by Northampton 41 Saracens 30
Never mind Good Friday – this could not be better for Northampton, who opened their bonus point to send Saracens daylight between them and the popular pack at the top of the Premiership table. And, on this form, against a Saracens side that destroyed Harlequins last week, Northampton are clearly the team to beat for the denouement of the season.
The Saints scored six tries and every one of them was worth it in this extremely frustrating game, which was still firmly in the balance until the 60th minute. After a scintillating start that gave Northampton 17 points after as many minutes, Saracens twice battled back to within a draw – both from drop kicks. Tommy Freeman’s try through poor midfield defense sealed victory and the bonus point in the end, with the brilliant Ollie Sleightholme running in a long range effort late on as Saracens chased the game. At least Alex Lewington’s late double secured a bonus point for the visitors.
The star of the show for the Saints was the one-on-one victory in the semi, with master Owen Farrell against apprentice Fin Smith. Smith’s distribution was so regal in a winning cause that his late bin and horrendous effort at goal can be overlooked. Smith is not a star in the making; he is a star in the moment.
“Fionn’s understanding of games is fantastic,” said Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby. “He was involved [with England]he’s been capped and he’s coping better going from that international stage to this stage.”
Northampton could not exorcise the demons of last weekend’s hammering of Bristol more explosively. Freeman and the sensational Curtis Langdon were all charged with venom in the opening exchanges before Smith moved Jamie George – on his return to the starting XV – and Lucio Cinti up like kidpers. Alex Coles went over unopposed to open the scoring.
After Billy Vunipola slipped a superb touch finder off the outside of his boot, the Saints were back in action. Sleightholme, certainly on the edge of England’s call, left the Saracens chasing shadows, stepping out to his left, his right, and then hitting the gas before Lewington brought him down a short metre. A pop by winger James Ramm found Coles’ shoulder and Saints had a second. The site footage was inconclusive but the evidence to overrule referee Luke Pearce was incontrovertible. No doubt the Saints got the rub of the greens but Sleightholme’s streak was so great; he deserved a score.
With Alex Mitchell still nursing a hand injury picked up during England’s defeat in France, Tom James started at fly-half for Northampton and it was from his tick that the momentum of the game changed. James was brought down by Theo McFarland at the base, and the bounce of the ball was kind to the Samoan green to score. Farrell’s conversion and subsequent penalty meant the Saints’ lead was reduced from 17 to seven points at the break.
Farrell cut the deficit to four after a harsh ruck penalty on Courtney Lawes, before Ramm cut a line from the Gods at the death of Smith to canter on his second and Northampton’s third. It should also be noted that it was James’ break that gave Northampton the field to score, making up for his mistake in the first half.
“I was a bit worried because today felt like the effort was involved,” said Mark McCall, Saracens’ director of rugby. “And we don’t like that. We showed some grit to get back into the game but we are disappointed.”
Saracens’ second resurrection came at the hands of Ramm. His charge down, Saints’ second of the evening, saw substitute Ben Earl keep the visitors in the hunt.
But Freeman’s score and Sleightholme’s runaway secured the Saints victory. Lewington’s double consolation, after a spell in the bin, could do nothing to take the Easter weekend away from Northampton.
Compatibility of facts
Scoring sequence: 5-0 Coles try, 7-0 Smith con, 12-0 Ramm try, 14-0 Smith con, 17-0 Smith pen, 17-5 McFarland try, 17-7 Farrell con, 17-10 Farrell pen, 17 -13 Farrell pen, 22-13 Ramm trial, 24-13 Smith con, 27-13 Smith pen, 27-18 Earl attempt, 27-20 Farrell con, 32-20 Freeman attempt, 34-20 Smith con, 39-20 Sleightholme try, 41-20 Smith try, 41-25 Lewington try, 41-30 Lewington try.
Ht: 17-10
St. Northampton: J Ramm (Litchfield 74); T Freeman, B Odendaal, F Dingwall, O Sleightholme; F Smith, T James (McParland 76); E Iyogun (Waller 46), C Langdon (Matavesi 59), T Davison (Prowse 69), A Moon (Mayanavanua 61), A Coles, C Lawes (c) (Ludlam 56), T Pearson, J Augustus (Graham 46) .
Yellow card: Smith 78
Saracens: E Daly (Good 59); S Maitland, L Cinti, N Tompkins, A Lewington; O Farrell (c) (Simpson 69), I van Zyl; M Vunipola (Mawi 48), J George (Dan 48), M Riccioni (Judge 69), T McFarland, N Isiekwe (Tizard 64), JM Gonzalez (Earl 38), A Christie, B Vunipola (Willis 58).
Yellow card: Lewington 60
Referee: L Pearce
Attendance: 15,153
