Saracens outclass hapless Saints

MATCH REPORT: Northampton Saints lost their fourth successive Premiership Rugby match for the first time since April 2018 as they were defeated 21-27 by Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens.

It was the perfect start for Saints who scored two tries in the opening ten minutes through Fraser Dingwall and Harry Mallinder, but the visitors soon hit back when Rotimi Segun crossed over in the corner to get their first points of the afternoon.

*As it happened: Saints v Saracens

With twenty minutes gone Northampton’s Dan Biggar left the field with an injury and Mallinder took over as fly-half, stepping up to score a penalty and extend the lead to 15-8 at the break.

Early in the second half, Saints went down to 13 men when Lewis Bean and Taqele Naiyaravoro were both sent to the sin-bin on separate occasions.

Jack Singleton’s try and Manu Vunipola’s conversion levelled the game while Nick Tompkins dotted down to put Saracens in front for the first time in the contest.

Sarries scored their bonus-point try when Ben Earl ran the length of the pitch but they soon had Matt Gallagher and Alex Lewington both sent to the sin-bin.

Despite having ample opportunity, Saints were unable to capitalise on the man advantage and Saracens held on to secure the win.

The scorers:

For Northampton Saints:
Tries: Dingwall, Mallinder
Con: Biggar
Pens: Mallinader 3

For Saracens:
Tries: Segun, Singleton, Tompkins, Earl
Cons: Vunipola 2
Pen: Vunipola

Yellow cards: Lewis Bean (Northampton Saints, 43), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Northampton Saints, 44), Matt Gallagher (Saracens, 63), Alex Lewington (Saracens, 75)

Teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 Harry Mallinder, 14 Ahsee Tuala, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison (captain), 7 JJ Tonks, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Lewis Bean, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Paul Hill, 2 James Fish, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Ben Glynn, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Henry Taylor, 22 Andrew Symons, 23 Matt Proctor
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Rotimi Segun, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jackson Wray (captain), 7 Ben Earl, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Callum Hunter-Hill, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Richard Barrington
Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Calum Clark, 21 Alex Day, 22 Dom Morris, 23 Matt Gallagher

Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant Referees: Andrew Jackson & Jonathan Healy.
TMO: Sean Davey