Reinach steers Saints to victory
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Cobus Reinach’s blistering solo try inspired Northampton Saints to a fine 32-6 victory on the road at Worcester Warriors.
Chris Boyd’s troops were also indebted the boot of Dan Biggar, who kicked five penalties as his team handed themselves the perfect early Christmas present of a third away win of the 2018-19 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season.
The visitors came close to snaffling an early score inside six minutes, Taqele Naiyaravoro dotting down in the corner but the Warriors’ Bryce Heem did enough to disturb the Australian winger’s rhythm, his foot clipping the sideline as the score was ruled out.
Biggar then got himself motoring, the Northampton fly-half assuredly tucking away three penalties.
Duncan Weir bisected the posts to Worcester on the board just before the half-hour mark but Biggar came to the fore again, tucking away his fourth penalty of the half to hand his team a nine-point advantage at the break.
Having missed two kicks earlier, Weir chipped away at the deficit from the tee early in the second half and soon after, a stirring Heem break saw Worcester plough forward with intent but Northampton held firm and then hit their hosts with a sucker punch.
With the Warriors rapping at the door, Reinach picked off a Francois Hougaard pass and streaked downfield to bag the game’s first try, Piers Francis adding the extras.
Biggar, who also struck the post with a late drop goal attempt, tucked away two more penalties while the icing was put on the back as the Saints marched to success via another interception, Luther Burrell seizing on a loose Weir pass and racing away to score, Biggar converting.
The scorers:
For Worcester Warriors:
Pen: Weir
For Northampton Saints:
Tries: Reinach, Burrell
Cons: Biggar, Francis
Pens: Biggar 6
Teams:
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 GJ van Velze(captain), 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Marco Mama, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete‘e, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Pierce Phillips, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Ollie Lawrence, 23 Scott van Breda.
Northampton Saints: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Dylan Hartley (co-captain), 1 Alex Waller (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 James Fish, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Heinrich Brüssow, 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Fraser Dingwall.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Paul Dix & Anthony Woodthorpe.
TMO: Rowan Kitt.
@premrugby
Call. Off. The chase
⚡️ @c_reinach pic.twitter.com/POdKU1G1yV
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) December 21, 2018
