Matt Dawson's return to Franklin's Garden ended in victory on Saturday but only by
the narrowest of margins as Wasps held firm to beat Northampton.
Ed Thrower's try in the opening seconds of the half was enough to earn Wasps
their third successive victory.
Shane Drahm, influential at fly-half for Northampton, had kicked his side into
a 9-3 lead at the interval and Northampton responded positively to Thrower's
try.
But simple mistakes and a lack of composure cost them as they slipped to
defeat, their third from a tough run of games after losses to Gloucester and
Leicester.
All the focus before the game had been on Dawson's return to Franklin's
Gardens for the first time since his summer move which had coincided - whether
by intention or not - with the arrival of Corne Krige to Northampton.
There is no love lost between the pair. Dawson described Krige, now
Northampton captain, as "thug-in-chief" for the manner in which he led the
Springboks against England at Twickenham in November 2002.
Krige has since apologised for his approach that day as South Africa spent 80
minutes bent on intimidation and he arrived in England determined to rebuild his
image.
But it took just five minutes for the pair to come together on the field.
Krige wheeled away smiling after he charged in with a late shoulder as Dawson,
exposed, attempted to clear.
Referee Ashley Rowden warned Krige about attempting any repeat but Wasps games
against Northampton often have a lively edge and the opening exchanges proved to
be highly competitive.
Northampton's pack had the clear advantage early on and Dawson was penalised
for trying to disrupt Mark Robinson's delivery from the base of a strong Saints
scrum.
Having missed a first-minute effort from halfway, Drahm found his aim and gave
Northampton the lead after just four minutes.
A downpour just before kick-off and continued showers through the first half
made handling difficult and with passions running high, referee Rowden never
seemed to be off his whistle.
King, the Wasps fly-half, missed two chances to get his side on the scoreboard
as Wasps huffed and puffed against Northampton's defence without creating a
clear opening, despite the inventive running of fullback Mark Van Gisbergen and
centre Peter Richards.
But they were hit on the counter-attack when Northampton took a quick lineout
and Wylie Human chipped through for the on-rushing John Rudd, forcing a
desperate Wasps to concede again and Drahm landed his second penalty after 23
minutes.
As the rain tipped down again the mistakes flowed freely and King missed his
third shot at goal before Wasps were forced into some heavy defence in the
closing minutes of the half.
Robinson launched the attack and with Northampton camped just shy of the Wasps
try-line, Phil Greening strayed offside and Drahm, opting for the points,
slotted his third penalty.
King was eventually successful, though his fourth attempt in the last minute
of the half only just squeaked inside the left upright.
Whatever was said, or thrown, by director of rugby Warren Gatland inside the
Wasps changing room at half-time worked wonders as they came racing out of the
blocks and Ed Thrower, on for winger Michael Roberts, slid over with his first
touch of the game.
Richards burst down the right, beat one tackle and then handed onto Van
Gisbergen who found Thrower running through on the angle.
King's conversion was on target and within a minute of the restart Wasps were
a point ahead at 10-9.
A jinking, darting run from Robinson, whose form last season denied Dawson
regular rugby after he returned from the World Cup, set Northampton in motion
again but after Wasps were penalised for hands in the ruck, Drahm missed the
kick.
Van Gisbergen denied Andrew Blowers at full pelt with a magnificently-timed
tackle after Human's break and Drahm then missed another shot at goal.
Northampton's response to conceding early in the half was to crank up the
pressure on Wasps, but they lacked the killer touch to finish Wasps off.
Dawson was caught trying to clear inside his own 22 and knocked on to give
Northampton an ideal platform five minutes from time.
The Saints drove forward through phase after phase but with Wasps teetering,
Damien Browne lost the ball forward in contact and the chance was gone.
James Brooks then presented the Saints with an ideal opportunity when his 22
drop-out sailed straight into touch, but Drahm was standing too deep, Robinson's
pass was poor and Wasps closed down quickly.
Teams:
Northampton: Reihana, Rudd, Tucker, Stcherbina, Human, Drahm,
Robinson, Smith, Thompson, Kempson, Boome, Lord, Fox, Krige,
Blowers.
Replacements: Cohen for Rudd (59), Clarke for Stcherbina (64),
Browne for Lord (70).
Not Used: Richmond, Morris, Seely, Howard.
Pens: Drahm 3.
Wasps: van Gisbergen, Roberts, Richards, Hoadley, Voyce, King,
Dawson, Mackenzie, Greening, Payne, Hart, Birkett, Worsley,
O'Connor, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Thrower for Roberts (40), Brooks for King (65),
Nwume for Mackenzie (79), Leota for Greening (70).
Not Used: Lock, Haskell, Biljon.
Tries: Thrower.
Cons: King.
Pens: King.
Att: 12,036
Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).
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