Northampton took full advantage of Sale's defeat at Saracens to clinch third
place in the Zurich Premiership with victory over Leeds this afternoon.
Saints secured four points from a hard-fought encounter at Franklin's Gardens,
drawing level with Sale in the table but moving above the Manchester club on
account of the their superior number of league victories.
The result means Northampton will now face Wasps in the Premiership play-off
semi-final, a prospect which scarcely seemed possible earlier in the season when
the Sharks were firmly cemented in second place.
It also sends Leeds into the Premiership wildcard play-offs where they will
battle for a berth in the Heineken Cup next term, having failed to claim the
automatic spot in Europe's top competition which fourth place guarantees.
But the fact the Tykes have been in contention for Heineken Cup rugby next
season is a remarkable achievement in itself given that their first campaign in
English top flight English rugby last year saw them finish bottom of the pile.
They have made great strides in a comparatively short space of time however,
and today they showed once again that they can compete with the best the
Premiership has to offer.
They were edged out 8-6 in a tight first half as Peter Jorgensen's try and a
Paul Grayson penalty put Saints in the driving seat, with Leeds mustering two
penalties from former Springbok Braam van Straaten in reply.
The third quarter was also closely contested and it was only in the final 10
minutes that Leeds fell away, allowing Steve Thompson and Oriol Ripol in for two
soft tries to give the final score its one-sided appearance.
The Tykes gave an early indication of their desire to clinch fourth place when
they used their juggernaut pack to make inroads into Saints territory, winning
two long-range penalties which van Straaten nudged wide of the uprights.
The South African was presented with a third opportunity in the 15th minute
however after Northampton had infringed at a scrum and he made no mistake,
slotting his kick between the posts.
The opening 10 minutes had been hampered by a series of dropped passes from
both teams but Leeds continued to hold the upper hand with Samoan winger George
Harder making ground every time he touched the ball.
Van Straaten was having a rare off-day with the boot, missing another shot at
goal only to make amends shortly after with an easy kick on Saints' 22.
England duo Matt Dawson and Ben Cohen combined neatly in the 27th minute to
set up a threatening position deep in the Tykes' half and fly-half Grayson took
the opportunity to land an inch-perfect drop-goal.
Cohen was prominent as Northampton surged ahead once again but Leeds stole the
ball at the breakdown, allowing Canadian international winger Winston Stanley to
clear the danger with a hefty punt upfield.
Saints swept out of their half through a mixture of forward power and a neat
kick and threatened once again with Cohen proving a menace down the left wing.
He turned Harder inside-out before being hauled down, although his pack was on
hand to see that the ball was swiftly recycled and spun right to Nick Beal who
was lurking ominously out wide.
The Northampton full-back powered his way forward before slipping a superb
pass out of the tackle to Australian Jorgensen who dived over. Dawson failed to
add the extras and then missed a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time.
Dawson was forced off the pitch with what appeared to be a hip injury shortly
after the interval and his absence allowed New Zealand sevens ace Bruce Reihana
to land a simple three points.
Leeds were dealt a further blow when their combative hooker Mark Regan was
sinbinned for a tussle at the scrum but Saints, despite a truck load of
possession, could not press home their advantage.
Reihana managed another penalty in the 66th minute to nudge his side into a
14-6 lead and then Northampton touched down for their second try through England
hooker Thompson.
Cohen set him up, supplying the scoring pass, but Thompson still had plenty to
do as he palmed off a couple of Tykes defenders to barge his way over in the
corner. Reihana added the extras.
There was still time for Saints to cross once again when Grayson's crossfield
kick fell kindly for substitute Ripol who scampered in, with Jorgensen booting
the conversion.
Leeds replied with a late flurry with prop Mike Shelley making a surging run
but Saints held firm to ensure their tryline was not breached.
Teams
Northampton: Beal, Reihana, Jorgensen, Leslie, Cohen, Grayson,
Dawson, Stewart, Thompson, Morris, Williams, Lord, Connors,
Fox, Blowers.
Replacements: Miles, Budgen, Hunter, Seely, Brooks, Tucker, Ripol.
Tries: Jorgensen, Thompson, Ripol.
Cons: Reihana, Jorgensen.
Pens: Reihana 2.
Drop Goals: Grayson.
Leeds: Albanese, Harder, Davies, van Straaten, Stanley, Ross,
Dickens, Shelley, Regan, Holt, C. Murphy, Palmer, Mather, Hyde,
Feaunati.
Replacements: Kerr, Rawlinson, P. Murphy, Popham, Hegarty,
Emmerson, Hall.
Pens: van Straaten 2.
Att: 12,500
Ref: David McHugh (Ireland).
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