Late strikes sees Saints secure win

Northampton left it late but, as the final whistle sounded, the Saints were on the right side of the scoreline – edging out Premiership rivals 24-22 at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday thanks to a last minute try from Chris Ashton.

An enthralling final stage of the match saw the home side score thirteen points in 11 minutes and maintain their stunning home record and help Jim Mallinder’s men leapfrog the Exiles into second place on the log.

Two of the leagues most attack-minded teams served up a try-less first half display with the match going into the break with the Exiles leading 9-6 thanks to three Chris Malone penalties to just two from Saint Stephen Myler.

Northampton started the scoring after just eight minutes before, with three clean strikes, Malone edged Irish into a six point lead.

Myler narrowed the gap just before half time but it was flank Phil Dowson who would be able to put Mallinder’s men back into the lead.

Dowson, who himself is enjoying a fantastic season with Northampton, went over just three minutes into the second period and, with the conversion unsuccessful, put Northampton 11-9 ahead.

With so much time left in the match it was a certainty that London Irish would respond in some way and, with the hour mark approaching, they did just that.

Australian international and Exiles hero Peter Hewat, playing on the right wing, was the man to strike for Toby Booth’s men. Malone’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful but just three minutes later the No.10 made amends by slotting over his fourth penalty of the night to put last years Premiership finalists 19-11 up.

Myler added a penalty with 11 minutes left on the clock but a Malone drop goal just a minute later, creating a eight point gap, seemed to end all hopes of a dramatic comeback.

England flyhalf Shane Geraghty, on for Myler, looked to have secured a losing bonus point for the Saints with a penalty on 74 minutes but the home side had other ideas. Seemingly impossible to defeat at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton wing Chris Ashton scored a try in the final minute of the match to draw the scores level with a conversion to come.

Geraghty made no mistake adding the two extra points and secured the Saints a victory at the death.

The Scorers

For Northampton

Tries: Dowson, Ashton
Pen: Myler 3, Geraghty
Con: Geraghty

For London Irish

Try: Hewat
Pen: Malone 4
DG: Malone
Con: Malone

The Teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Dylan Hartley (captain), 1 Soane Tonga’uiha
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Jon Vickers, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Christian Day, 20 Neil Best, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Chris Mayor

London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Tom Homer, 13 Elvis Seveali’i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Peter Hewat, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Chris Hala’Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Kieran Roche, 5 Bob Casey, 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 David Paice, 1 Clarke Dermody
Replacements: 16 Danie Coetzee, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Faan Rautenbach, 19 Andy Perry, 20 Jonathon Fisher, 21 John Rudd, 22. Ryan Lamb, 23. Alfredo Lalanne

Referee: Sean Davey