Daggett’s Saints move worked a charm

GOOD MOVE - Lee Daggett is glad he took up a role at Saints

Daggett swapped Northants for the Saints last summer, with silverware following the former seamer to Franklin’s Gardens.

Fresh from helping the County with the T20 competition for the first time, the 31-year-old moved across town to take up a role as a physio.

And, 12 months later, he can now reflect on another season of success, with Saints having collected a double, winning the Amlin Challenge Cup and Aviva Premiership.

“Winning the T20 was a great way to finish at Northants and it’s been nice to be involved at the Saints this year as well,” said the unsurprisingly upbeat Daggett.

“I’ve been lucky in the last 12 months to be at a couple of places that have been pretty successful. I’ve enjoyed it and it’s been great.

“A few people have joked with me about it (being a good luck charm), but they (Saints) have done amazingly well this year.”

Daggett can no longer affect what happens on the field, as he did at Northants, but the bowler, who turned out for Brixworth on Tuesday night, says he doesn’t miss playing top-level cricket.

Instead, he is happy to play a key role behind the scenes, ensuring the likes of George North, Luther Burrell and Kahn Fotuali’i are fit and firing.

“There were a good bunch of guys at Northants and I enjoyed being out there, but I’ve not missed cricket at all to be honest,” said the 31-year-old.

“I’ve had a lot on my plate with the rugby and that’s kept me very busy.

“I’ve not missed it at all, but I’m looking forward to getting back out there and having a game at the weekend, with not as much pressure as there normally was.”

Instead the pressure comes in the form of preparation.

Daggett’s physical strain is replaced by mental exertion, but he is no stranger to hard work, having used his cricket off-seasons to earn a degree from the University of Salford.

And when the offer came at Saints last summer, he couldn’t refuse the chance to enjoy the longevity his new career would bring.

“I could be 68 by the time I’m retired and that’s another 37 years so I’m going to be a physio for a long time,” said Daggett, who did a student placement at Saints in 2011.

“The older you get, the harder it becomes to learn your trade and bed in and I really feel I’ve got the opportunity to do that with Saints. It’s been really good.”