onto the top of which was piled strips of crisp pork crackling and then was topped off with spoons of apple sauce...

Absolutely divine! Bliss in a Bun!

The rugby match itself was going to have to be good to top the food.

And it was... it was loud, 15,000 people in the stands all singing the Saints Anthem, When the Saints come marching in, which was really nice, harmonies and everything, but I did have to question which bright spark felt the need to add "oi oi" to the end. Why????

I loved the mascots though, they were so cute, they had a boy and a girl version of the mascot walking around and waving to the kids and posing for photographs. Bet the poor lad who got stuck with the girl costume was hoping his mates didn't see him dressed like that.

Unfortunately the Saints kind of gave it away in the end and failed to convert a try (so I am reliably informed) and we lost by 1 point. Gutting, specially as there was a very vocal opposition supporter right in front of us who felt the need to poke fun.

I took loads of photos of the event, well you have to when it's your first ever live rugby match!

Final Score - Northampton Saints 27 - Saracans 28

I can't say that I have been converted into a mad rugby fan, but I did enjoy the event and would definitely do it again.

But this has got to be my favourite moment of the day, look at that face, that is one happy man, he's having a great time... good food, sports and he got me to go to a rugby match. Good times!!!