Coach Wayne Shelford's hard-line regime paid dividends for Saracens as they
avoided their first successive defeat and denied Northampton their third win in
a row.
Shelford, disgusted by the second-half capitulation in last Sunday's 51-23
defeat at Wasps, cancelled his players' day off on Monday so they could work on
their skills.
They quickly showed they had learned well, taking the lead with just one
minute 42 seconds on the clock at Vicarage Road as they rocked Saints with what
turned out to be at their only try.
Adryan Winnan, preferred to French star Thomas Castaignede at full-back,
launched a high kick, England flanker Richard Hill, switched for number eight by
Shelford, snatched the bouncing ball to cut a sway through the Northampton
defence to send lock Stuart Hooper clear for the try which Andy Goode
converted.
After a bright opening the lack of basic skills which New Zealander Shelford
insists afflicts the Zurich Premiership, manifested itself on the game.
Combined with a surfeit of penalties, it reduced the first part to a scrappy
affair but fly-half Goode, an inspired summer signing from champions Leicester,
maintained Saracens' seven-point advantage.
He kicked three first-half penalties - the first from the right touchline, the
second from halfway and the third from inside his own half.
But Northampton opposite number Paul Grayson replied with two penalties of his
own and a superbly executed left-foot drop goal to keep his side in touch at
16-9 at half-time.
Shelford must have feared a repeat at last week's second-half collapse as
Northampton quickly drew level after the interval.
While Saracens were reduced to 14 men when lock Craig Yandell was sin-binned
in the 14th minute, the Northampton pack pushed prop Tom Smith over the line but
he was held up and prevented from grounding the ball.
But Northampton exploited the extra space created by their new miracle
advantage as full-back Nick Beal went over unchallenged in the right-hand corner
for a 52nd-minute try which Grayson converted to level at 16-16.
But Saracens weathered the storm without further leaks and the trusty boot of
Goode enabled them to regain control as the fly half dropped a goal from 35
metres in the 54th minute and landed a penalty from similar range two minutes
later.
Grayson cut the deficit to three points with his fourth penalty from four
attempts before Goode landed another huge effort from inside his own half to
make it 25-19.
Saracens were reduced to 14 men again when prop Johnny Masters was sin-binned
for a professional foul but Northampton failed to take advantage this time and
Goode landed another drop goal.
He had the final say in the closing minute with another mammoth penalty from
just one metre inside the Northampton half to take his personal point
contribution to 26 as he rounded up an excellent all-round play.
Saracens:
Tries: Hooper.
Cons: Goode.
Pens: Goode 6.
Drop Goals: Goode 2.
Saracens: Winnan, Johnson, Shanklin, Sorrell, O'Mahony, Goode,
Williams, Kershaw, Ross, Marsters, Hooper, Yandell, Peacey,
Roques, Hill.
Not Used: Cairns, Parkes, Benazzi, Chesney, Bracken, Little,
Castaignede.
Northampton:
Tries: Beal.
Cons: Grayson.
Pens: Grayson 3.
Drop Goals: Grayson.
Northampton: Beal, Ripol, Jorgensen, Leslie, Cohen, Grayson,
Brooks, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Phillips, Williams, Connors,
Pountney, Seely.
Not Used: Richmond, Stewart, Hunter, Soden, Howard, Tucker,
Sleightholme.
Att: 6,289
Ref: Andy Ireland (SFU).
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