Phil Dowson had just gone through major sporting heartache. His Saints team had thrown away a big half-time lead against Leinster in the final of the 2011 Heineken Cup.Desolate at the thought of what might have been, the flanker searched out his family amidst the Cardiff crowd no doubt seeking words of solace and comfort.
Instead of a sympathetic sombre mood, he found his nearest and dearest ready to hit Westgate Street in party mood.
Dowson explains why …
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt as miserable after a game as I did then. At least my family were happy, they’d backed me to score the first try at long odds!”
The England international had scored 10 tries in 36 European appearances for Newcastle and Saints combined up until that point, a fair return for a forward.
Clearly the bookies hadn’t done their homework, but his parents and siblings certainly had!
Ben Foden and Dylan Hartley added further tries as the Saints led 22-6 at half-time but Johnny Sexton inspired a second-half fightback and it was the Irish province who lifted the magnificent trophy after scoring 27 unanswered points.
