An impressive second-half turnaround by Northampton Saints denied Newcastle
Falcons their first away win of the season at Franklin's Gardens.
Despite putting up a tremendous battle and leading at half-time by two tries
to one, Rob Andrews' Newcastle side could not pull off a much-needed victory
with Saints running riot late on to claim a 33-20 bonus-point win.
Saints' reliable goal-kicker Shane Drahm had put the home side in the lead
with a first-minute penalty but the Falcons stamped their authority on the game
with an impressive 10th-minute try.
Centre Jamie Noon was the scorer but winger Michael Stephenson had made the
break before chipping inside to Noon just short of the line.
Former Springbok forward Marius Hurter then crashed over the line for
Northampton's second score following a line-out and drive on the Saints line.
But with Ben Gollings missing the two conversions, Saints crucially stayed in
touch with a late try by scrum-half Johnny Howard who finally broke Newcastle's
defence to score and made the half-time score 8-10 to the visitors.
Northampton blasted back into action after the break. Drahm kept the
scoreboard ticking over with two penalties before snatching his own
well-deserved try for the Saints who kept battering the Falcons' defence.
With Drahm adding a conversion suddenly the home side had created an 11-point
cushion and Newcastle were left battling against the odds.
Falcons replacement Dave Walder clawed back three points with a penalty and
Hugh Vyvyan snatched a late converted try.
But Saints stalwart Nick Beal crashed over the try line twice for two late
converted tries to secure victory for Northampton.
Teams:
Northampton: Beal, Clarke, Tucker, Leslie, Reihana, Drahm,
Howard, Sturgess, Richmond, Budgen, Lord, Hunter, Connors, Fox,
Blowers.
Replacements: Sleightholme for Clarke (65),
Robinson for Howard (42), Miles for Richmond (74),
Golding for Budgen (77), Phillips for Lord (71),
Seely for Connors (54).
Not Used: Brooks.
Tries: Howard, Drahm, Beal 2.
Cons: Drahm 2.
Pens: Drahm 3.
Newcastle: Shaw, Stephenson, Noon, Mayerhofler, Gollings,
Godman, Charlton, Peel, Makin, Hurter, Archer, Andrews, Dunbar,
Britz, Vyvyan.
Replacements: Walder for Shaw (55), May for Gollings (63),
Grindal for Charlton (58), Ward for Hurter (42),
Taione for Dunbar (58).
Not Used: Thompson, Dowson.
Tries: Noon, Hurter, Vyvyan.
Cons: Walder.
Pens: Walder.
Att: 9,923
Ref: Geraint Ashton (RFU).
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