Worcester stunned Northampton with a shock victory at Franklin's Gardens.
It was the Warriors' first away victory over the season and it boosted their
survival bid while plunging Saints into a full blown crisis.
The only try of the match came from Worcester's Giscard Pieters in the first
half and the visitors had to hang on grimly, especially in the second period, as
Northampton threw the kitchen sink at them.
Ultimately, though, they could not break through Worcester's dogged defence
while the Warriors' set-piece caused the Saints problems all afternoon.
Worcester went into the game shorn of James Brown because of a neck injury and
that gave fly-half Tommy Hayes the chance to redeem himself after a poor couple
of displays.
The former Cook Islands international, however, looked back to his best as he
stroked home a second minute penalty to put the Warriors in front.
Northampton, who had lost seven Premiership games in succession before
kick-off, looked nervy and their early knock-ons gave Worcester a massive
confidence boost.
Following one of those Saints' mistakes, Hayes just missed with a drop goal
attempt as the visitors began to dictate the pace.
Northampton, though, always looked a threat with full back Bruce Reihana in
full flight and, after sustained pressure, Paul Grayson's penalty pulled them
level.
The Saints' period of parity did not last long. Springbok Thinus Delport set
up another Worcester attack and a high tackle on Pat Sanderson gave Hayes the
chance to make it 6-3 which he did with ease.
Northampton responded by launching attack after attack on the Worcester line
but the Warriors took all the Saints could throw at them and responded with
interest.
South African flyer Pieters, in only his second Worcester game, went in on the
left following a flowing move and the Premiership's bottom side were 11-3 up
with 29 minutes on the clock.
The Saints had their chances to score before the break but some slow ball and
bizarre decision making gave Worcester a lift at half time as they went in
ahead.
After much huffing and puffing, the home side dragged themselves back into the
match with a Grayson penalty on the hour.
However, man-of-the-match Hayes was twice on hand to deny Northampton with two
stunning tackles.
And, after repelling the Saints again, Hayes struck home a drop goal to extend
Worcester's advantage with nine minutes left.
Replacement Shane Drahm had a late chance to resuscitate his side but his
penalty agonisingly hit the post. It summed up the Saints' day as the 11,208
crowd began to trudge home disconsolately.
Hayes then capped a splendid display by landing his third penalty, with three
minutes to go, to rub salt into the Saints' wounds.
If Northampton did not know they were in a relegation dogfight before today,
Worcester's win will have well and truly set the alarm bells ringing around
Franklin's Gardens.
Teams:
Northampton:
Reihana, Human, Stcherbina, Vilk, Clarke, Grayson,
Robinson, Kempson, Richmond, Budgen, Lord, Browne, Blowers,
Krige, Seely.
Replacements: Rudd for Clarke (54), Drahm for Grayson (61),
Sturgess for Kempson (81), O'Donoghue for Browne (61),
Soden for Seely (57).
Not Used: van Wyk, Howard.
Pens: Grayson 2.
Worcester: Delport, O'Leary, Rasmussen, Lombard, Pieters,
Hayes, Powell, Windo, Daly, Horsman, Collier, Gillies, Gabey,
Sanderson, Hickey.
Replacements: Sampson for O'Leary (45),
Trueman for Rasmussen (80), Sparks for Windo (61),
van Niekerk for Daly (54), Vaili for Gabey (48),
MacLeod-Henderson for Hickey (79).
Not Used: Cole.
Tries: Pieters.
Pens: Hayes 3.
Drop Goals: Hayes.
Att: 11,208
Ref: David Rose (RFU).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook