NORTHAMPTON SAINTS  32

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Kingston Park

GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP round 18

Cohen had stated he wanted to get over the whitewash in this week’s pre-match press conference and he wasted no time in doing just that by scoring Saints’ first try in the third minute. Newcastle Falcons’ captain Matt Burke’s kick to touch landed into the waiting hands of Bruce Reihana. He took the ball infield and onto Sean Lamont’s wing where the ball came inside again and a finger-tip recovery catch from centre David Quinlan sent Lamont back up the wing to put Cohen over.

Centre Clarke was then called into action when Newcastle flanker Ben Woods rampaged through the gain-line. His break seemed to spur the home side into action, and when they were rewarded a penalty, Falcons’ fly-half Dave Walder opted to kick for touch. The resulting lineout led to another penalty as the visitors pulled down the maul and their second lineout brought rich rewards in the form of a try for Owen Finegan. Walder matched Reihana in missing the conversion and the scores stood at 5-5 after 10 minutes of play.

Further Falcons’ attacking moves followed with one squandered by a knock-on from Walder. A second was interrupted with a physical renewal of acquaintances between Steve Thompson and ex-Saint Robbie Morris. And while everyone’s attention was focussed on the handbag showdown, scrum-half James Grindal knocked the ball on and Spencer kicked the ball ahead from the halfway line to score a try practically unnoticed. Reihana missed the conversion but made up for it in the 21st minute with a penalty to take Saints into a 5-13 lead.

The slippery conditions at Kingston Park made for erratic rugby at times and the Falcons kept themselves in touch with a penalty for Walder in the 30th minute. But Saints began to re-exert some pressure with Reihana, playing in his 100th game for the club, charging through the Falcons’ defence to set Spencer off on a typically jinking run which enabled prop Pat Barnard to score his debut try for the club. Reihana converted this time to take Saints into an 8-20 lead, which stood until half-time.

Hostilities continued into the second half with referee Tony Spreadbury having words with Morris and Saints flanker Paul Tupai even before play had a chance to begin. The latter led the charge for Saints as they breached Falcons’ half and set up Spencer for an inside flip-pass which was illegally intercepted by hooker Andy Long. Saints were rewarded the penalty but Reihana could not convert it.

Poor kicking haunted Walder when his side had successfully defended their line after Saints’ Lamont had come within inches of scoring. The forwards won possession of the ball but Walder kicked straight into Reihana’s hands who fed the ball to Clarke for Saints’ fourth try of the afternoon in the 54th minute.

But the home side did not give up and began to pile on the pressure once again thanks to a searing run from Burke. It gave the Falcons territorial advantage which Burke nearly converted in the corner…but he ran into Reihana instead. Reihana off-loaded the ball to Spencer who surged over the halfway line for Quinlan to kick the ball ahead. Reihana was just inches short of getting that century celebration try.

With the game going into its final 10 minute-period, Spencer hobbled off to be replaced by Robbie Kydd. It took less than a minute for wing Anthony Elliott to score with some help from a pass from former Saint Joe Shaw and a knock-on in midfield from replacement Darren Fox.

Saints did not let the score thwart them though and despite a lost lineout on their own 22, they pounced on a penalty against Newcastle for holding on to take the ball back into Falcons territory. Their cool, calm and collected attitude was rewarded as Fox repaid his earlier error with a fifth try. Reihana’s conversion made the final score a rather satisfactory 13-32.

Teams:
Northampton Saints – Reihana (co-capt); Lamont, Clarke, Quinlan, Cohen; Spencer (Kydd 68mins), Robinson; Smith (Barnard 75mins), Thompson (co-capt) (Richmond 60mins), Barnard (Emms 54mins), Browne, Gerard (Lord 51mins), Tupai (Fox 51mins), Harding, Easter.

Newcastle Falcons – Burke (capt); Elliott, May, Flood (Mayerhofler 41mins), Phillips (Shaw 54mins); Walder, Grindal (Charlton 62mins); Ward (Williams 41mins), Long (Thompson 63mins), Morris (Ward 54mins), Perry, Parling (Grimes 49mins), Finegan (McCarthy 49mins), Woods, Buist.

Scorers:
Northampton Saints – Tries: Cohen, Spencer, Barnard, Clarke, Fox; Con: Reihana (2); Pen: Reihana.

Newcastle Falcons – Tries: Finegan, Elliott; Pen: Walder.

Attendance:
7,364