Augustus helps Northampton edge Newcastle
PREMIERSHIP SATURDAY WRAP: Northampton Saints held off a Newcastle Falcons fightback to secure a nerve-jangling 32-31 win at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
The home side had appeared to be cruising on two occasions, going 13-0 up in the first half and leading 32-14 at the midpoint of the second half.
Falcons then struck twice late on through Jamie Blamire and George Wacokecoke to reduce the deficit to just one point with nine minutes to play.
But Saints held out for a five-point gain, their second consecutive Premiership bonus-point win.
Unconverted scores from Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Matavesi put Saints in front before a double strike from Falcons’ Tom Penny had the visitors ahead at the break.
Tries from Tom Collins, Juarno Augustus and the ever-lively Sleightholme had Saints seemingly home and hosed before Mateo Carreras, hooker Blamire and centre Wacokecoke crossed to offer Falcons late hope but they could not complete the turnaround and stay 11th, while Saints move back into the top four.
At Kingsholm, Adam Hastings’ late penalty kicked Gloucester to a thrilling 31-28 victory over West Country rivals Bristol Bears.
In a topsy-turvy eight-try affair, it was the Cherry and Whites that struck first, with flank Jordy Reid crossing from close range, but the Bears came back into the game through Sam Bedlow.
Val Rapava-Ruskin scored the first of his two tries eight minutes before half time, before Piers O’Conor again levelled the score.
Freddie Clarke’s try just before the break gave the home side a 21-14 lead.
But Bristol came firing out of the blocks in the second half, and through Ellis Genge and Andy Uren, they took the lead for the first time after 56 minutes.
That was until Rapava-Ruskin scored his second try and flyhalf Hastings knocked over the winning penalty to edge out a cracker.
Meanwhile, Saracens survived a spirited fightback from bottom side Bath to return to the top of the English Premiership, maintaining their 100 percent winning record in the league.
The hosts won an enthralling contest 37-31, with tries from Alex Goode, Max Malins, Elliot Daly and Alex Lewington aided by stellar goalkicking from Owen Farrell.
Bath took the game to the wire, thanks to scores from Matt Gallagher, Joe Cokanasiga, Max Ojomoh and Wesley White along with the boot of Orlando Bailey.
The winless visitors gave Saracens a fright, battling back after trailing 17-37 at the hour mark but Mark McCall’s side held on to move to 25 points after five matches, one clear of Sale.
Saturday’s scores and scorers:
Northampton Saints 32-31 Newcastle Falcons
The scorers:
For Northampton:
Tries: Sleightholme 2, Matavesi, Collins, Augustus
Cons: Grayson 2
Pen: Grayson
For Newcastle:
Tries: Penny 2, Carreras, Blamire, Wacokecoke
Cons: Connon 3
Saracens 37-31 Bath
The scorers:
For Saracens:
Tries: Goode, Malins, Daly, Lewington
Cons: Farrell 4
Pens: Farrell 3
For Bath:
Tries: Gallagher, Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, White
Cons: Bailey 4
Pen: Bailey
Gloucester 31-28 Bristol Bears
The scorers:
For Gloucester:
Tries: Reid, Rapava-Ruskin 2, Clarke
Cons: Hastings 4
Pen: Hastings
For Bristol:
Tries: Bedlow, O’Conor, Genge, Uren
Cons: Sheedy 4
Sources: @premrugby & AFP
