Grayson gives his verdict on Saints' pre-season clash with Worcester

James Grayson reflected on a ' really valuable' experience for Saints after they lost a hard-fought pre-season fixture to Worcester Warriors at Franklin's Gardens.
James Grayson was in action against WorcesterJames Grayson was in action against Worcester
James Grayson was in action against Worcester

The Friday afternoon run-out consisted of four 30-minute periods, with Saints able to use all of the squad members available to them.

Grayson, like many of the men who will be expected to start the Gallagher Premiership season opener at Sale Sharks on Friday night, was given 60 minutes.

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And despite the 25-20 scoreline, which Saints insisted was not the main focus, Grayson was happy with his day's work.

"It was a bit bizarre with four 30-minute periods, no real scoreboard, no conversions or penalties so it was just playing rugby for the whole time," Grayson said.

"We got some cobwebs out of the legs and it was nice to see some of the young boys get a go at the end as well.

"It was definitely good to get 60 minutes and it's really valuable game time.

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"It hopefully allows us to go into the Sale game on Friday in full flow and fingers crossed we can get a result up there.

"Playing 60 minutes is always good because you don't quite get your second wind and you don't quite get to the stage where you're knackered so it was really good.

"We tried to go in there with a proper game plan and a mindset that we were going to play it as a proper game - not just a pre-season friendly.

"We did go in with a structure and without kicking penalties and stuff like that it's hard to gauge where you really want to go with it.

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"The boys did really well, the effort was there throughout the 60 from us and then the 60 from the second team.

"It's not results driven, it's all about the process and getting our structures right at the moment.

"Fingers crossed we can go into Sale and we want that to be when the result comes."

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