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| 13 December 2003, 5:46 pm |
| Cohen Delivers Hat-Trick To Beat Agen |
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NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 25
AGEN 10
Saturday, December 13, 2003
Franklin's Gardens
A Ben Cohen hat-trick helped Saints to a win over the French side Agen, which played 82 minutes of the game with only 14 men.
Agen's captain Jean-Jacques Crenca was sent off in the sixth minute after he was spotted head-butting Saints' Steve Thompson. They also spent more than 10 minutes with only 13 men when fly-half Francois Gelez was sent to the sin-bin for persistently killing the ball and lock Jean-Michel Parent was shown a yellow card in the last minute of the game. With such depleted numbers, you would have thought Saints would have dominated play with more gusto but Agen were formidable opponents and did all they could to prevent Saints' flow of play.
In fact, at half-time, Agen were leading 6-7 after wing Luc Lafforgue stole a try in the 15th minute after Gelez had one held up a minute earlier. Saints kept in touch though with two penalties from the boot of Paul Grayson.
After the break, Saints came out with more urgency, determined to capitalise on Agen's two-man absence. The player who actually put those long-awaited points on the board was returning World Cup hero Cohen. His efforts were converted by Grayson and after 44 minutes the score-line was a more healthy 13-7.
However, Saints six-point lead was narrowed to just three points when Agen were awarded a penalty, and the scoreboard remained at 13-10 for another 10 minutes meaning Agen were still in striking distance and were looking likely to go home with a losing bonus point.
But all the rugby was Agen's half and you felt it was only a matter of time before Saints would wear down their visitors' defence. Knock-ons and missed passes frustrated the crowd, but Cohen managed to find a way over the line to take Saints' score to 18-10 after 69 minutes, converted by Grayson to make it 20-10.
Replacements started to come on thick and fast at this stage, especially when Mark Tucker and Grayson suffered cuts to their heads, and it was a replacement for the latter who would help Cohen on to his third try. Drahm had been on the pitch for just one minute when he sent a cross-kick to Cohen in the corner for number three.
Saints were not done though and they were gunning for that bonus-point awarding fourth try. They kept the ball in play and made the most of a penalty awarded after Parent was sent to the sin-bin for obstruction. However, the ball was knocked on in the ensuing play and Saints had to be satisfied with the four points for the win against a very tough French side.
Teams:
Northampton Saints - Beal (cc); Reihana, Hyndman, Tucker (Leslie 47-61mins, 67mins), Cohen; Grayson (Drahm 47-58mins, 83mins), Robinson (Howard 72mins); Smith, Thompson (Richmond 68mins), Morris (Budgen 52mins), Hunter (Soden 72mins), Connors, Seely, Fox, Blowers (cc).
Agen - Elhorga; Coro, Stoltz, Bonetti, Lafforgue; Gelez, Barrau (Tandonnet 78mins); Crenca (c), Curnier, (Piacentini 65mins), Hasan (Fior 84mins), Nouchi (Sverzut 40mins), Parent, Lievremont, Kahlar (Blanco 8mins), Socol.
Scorers:
Northampton Saints - Tries: Cohen (3); Cons: Grayson (2); Pens: Grayson (2).
Agen - Try: Lafforgue; Con: Gelez; Pens: Gelez
Red card:
Crenca (6mins)
Yellow cards:
Gelez (38mins)
Parent (88mins)
Attendance: 11,523
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