NORTHAMPTON SAINTS  21

LEEDS TYKES  18

Guinness Premiership round 13

Franklin’s Gardens

Saturday, January 28, 2006

After an opening five minutes more characteristic for turnovers than sparkling play, Saints came closest to opening the scoring thanks to a typical Jon Clarke burst on Leeds’ 22. Bruce Reihana and Ben Cohen were both in support, but so were more than enough Tykes defenders and the danger was de-fused.

Nevertheless, with Gordon Ross’s clearance, Saints still had great position, and with Carlos Spencer’s boot, the ability split the defence. Spencer chipped and Sean Lamont did the rest, sliding over in the right corner to score his first GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP try. Reihana missed the conversion by the narrowest of margins, the ball rebounding off the upright.

This sparked enterprising play from the visitors that saw them deep into the Northampton danger zone. And like the hosts, Leeds came away with points. As with the home score it took a kick from Roland De Marigny to bypass the tacklers, Tom Biggs touching down. And the scoring parallels continued as Gordon Ross hit the post, leaving the scores tied at five apiece in only the 11th minute.

Reihana missed a 16th minute penalty attempt but his team-mates could only manage flashes of creativity. They certainly failed to match the continuity of the visitors who, prompted by Justin Marshall, dominated much of the next 10 minutes. Ross slotted a penalty in the 26th minute to break the deadlock, and three minutes later Biggs increased the lead by five.

It was a sparkling solo effort as twice he showed tremendous acceleration in creating the space to go over. He also owed his score to Saint mistakes as Spencer, caught in two minds, spilled the ball backwards, and Cohen knocked on while sweeping up the loose ball. Ross continued his mixed day with the boot, missing the conversion.

Saints were also having a mixed day with their handling, and following powerful approach work by the forwards and a Spencer flick between his legs good position came to nothing as Ben Lewitt spilled the ball in the tackle. And the misfiring continued in Saints’ next attack when Spencer’s pass wide hit Daniel Browne and went forward.

Two minutes shy of the break, though, for once everything clicked. From a clean lineout 30 metres out Cohen charged in off his wing. David Quinlan was in support and marked his first start in six weeks by passing from the tackle for centre partner and man-of-the-match Clarke to grab Saints’ second try. Reihana converted for 12-13, which was, with De Marigny's missed drop-goal attempt, how it stayed at half-time.

Five minutes after the break and the chill felt in the stands was cast aside on the pitch. Cohen capitalised on a Leeds spill to twice hack the ball on, and when Marshall collected the ball he was wrapped up. So wrapped up in fact that he lashed out at Cohen, received a yellow card as well as conceding three points to Reihana.

This put the bit firmly in Saints’ teeth, who built a concerted spell of pressure. However, the closest the lead came to being increased was when Damien Browne was held up in the left corner and as namesake Daniel was denied a pushover try by smart Leeds defence.

Saints needed points not position, and after a sharp break from Tykes replacement David Doherty had threatened to split the hosts wide open, a 45-metre Spencer penalty widened the gap to five.

But Saints began to gift Leeds the ball regularly, and the home side escaped when Chris Bell opted to kick with the field wide open and only Stuart Hooper outside him to chase.

The narrow lead looked ever more slender as Leeds exerted more and more pressure, though Saints didn’t help themselves by failing to control the little ball they did have. Three minutes from the end and the defensive wall was finally breached as Danny Care nipped over for Leeds’ third try. But Ross’s kicking boots were still wayward and the scores remained tied at 18-all.

Galvanised by this miss, Saints ripped into Leeds. And reward was not long in coming as a penalty was awarded 20 metres out in front of the posts. Up stepped Reihana and the game was won. Almost.

Only seconds were left, but once more Saints contrived to lose the ball from the kick-off. Leeds pounced to launch one last attack. But as at the opposite end of the field, cheers erupted as referee Spreadbury’s arm was raised for a penalty in midfield. Spencer launched the ball into touch and the Saints ended January as they had begun it – with a narrow, priceless Premiership win.

Teams:
Northampton Saints – Reihana (co-capt); Lamont, Clarke, Quinlan (Kydd 58mins), Cohen (Rudd 45-50mins); Spencer, Robinson (Howard 73mins); Smith, Thompson (co-capt), Budgen (Emms 73mins), Damien Browne, Lord (Gerard 73mins), Tupai (Harding 49mins), Lewitt, Daniel Browne.

Leeds Tykes – De Marigny; Snyman, Vickerman (Doherty 49mins), Bell, Biggs; Ross, Marshall (Care 64mins); Shelley (Lensing 57mins), Rawlinson (Bulloch 46mins), Gerber, Hooper (capt), Palmer, Morgan (Dunbar 46mins), Parks (Hyde 64mins), Thomas (Crane 46mins).

Scorers:
Northampton Saints – Tries: Lamont, Clarke; Con: Reihana; Pens: Reihana (2), Spencer.

Leeds Tykes – Tries: Biggs (2), Care; Pen: Ross.

Yellow card:
Marshall (45mins)

Travis Perkins man of the match:
Jon Clarke

Attendance:
13,448

CLOCKWATCH:
7mins Saints: Try Lamont 5-0
11mins Leeds: Try Biggs 5-5
26mins Leeds: Pen Ross 5-8
29mins Leeds: Try Biggs 5-13
39mins Saints: Try Clarke Con Reihana 12-13
45mins Leeds: Yellow card Marshall
45mins Saints: Pen Reihana 15-13
63mins Saints: Pen Spencer 18-13
77mins Leeds: Try Care 18-18
80mins Saints: Pen Reihana 21-18