|
 |
| 26 April 2003, 7:11 pm |
| Two Captains' Tries From Leslie Help Saints To Vital Home Win |
|
|
|
|
|
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 27
THE SHARKS 17
Franklin's Gardens
Saturday, April 26, 2003
Northampton Saints knew they had to win this game if they were to have any chance of automatic qualification into the Heineken Cup next season. They also knew the Sharks had beaten them in their last three meetings and with the men from Sale hoping to gain a top three finish, nerves were slightly on edge.
And it looked as though those nerves were going to be founded when late replacement wing Vaughan Going went over for a try in the fourth minute but referee Tony Spreadbury called them back for a penalty for Saints after some pretty serious shoeing in the ruck.
Then Steve Hanley looked on for a certain try as the 6ft 4ins, 16-stone wing sped down the touchline with nothing but space and 5ft 9ins Oriol Ripol in his way. But Ripol put in an almighty tackle that crashed the former England winger into touch.
Ripol's effort sparked Saints into action and it was again the Spaniard that launched the home side's first real attack. Wing Ben Cohen nearly got over the line after Ripol's break and a try was still on until Speadbury penalised Saints for crossing.
Then lock Mark Connors had a try held up in the 19th minute and a group forwards' effort also did not touch the ground two minutes later - but Saints were looking ominous.
Skipper John Leslie was the man that put the first points on the board after Matt Dawson flipped a pass back to Cohen from the back of a scrum. Cohen released Nick Beal, then James Brooks, and then Leslie, who passed the ball to Steve Thompson, for the hooker to flip it back to the centre for the try. Marvellous! Bruce Reihana kicked the conversion to give Saints a lead of 7-0.
But Saints still had some defending to do and when a pass was intercepted by Sharks' fly-half Jos Baxendell, full-back Beal charged back to put in a try-saving tackle.
The crowd were loving Saints' style of play and were given further cause for delight when Cohen managed to score a try - again off the back of a Saints' scrum close to The Sharks' line. Reihana had no trouble in kicking the conversion and at half-time, Saints led 14-0.
What Saints really needed now was another good half to negate all the bad halves they had endured in previous weeks, but more importantly they needed to win. Reihana had the chance to extend the lead with a penalty in the 48th minute but he missed it only for Baxendell to answer him back with a successful penalty kick two minutes later to get Sharks' score going.
The away side's tally was further added to when Saints were left aghast by an obvious forward pass, which led to a try for hooker Andy Titterrell in the 58th minute. Baxendell kicked the conversion and Saints were suddenly only four points in the lead.
Reihana stole three back though with a penalty in the 62nd, and his effort was boosted by another five points from Leslie. Replacement wing Peter Jorgensen had put Saints in Sharks' territory with his burst up the touchline but his chip kick has fallen straight into Going's hands. Going however was bundled into touch by Cohen and flanker Budge Pountney was quick with the lineout throw to expose a gap in Sharks' defence, which Leslie just glided through. Reihana rattled over another conversion to take Saints' lead to 22-10.
But again the Sharks came back, but this time Saints were at fault as centre Graeme Bond stretched his arm out over the line for the try. Baxendell kicked the conversion and Sharks were back in the hunt at 24-17.
The Sharks were desperate for at least a losing bonus point so when Saints were awarded a kickable penalty, they knew they had to take their chance. This time it was scrum-half Dawson who stepped up to the tee and took the perfect kick to deny Sharks the bonus point, Saints the win and fifth place in the league.
Teams:
Northampton Saints - Beal; Ripol (Jorgensen 60mins), Reihana, Leslie (capt), Cohen: Brooks, Dawson; Stewart, Thompson (Miles 82mins), Morris, Lord, Connors (Hunter 77mins), Fox, Pountney (Seely 65mins), Blowers.
The Sharks - Robinson; Going, Harris (Elliott 36mins), Bond, Hanley; Baxendell, Redpath (capt); Yates (Turner 65mins (Stewart 79mins)), Titterrell (Marais 77mins), Stewart (Thorp 65mins), Schofield (Davies 65mins), Fullarton, Anglesea, Pinkerton, Jones (Lund 77mins).
Referee:
Tony Spreadbury
Touch judges:
Sean Davey & Stuart Terheege
Scorers:
Northampton Saints - Tries: Leslie (2), Cohen; Cons: Reihana (3); Pens: Reihana, Dawson.
The Sharks - Tries: Titterrell, Bond; Cons: Baxendell (2); Pen: Baxendell.
Yellow card:
Davies (71mins)
Attendance:
9,202
Travis Perkins man of the match:
John Leslie
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
