Late try sees Saints dash Saracens' play-off hopes, Bath thrash Leicester

SATURDAY WRAP: Northampton replacement prop Tarek Haffar scored two tries in the final quarter of a 28-24 home Premiership win that put a huge dent in Saracens’ hopes of securing an end-of-season play-off spot whilst Bath cruised past Leicester Tigers.

Saracens who were 24-7 ahead at one stage, looked sure-fire winners, but a remarkable and spirited comeback saw Saints score three converted tries, one with the last play of the game.

Saracens have now lost on their last five trips to Northampton, and their defeat means that the play-off spot is now out of their hands as a Bristol victory next week will secure the West Country side that coveted fourth-placed position.

Tom Willis, Juan-Martin Gonzalez, Alex Goode, and Rotimi Segun each crossed over for Saracens, with Fergus Burke converting two.

Josh Kemeny scored the hosts’ first try and there was also a penalty try awarded, with Rory Hutchinson kicking two conversions and Fin Smith adding one.

It took Saints just seven minutes to take the lead when a well-judged chip ahead from Smith was gathered by Kemeny, who scrambled over.

The visitors’ response was swift, with surges from Elliot Daly and Goode putting the defence on the back foot before Willis proved unstoppable from close range.

Daly was also instrumental in his side’s second try when a well-timed pass from Burke sent him sailing through a gap before his long pass created a try for Gonzalez. This was the flanker’s fourth in two games after a hat-trick against Newcastle previously.

The momentum was clearly with the away side, and they could have easily extended their lead, but Daly was off-target with a 35-metre drop-goal attempt.

Northampton suffered a blow when Curtis Langdon departed with a shoulder injury. After coming off second best in a hefty collision with Ben Earl, the hooker had struggled on for 10 minutes before being forced to give up the ghost.

There was soon to be another setback for the home side as their opponents scored a third try. Skilful movement of the ball created the overlap for Tobias Elliott, whose inside pass provided Goode with a walk-in.

Both sides then suffered injuries with Northampton’s James Ramm and Saracens’ Gonzalez departing, but the visitors were firmly in control at the interval when they led 19-7.

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Three minutes after the break, the game looked virtually over as more impressive handling from the away side ended with Segun running 30 metres for the crucial bonus-point try.

Saints badly needed a score to remain in contention, and they looked to get one when Alex Coles appeared to have crashed over, but TMO replays showed that the lock had lost possession.

However, soon after Smith was replaced, Northampton scored a second through Haffa,r and that was the precursor for them to have their best period of the match.

They dominated the final quarter and were rewarded with a penalty try for collapsing,g with Andy Onyeama-Christie sent to the sin-bin for the offence.

It set up a nerve-jangling finish, and despite the suspicion of two forward passes, Haffar raced over to leave Saracens crestfallen.

Meanwhile, Leicester will require a point from their final Premiership game against Newcastle to confirm a play-off place after losing 15-43 against title favourites Bath.

And victory for Leicester over the Premiership’s bottom club on May 31 would also secure a home semifinal.

Leaders Bath claimed their 14th league win of the campaign in what could prove a dress rehearsal for the Premiership Final in mid-June.

Tries from Ben Spencer, Beno Obano, Tom Dunn, Quinn Roux, Will Stuart, Joe Cokanasiga and Will Butt – plus four Finn Russell conversions, gave Bath the send-off they required into next Friday’s EPCR Challenge Cup Final appointment with Lyon.

Leicester were in contention for much of the Recreation Ground clash and led just before half-time.

But despite tries by Joseph Woodward and Adam Radwan, plus a Handre Pollard penalty and conversion, they could not make pressure count despite lengthy spells inside Bath’s 22.

Michael Cheika’s team would undoubtedly have wanted to get the play-off job done in the West Country, yet it would be a huge surprise if they do not get there.

Bath flew out of the blocks and went ahead after just four minutes when flanker Sam Underhill won a lineout ball before finding Spencer, whose 30-metre run saw him outstrip Tigers’ defence for an outstanding solo try.

Pollard opened Leicester’s account through a 35-metre penalty shortly afterwards, but the visitors temporarily went down to 14 players when England lock Ollie Chessum was yellow-carded following a high challenge on Bath wing Will Muir.

The hosts looked to take charge, but Leicester had other ideas and they went ahead when scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet’s cross-kick was caught by Woodward, who finished strongly.

Bath regained the advantage four minutes later courtesy of a close-range effort from Obano that Russell converted, and a lively opening quarter ended with the home side 12-8 in front.

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Referee Anthony Woodthorpe and the television match official were in regular conversation, and Bath hooker Dunn received a yellow card after head contact with Tigers flanker Hanro Liebenberg.

And the visitors cashed in, stretching Bath’s defence before fullback Freddie Steward floated a long pass to Radwan, who scored his eighth try in eight Premiership games since joining the club from Newcastle.

Pollard converted, and Radwan was denied a quickfire second touchdown by Bath flanker Ted Hill’s brilliant cover tackle before Hill turned provider for Bath’s third score.

His powerful touchline run almost took him clear of Leicester’s defence, but the home side quickly recycled possession and Roux collected Russell’s pass to score, with the flyhalf converting for a 19-15 interval lead.

Dunn put Bath further in front when he claimed their bonus-point try eight minutes after the restart, before Stuart went over with 12 minutes left to leave Leicester floundering.

There was no way back for the Tigers after that and Bath still had time for two more tries when Max Ojomoh intercepted a pass deep inside his own 22 before sending Joe Cokanasiga sprinting clear to score, then Butt took his team past 40 points.

But a play-off spot is still firmly in Leicester’s control when Newcastle arrive at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in two weeks’ time.

Northampton Saints 28-24 Saracens

Scorers:

For Northampton Saints:
Tries: Kemeny, Haffar 2, Penalty
Cons: Smith, Hutchinson 2

For Saracens:
Tries: Willis, Gonzalez, Goode, Segun
Cons: Burke

Teams

Northampton Saints: 15 James Ramm, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Fraser Dingwall (captain), 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tom Litchfield, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8. Henry Pollock, 7 Josh Kemeny, 6 Alex Coles, 5 Tom Lockett, 4 Temo Mayanavanua, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Ed Prowse, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Jake Garside, 23 Tom Seabrook

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Jamie George, 1 Eroni Mawi,
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Hugh Tizard, 20 Theo McFarland, 21 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 22 Charlie Bracken, 23 Angus Hall

Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant Referees: George Selwood,  Simon Harding
TMO: Dean Richards

Bath 43-15 Leicester Tigers

Scorers:

For Bath:
Tries: Spencer, Obano, Roux, Dunn, Stuart, Cokanasiga, Butt
Cons: Russell 4

For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: Woodward, Radwan,
Cons: Pollard
Pen: Pollard

Yellow cards: Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers – 10′), Tom Dunn (Bath – 28′)

Teams:

Bath: 15 Claran Donoghue, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Cameron Redpath, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ross Maloney, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Max Ojomoh, 23 Arthur Green.

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Redwan, 12 Solomone Kata, 12 Joe Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Ollie Cracknell, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Cameron Henderson, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Cronin, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Matt Rogerson, 20 Emeka Ilone, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Dan Kelly.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace, Wayne Falla
TMO: David Rose