Northampton's four-match winning run in the Zurich Premiership was brought to
an abrupt end by Sale's Charlie Hodgson at Franklin's Gardens.
The England squad stand-off finished with 15 points from four penalties and a
drop goal.
But more importantly his tactical kicking turned the game in the visitors'
favour after Scotland prop Tom Smith's 27th-minute try had put the Saints 7-3
ahead at the interval.
After half-time, the Northampton line-out was a disaster area and new England
hooker Steve Thompson was replaced with half an hour remaining. However, his
substitute Dan Richmond fared no better in finding his target.
Hodgson was happy to kick over the Northampton defence and wait for his
hard-working forwards to turn over possession, which they did on a regular
basis.
Sale went 8-7 ahead in the 50th minute when centre Mel Deane burst through
midfield from a line-out and linked up with Hodgson and replacement Jos
Baxendell for Jason Robinson to scamper over for a try from close range.
After Hodgson had made it 11-7 with a 57th-minute penalty, Northampton number
eight Mark Soden recklessly went for a tap penalty close to the visitors' line
instead of taking the three points on offer.
Hodgson on the other hand kept the scoreboard ticking over with three further
penalties and a drop goal.
Saints only second-half scoring came from a Nick Beal penalty in the 76th
minute.
Teams:
Northampton: Beal, Moir, Jorgensen,
Leslie, Cohen, Hepher, Brooks, Smith, Thompson, Stewart, Ackermann, Brouzet, Rennick, Blowers, Soden.
Replacements: Vass for Hepher (72), Richmond for Thompson (52), Phillips for Brouzet (77).
Not Used: Budgen, Hunter, Tucker, Webster.
Tries: Smith.
Cons: Hepher.
Pens: Beal.
Sale: Going, Cueto, Robinson, Deane, Hanley, Hodgson, Redpath, Yates, Titterrell, Turner, Fullarton, Lines, Davies, Pinkerton, A. Sanderson.
Replacements: Baxendell for Cueto (30), Black for Yates (80), C. Marais for Titterrell (76).
Not Used: Dickens, Shaw, Wilkes, Giacheri.
Tries: Robinson.
Pens: Hodgson 4.
Drop Goals: Hodgson.
Att: 10,500
Ref: Roy Maybank (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook